Otago v Auckland
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Ieremia will have seven All Blacks – Hodgman, Ofa Tuungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Akira Ioane, Hoskins Sotutu, Rieko Ioane and Caleb Clarke – available for Saturday’s opener against Otago in Dunedin. He intends to pick all of them, fitness permitting.It's going to be interesting to see how he uses the AB loosies while they are available. Iremeia needs to build depth at 6/8 quickly.
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i was really hoping some of those AB's would be rested....
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With those Allblacks available , this becomes a must watch game now for me
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its a good thing i tip with my heart...otherwise i might have wanted to change my tips
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@kiwiinmelb said in Otago v Auckland:
With those Allblacks available , this becomes a must watch game now for me
I think this is the first time in the pro era that Otago doesn't have an AB named, either. Coudl be a bit ugly out there (but then we said the same about the Highlanders to be fair)
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@nzzp its one of the annoying things about the AB squad...without a game to play if kind of just gives some guys confidence and others a kick in the guts, hoping J'aone goes out to prove them wrong...but could just as easily have had his confidence shaken
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If all available, the Auckland team should look something like this:
1 - Alex Hodgman
2 - Leni Apisai
3 - Ofa Tu'ungafasi
4 - Patrick Tuipulotu
5 - Scott Scrafton/Jack Whetton
6 - Akira Ioane
7 - Blake Gibson
8 - Hoskins Sotutu
9 - Jonathan Ruru
10 - Harry Plummer
11 - Salesi Rayasi
12 - TJ Faiane(c)
13 - Rieko Ioane
14 - Caleb Clarke
15 - Jordan Trainor16 - Mike Sosene/Soane Vikena
17 - Jarred Adams/Marcel Renata
18 - Angus Ta'avao
19 - Jack Whetton/Scott Scrafton
20 - Adrian Choat/Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa
21 - Taufa Funaki/Danny Tusitala
22 - Zarn Sullivarn/Simon Hickey
23 - Tanielu Telea/Tumua Manu/AJ LamStarting team is pretty straight forward, but most of the bench spots are contestable. I'm particularly interested in who gets those bench backs spots.
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i wont even try posting an Otago team as im really not sure what they have planned, id have collins in the midfield but i think they'll have him at 15
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@Tim said in Otago v Auckland:
@Dice Wouldn't be surprised if they play some of the ABs from the bench in order to help the team's pattern?
That might be the way they go.
If we do go with the absolute best line-up, it'd probably be our strongest line-up on paper since 2007.
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@Tim said in Otago v Auckland:
@Bones And dipshits here compare Bridge to Howlett.
Yeah Bridge would've probably finished that break instead of having to throw a wobbly pass to Muliaina.
Edit: But seriously, I didn't see the comparison either....and then I watched this video and thought "huh, that is quite like Bridge". Go figure.
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@Bones said in Otago v Auckland:
@Tim said in Otago v Auckland:
@Bones And dipshits here compare Bridge to Howlett.
Yeah Bridge would've probably finished that break instead of having to throw a wobbly pass to Muliaina.
Edit: But seriously, I didn't see the comparison either....and then I watched this video and thought "huh, that is quite like Bridge". Go figure.
Howlett's vision was just as much a part of his game as his pace. He would pop up in weird places and score crazy trys.
I've not seen that from Bridge yet.
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1 Alex HODGMAN (Suburbs)
2 Leni APISAI (Ponsonby)
3 Ofa TU’UNGAFASI (Grammar TEC)
4 Scott SCRAFTON (Grammar TEC)
5 Jack WHETTON (Grammar TEC)
6 Akira IOANE (Ponsonby)
7 Adrian CHOAT (Waitemata)
8 Hoskins SOTUTU (Marist)
9 Jonathan RURU (University)
10 Harry PLUMMER (Grammar TEC)
11 Caleb CLARKE (Ponsonby)
12 TJ FAIANE (c) (Pakuranga)
13 Rieko IOANE (Ponsonby)
14 AJ LAM (Grammar TEC)
15 Jordan TRAINOR (Ponsonby)16 Mike SOSENE-FEAGAI (Marist)
17 Jarred ADAMS (Suburbs)
18 Angus TA’AVAO (Eden)
19 Liam HALLAM-EAMES (Grammar TEC)
20 Blake GIBSON (Ponsonby)
21 Danny TUSITALA (Ponsonby)
22 Simon HICKEY (Grammar TEC)
23 Tumua MANU (College Rifles)Head Coach, Alama Ieremia has named a strong and experienced Auckland team to take on Otago in Dunedin this Saturday afternoon. Out of the 23 that Ieremia has named, 14 were involved in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, including six All Blacks. The midfield will have a familiar look for Auckland fans as TJ Faiane and Reiko Ioane start at 12 and 13 for Saturday’s contest. Faiane will captain the side from Second-Five. Ioane has made himself at home in the midfield position, playing his Super Rugby season and North V South game in the 13 jersey. As Head Coach and a former All Blacks midfielder, Ieremia has been observing Ioane in the midfield. “He (Reiko) played well during the Super Rugby season. He still has room to improve, but definitely has the potential to be a world class centre” said Ieremia. Grammar TEC teammates, Jack Whetton and Scott Scrafton will link up in the second row again this year after both coming off impressive campaigns with the Highlanders (Jack Whetton) and Hurricanes (Scott Scrafton). Scrafton will run out for his 30th appearance in the Blue and White Hoops. Coach Ieremia is thankful for the short pre-season that the team has had to get ready for the Mitre 10 season. “Of course, it is exciting to have our All Blacks back in the team, but the rest of the players have responded well to the one pre-season fixture. Although rusty in parts, the team are excited to wear the Blue and White hoops for another campaign”
