Northland vs. Auckland

[Tim]

Alex Hodgman (Suburbs, 1 cap(s)
Leni Apisai (Loaned, 1)
Marcel Renata (University, 33)
Jamie Lane (Ponsonby, 6)
Jack Whetton (Grammar TEC, 28)
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Ponsonby, 4)
Blake Gibson – Co-C (Ponsonby, 26)
Hoskins Sotutu (Marist, 11)
Jonathan Ruru (University, 12)
Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC, 16)
Caleb Clarke (Suburbs, 11)
TJ Faiane – Co-C (Pakuranga, 29)
Tanielu Tele’a (Marist, 5)
AJ Lam (Grammar TEC, 1)
Salesi Rayasi (Marist, 12)

Michael Lea (Marist, debut)
Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Suburbs, 6)
Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby, 12)
Peter-Chanel Tagaloa (Marist, debut)
Dalton Papalii (Pakuranga, 13)
Danny Tusitala (Ponsonby, 1)
D’Angelo Leuila (Papatoetoe, 1)
Kurt Heatherley (Loaned, debut)

Unavailable due to injury: Scott Scrafton (jaw), Tumua Manu (ankle), Jordan Trainor (thigh), Robbie Abel (hamstring), Lyndon Dunshea (knee)

Auckland looking to go one better in Whangarei against the Taniwha

Leni Apisai is in-line to make his first start at Hooker in place of Robbie Abel, while Dalton Papalii is named on the...

[KiwiMurph]

Papalii - excellent.

[African Monkey]

Lyndon Dunshea injured again I see.

[Dice]

Weather won't be near as bad as the Habour game. I really back our backs on a dry track.

Lane simply there for his lineout ability. Others have to pick up the slack because he's pretty much a non-factor around the field.

[J77]

@Dice you fellas should walk this one. Our lot have a number of niggles from the Southland match to add to those already out. Love to be proved wrong, but I think we’re pushing shit up hill.

[African Monkey]

@Dice Hope to see Sotutu pushed up to the 2nd row when Papali'i comes on.

[Dice]

@African-Monkey Not sure if the coaches will want to move Sotutu with his ability off the back of the scrum.

I wouldn't mind Riedlinger-Kapa seeing a bit of time at lock in the 2nd half. He's not lock-tall, but he's a decent lineout option and was really putting pressure on the Harbour lineout last week.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Dice I've never known Sototu to play lock. Also reserve lock is covered by Peter-Chanel Tagaloa on debut. He is not super tall but 119kgs and impressed me with his physicality the couple of times i've seen him play, so it will be good to see how he goes off the bench.

[African Monkey]

Sotutu played a bit off the bench there last year. I know he lacks the height but it's his ability to shift bodies in the tight that becomes an advantage (unless he's lost that ability).

[Daffy Jaffy]

From the Northland thread:

Northland team to face Auckland

Isileli Tu'ungafasi (Mid Northern)

Jordan Olsen (Mid Northern)

Corey Te Whata-Colley (Western Sharks)

Temo Mayanavanua (Waipu)

Josh Goodhue (Kamo)

Sam McNamara (Waipu)

Matt Matich (Western Sharks)

Jaycob Matiu (Hora Hora)

Sam Nock (Kerikeri)

Dan Hawkins (OBM)

Pisi Leilua (Waipu)

Matt Johnson (OBM)

Scott Gregory (Hikurangi)

Jordan Hyland (Wellsford)

Jack Debreczeni (Eastern)

REPLACEMENTS

Paddy Jo Atkins (Wellsford)

Ross Wright (Wellsford)

Jack Straker (Kamo)

Sam Caird (OBM)

Jarod Brynes (OBM) Debut

Will Grant (Hora Hora) Debut

Blake Hohaia (Kamo)

Renata Roberts-Te Nana (OBM)

Unavailable due to Injury

Tamati Tua
Tom Robinson
Rene Ranger
Aorangi Stokes
Harrison Levien
Kane Jacobson

.

[DrivingMaul]

Looking forward to being at this game, look out for my post match interviews

[Nogusta]

@DrivingMaul are the Bs playing beforehand?

[nzzp]

@DrivingMaul said in Northland vs. Auckland:

Looking forward to being at this game, look out for my post match interviews

Great work fella, wish I was up there watching live

[J77]

Auckland B beat Northland B 40-5.

Couple of late changes just announced for Auckland. Blake Gibson and Harry Plummer out. Choat and Deangelo Someone-a-rather into the starting lineup.

[nzzp]

Ref and TMO just bottled it I reckon. Auckland winger hits the ball ahead wtih his legs, then gets absolutely smoked ina tackle. Never held the ball, but ref rules play on.

Wrong call for me

[Dice]

Decent start by Leuila so far.

[nzzp]

Good try to Whetton

[Machpants]

Lots of no arms tackles around too

[Dice]

@nzzp Deserved it. He's been good.

[nzzp]

@Dice said in Northland vs. Auckland:

Decent start by Leuila so far.

Jinxing him, but a really good kick ther

[nzzp]

Nock threw an absolute peach of a pass, hard cutout, but unfortunately the Taniwha couldn't take it.

Bounced up, Try auckland - caleb clarke. Long way back already, 12-3 kick to come

[African Monkey]

Ruru going well as is Leuila so far.

[nzzp]

@African-Monkey said in Northland vs. Auckland:

Ruru going well as is Leuila so far.

Agree

Good try to Jamie Lane ... hard pick and goes do work

[Dice]

Geez, Leuila is having a dream start.

[African Monkey]

@Dice It's funny because yes it's only his 2nd game at this level, but like Tusitala last week, they've both played club rugby for 5+ years and played a number of tests for Samoa as well so they've both served long apprentiships.

[Dice]

@African-Monkey I forget that Leuila is still only 22. I say we extend him while his stocks are still low.

[African Monkey]

Renata's handling has been poor at times tonight.

[Dice]

@African-Monkey Same with Ruru under the high ball.

[African Monkey]

@Dice Yup haha, suprised he hasn't taken any to the head as he hasn't gotten anywhere near some of them.

Good kick from Leiula, even though I was screaming at the TV to go for the lineout...

[KiwiMurph]

A few thoughts.

Leuila looks really good at 10.

Nock's game looks far better suited to higher levels than Ruru.

Jack Debz wasted at 15.

Apisai is one average footballer.

Rayasi's handling has been suspect again this week.

Sotutu continues to look good.

Renata's handling has always been really shit.

How the heck did Matt Johnson ever get a Super gig?

[Dice]

Ruru looks tired. He's starting to look slow.

[African Monkey]

Important 2nd half coming up. We fell away last week (understandably for some of them) but we need to keep the intensity high. Our defence has been very impressive so far. We've been far more aggressive this week and our linespeed has been very good, forcing them into mistakes.

[J77]

Hawkins a waste of space for us. Get J Deb back at 10. We’re getting owned at the ruck too.

Auckland with a well deserved lead, I expect them to double that at this rate.

[African Monkey]

@J77 Yeah don't know why Hawkins is out there. Suprised he's back at all for the Taniwha tbh.

[Dice]

@African-Monkey Breakdown work has been good too. Northland can't string many phases together because we keep getting turnovers.

[J77]

@African-Monkey yep bum move. Has no tactical awareness. This Leilua for you blokes looks good.

[Dice]

Too easy. Nice start to the 2nd half. Lam with an easy stroll in.

[African Monkey]

@J77 Yeah he's always been a gifted kicker of the ball since his school days.

[J77]

@African-Monkey he sure gets some distance.

[Dice]

Another sweet kick by Leuila. Clarke should've passed.