QF - North Harbour v Auckland

[Duluth]

The round robin match was 36-26 to Auckland. On form I think it might be a similar score but with the result switched

Halangahu has got the Harbour backline working well. The best back 3 in the competition

I presume Zarn will still be missing for this match?

[Tim]

@Duluth Are Henry Taefu and Fine Inisi injured? Taefu hasn't played since the Northland game, and Inisi not since the week before that (BOP).

[Duluth]

Previous playoff results:

Year	Match	Result
1993	Semi Final	Auckland won 43-20
1994	Final	Auckland won 16-22
1995	Semi Final	Auckland won 60-26
1999	Semi Final	Auckland won 38-30
2005	Semi Final	Auckland won 38-24

So no playoff wins for Harbour yet. Also this is only the second time they've hosted a playoff match between the two sides

NPC matches between Auckland & Harbour

[KiwiMurph]

One thing we know.

Pugh will be starting at 8.

The weather forecast looks promising for Friday - which would suit Harbour I would say.

[taniwharugby]

@KiwiMurph commentators thought he had a good game on Saturday...

There is no way he is the best 8 available from the Auckland comp!

[Nogusta]

I believe Patty T will be back for this one and Akira will replace Choat who is injured.

[Kirwan]

@Nogusta said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:

I believe Patty T will be back for this one and Akira will replace Choat who is injured.

Sweet!

[Nogusta]

@Duluth yep Zarn still out - along with Heem and Rayasi too now. Aoake and McKenzie likely replacements.

[Tim]

@Nogusta Lam at centre? RTS at 2nd 5 or on the wing?

[Nogusta]

@Tim Hickey 10, Plummer 12
, Lam 13, RTS 14

[Tim]

@Nogusta Cheers!

[ACT Crusader]

@Nogusta said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:

@Tim Hickey 10, Plummer 12
, Lam 13, RTS 14

I thought that combo has been a bit disjointed to close out games.

[JK]

@Tim said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:

@Nogusta Lam at centre? RTS at 2nd 5 or on the wing?

I heard considering RTS at fullback for this week

[Duluth]

@Nogusta said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:

I believe Patty T will be back for this one and Akira will replace Choat who is injured.

Patrick should squeeze Vest out of the 23. So that's a big upgrade

The likely trio will be 7 Gibson, 8 Pugh, 6 Ioane. I presume Ekuasi would be the best bench option?

I would like to see Ioane at 8 with Peita starting and Pugh out of the 23. The AB's have subbed Ioane on at 8 twice in the RC so there's an outside chance they want him to have more practise at the back of the scrum. It won't happen though.

[KiwiMurph]

Would feel pretty bad for Peita to get man of the match and then miss out on the 23 by a returning AB swanning back in who hasn't played a game all season.

[Duluth]

https://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/120715?newsfeedId=1360311

Unavailable: Salesi Rayasi, Bryce Heem, Adrian Choat, Hamdahn Tuipulotu, Niko Jones, Zarn Sullivan, Tanielu Tele’a, Jamie Lane.

[Duluth]

That's a large pack

Auckland are running out of outside backs.

Happy they went for the Evans/Lam midfield, they were combining well in the first month of the competition

[Kirwan]

@Duluth said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:

That's a large pack

Auckland are running out of outside backs.

Happy they went for the Evans/Lam midfield, they were combining well in the first month of the competition

Hope it rains and we can rely on the scrum again.

[ARHS]

Look forward to seeing RTS on wing and Lam at centre. Good opportunity for both.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@ARHS RTS marking Tevita Li should be fun.