Auckland vs Taranaki

[Duluth]

Marty McKenzie, Declan O'Donnell, Seta Tamanivalu, Sean Wainui, Manasa Mataele, Stephen Perofeta, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Toa Halafihi, Lachlan Boshier, Pita-Gus Sowakula, Fin Hoeata, Brad Tucker, Angus Ta'avao (c), Ricky Riccitelli, Mitchell Graham

Reserves: Donald Maka, Jared Proffit, Reuben O'Neill, Kane Thompson, Adrian Wyrill, Kylem O'Donnell, Charlie Ngatai, Johnny Fa'auli

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/96606143/prop-takes-over-taranaki-captaincy-for-eden-park-clash

[Tim]

15 Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby, 3 Auckland caps)

14 Vince Aso (Ponsonby, 32)

13 Malakai Fekitoa (Pakuranga, 26)

12 TJ Faiane (Pakuranga, 11)

11 Pryor Collier (Ponsonby, 10)

10 Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald (University, 4)

9 Jono Hickey (Grammar TEC, 26)

8 Jerome Kaino (University, 56)

7 Blake Gibson (Ponsonby, 15)

6 Taleni Seu (Grammar TEC, 16)

5 Ben Nee-Nee (Pakuranga, 9)

4 Patrick Tuipulotu (Ponsonby, 18, c)

3 Marcel Renata (University, 15)

2 Greg Pleasants-Tate (Ponsonby, 19)

1 Isi Tu’ungafasi (Suburbs, 15)

Reserves:

16 Kurt Eklund (University, 26)

17 Emersen Tamura-Paki (College Rifles, 3)

18 Marco Fepuleai (Ponsonby, 0) +

19 Lyndon Dunshea (University, 0) +

20 Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray (University, 3)/Josh Kaifa (Manukau, 7)

21 Lisati Milo-Harris (Grammar TEC, 3)

22 Latiume Fosita (Mt Wellington, 10)

23 Tumua Manu (College Rifles, 1)

Injured/unavailable: Tom McHugh (season), Jamason Fa’anana-Shultz (season), Scott Scrafton (season), Leon Fukofuka, Dalton Papali’i, Michael Fatialofa, Melani Nanai, Daniel Bowden, Samuel Slade, George Moala, Sam Prattley

Caleb Clarke, Sione Havili and Wiseguy Faiane have all been released to play for Auckland in the Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under 19 tournament, kicking off in Taupo on Sunday

There are six changes to the starting XV and several injury-enforced changes to the bench, meaning Auckland may have used as many as 43 players in just five games if all the new men see game time against Taranaki. Fourteen players out of club rugby, as opposed to Super, were used last Sunday, with 17 against Waikato.

Kaino back in blue and white hoops

Jerome Kaino makes a welcome return to an injury-hit Auckland line-up for Saturday s crunch Premiership clash with...

[Tim]

Interesting that Elkington-MacDonald, Fosita, Feulea’i, and Dunshea have been promoted from the B squad. I think that Lyndon Dunshea is Mitchell Dunshea's brother.

[KiwiMurph]

So still no Nanai - despite being a 'couple of weeks away' before the start of the season.

What does this mean

while five-eighths cover and Ikale Tahi international Latiume Fosita could become the first full Auckland rep out of the Mt Wellington club if he takes the field.

Fosita played last year for Auckland - do they mean his blazer game?

Naki resting Ngatai and making Ta'avao captain says it all in regards to Auckland's current standing.

[Tim]

@KiwiMurph said in Auckland vs Taranaki:

Fosita played last year for Auckland - do they mean his blazer game?

Yeah, no idea what's happening there.

Still hard to believe that University fullback Sam Lawson isn't in any of the Auckland squads. He was a class above in the club final. Perhaps he isn't interested in pro rugby?

Was impressed with University's replacement halfback, Henry Saker, in that game. He's in the colts squad, hope he gets promoted.

[Tim]

Hell yeah:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11919018

[African Monkey]

With Fosita they mean that he is the first player to represent Auckland while playing their club rugby for Mt Wellington as he played for Papatoetoe last season.

[taniwharugby]

Also had 11 caps for us, mainly on the wing interestingly enough.

[African Monkey]

@taniwharugby Yeah he played everywhere apart from halfback for us last season.

[Dice]

Hopefully Kaino can add some much needed starch to our defense.

[dogmeat]

@Tim No wonder their defence is papier mache if they all drive around in cards

[Bovidae]

@dogmeat I was going to make a joke myself about why Auckland traffic is so bad but thought I'd let it pass.

[KiwiMurph]

Taranaki score first after poor defence from Aso

[KiwiMurph]

Hahaha woeful pass from Faiane. He has been atrocious for Auckland this year.

[Stockcar86]

@Dice said in Auckland vs Taranaki:

Hopefully Kaino can add some much needed starch to our defense.

not yet...

[Dice]

Since the intercept, Faiane has come to play.

[KiwiMurph]

Nisbo miscalling players - some things dont change

[Dice]

Nice. Back in the game. We've looked good these last 10 or so minutes.

[Tim]

This is a million times better.

[KiwiMurph]

Good play by Kaino

[Dice]

McKenzie has been good for Auckland.

[KiwiMurph]

Brilliant tackle Blake Gibson.

[Dice]

Great tackle by Gibson there.

[KiwiMurph]

Tuipulotu smashed em bro

[Dice]

Patrick ''Tuitupou''

[KiwiMurph]

Woeful play Trainor. He is terrible.

[Dice]

Defense has been so much better since the first 5 minutes.

[KiwiMurph]

Perofeta makes it look easy.

[Dice]

Back to the norm there. Pleasants-Tate a little slow to cover the inside.

[KiwiMurph]

Auckland made hard work of that

[Tim]

Faiane justifying his Blues contract today.

[Dice]

Kaino, Tuipulotu and Seu have been very good. Faiane's been the best of the backs.

[KiwiMurph]

@Tim except for gifting Naki a try

[KiwiMurph]

Halafii has been excellent for Naki

[KiwiMurph]

Halafii with the turnover - gee he is impressive.

[KiwiMurph]

Auckland are starting to tire. Think it's all over for them.

[Dice]

Hickey goes the wrong way too often.

[KiwiMurph]

@Dice he hasn't had much help from his 10 today (and I'm no Hickey fan).

[KiwiMurph]

Another error from Trainor

[Stockcar86]

Tamanivalu looking a long way from ever being an All Black again