Auckland vs Taranaki
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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
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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...
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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.
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@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.
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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.
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Also had 11 caps for us, mainly on the wing interestingly enough.
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@taniwharugby Yeah he played everywhere apart from halfback for us last season.
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@Dice said in Auckland vs Taranaki:
Hopefully Kaino can add some much needed starch to our defense.
not yet...
