Otago vs. Auckland

[Tim]

Auckland match-day 23 for Otago

Thursday September 21, 7.35pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin:

15 Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby, 5 Auckland caps)

14 Vince Aso (Ponsonby, 34)

13 Malakai Fekitoa (Pakuranga, 28)

12 George Moala (Grammar TEC, 50)

11 Melani Nanai (Manukau, 20)

10 Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald (University, 6)

9 Jono Hickey (Grammar TEC, 28)

8 Jerome Kaino (University, 58)

7 Blake Gibson (Ponsonby, 17)/Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray (University, 4)

6 Akira Ioane (Ponsonby, 23)

5 Ben Nee-Nee (Pakuranga, 11)

4 Patrick Tuipulotu (Ponsonby, 20, c)

3 Marcel Renata (University, 17)

2 Greg Pleasants-Tate (Ponsonby, 21)

1 Sam Prattley (Pakuranga, 39)

Reserves:

16 Kurt Eklund (University, 28)

17 Emersen Tamura-Paki (College Rifles, 5)

18 Isi Tu’ungafasi (Suburbs, 17)

19 Jamie Lane (Ponsonby, 0) +

20 Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray (University, 4)/Dalton Papali’i (Pakuranga, 1)

21 Lisati Milo-Harris (Grammar TEC, 5)

22 TJ Faiane (Pakuranga, 13)

23 Latiume Fosita (Mt Wellington, 12)

+Potential Auckland debut

Injured/unavailable: Tom McHugh (season), Jamason Fa’anana-Shultz (season), Scott Scrafton (season), Leon Fukofuka, Michael Fatialofa, Daniel Bowden, Samuel Slade, Dexter Fa’amoana, Taleni Seu

All Blacks: Rieko Ioane, Ofa Tu’ungafasi

Akira Ioane returns for Auckland

There are just two changes to the Auckland starting XV for Thursday night s crossover fixture against Otago in Dunedin. ...

[KiwiMurph]

A midfield with no balance and who can't distribute in a game under the roof which is guaranteed to be up-tempo.........great.....

[African Monkey]

Geez we're light on locks once Patrick leaves.

[Duluth]

Otago named:

1 Aki Seiuli, 2 Sam Anderson-Heather, 3 Donald Brighouse, 4 Josh Furno, 5 Blair Tweed, 6 Adam Knight, 7 James Lentjes, 8 Sione Teu, 9 Josh Renton, 10 Josh Ioane, 11 Jona Nareki, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 13 Patelesio Tomkinson, 14 Mitchell Scott, 15 Fletcher Smith

Reserves: 16 Sekonaia Pole, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Hisa Sasagi, 19 Tom Rowe, 20 Slade McDowall, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 Leroy van Dam, 23 Vilimoni Koroi

[KiwiMurph]

Beautiful pass by the Auckland midfield........straight to Otago.

[Tim]

What's the ruling on that tackle? Is a clear high tackle allowed if contact is from the tackler's head? Shouldn't that be a red card?

[KiwiMurph]

I have liked the look of this Josh Ioane this season - I see he's from Auckland meanwhile Auckland are stuck with Tyrone Elkington-Macdonald - FFS.

[KiwiMurph]

Some huge hits out there.

[KiwiMurph]

Prattley gets blown off the ball by a winger....if he fucking gets a Blues contract....

[African Monkey]

Pleasants-Tate's throwing has been awful of late.

[KiwiMurph]

@african-monkey How the hell did GPT win 3 points for the Duane Monkley medal last week?

[African Monkey]

@kiwimurph Maybe he set a record for most crooked throws in a match?

[Tim]

Just fucking clear it you retard.

[African Monkey]

All started from yet another shit Pleasants Tate throw. We may as well give up with our lineout.

[KiwiMurph]

Moala has had the ball ripped straight off him at least twice. Otago's back play is on a different to Auckland. I like how the commentators sound surprised at how shit Auckland are haha.

[KiwiMurph]

Absolute bullshit decision by hometown.

[Tim]

@kiwimurph Yep, absolute shit. Not quite up there with the "you can't give away a penalty if you tackle with your head rule".

[African Monkey]

Fuck me what a rabble we are just put us in the Championship already so we can battle it out with Southland and Shield Snorters to see who the worst Mitre 10 Cup team is.

[Tim]

It might be an idea for the commentator not to laugh when Auckland makes a mistake, Justin.

[Tim]

That's the last time I watch Auckland this year. An un-coached rabble.