Auckland v Manawatu
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Head Coach, Alama Ieremia has made multiple changes to the starting XV for Auckland’s second home game of the season against the Manawatu Turbos on Sunday afternoon. Simon Hickey will return to the team after suffering a head knock against Otago in the opening round of the Mitre 10 Cup. The Grammar TEC First-Five will run out for his 50th appearance in the Blue and White Hoops when he takes the field this weekend. An accomplishment that has been a long time coming for the 26-year-old after making his debut for Auckland as a teenager. Hickey returned to New Zealand to play for his home province after leaving to play in Europe 5 years ago, leaving him on 48 appearances for Auckland. With six players unavailable due to All Blacks commitments, Ieremia has gone to his new blood and some experienced heads for the Sunday afternoon fixture. Patrick Tuipulotu has been cleared by All Blacks management to join the team on the bench for Sunday. Marist Halfback, Taufa Funaki has been given his first start for Auckland. A member of the 2019 Auckland Rugby Academy, the 20-year-old will start inside the 50-game veteran Hickey in Sunday’s game against the Turbos. Former Manawatu Turbo, Sione Tuipulotu will be in line to make his first appearance off the bench for Auckland against his former team. The Wesley College old boy has been in impressive form for his Eden club in the Gallaher Shield competition. Head Coach, Ieremia is expecting to hit the ground running on Sunday afternoon. “The new additions to the team are no strangers to how we have been preparing during the week. We picked a large squad for a reason. Every player has deserved their selection this week and it is up to them to perform going forward”1 Jarred Adams (Suburbs)
2 Leni Apisai (Ponsonby)
3 Angus Ta’avao (Eden)
4 Scott Scrafton (Grammar TEC)
5 Jack Whetton (Grammar TEC)
6 Adrian Choat (Waitemata)
7 Blake Gibson (Ponsonby)
8 Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa (Ponsonby)
9 Taufa Funaki (Marist)(DEBUT)
10 Simon Hickey (Grammar TEC)(50 GAMES)
11 Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
12 TJ Faiane (c) (Pakuranga)
13 Tumua Manu (College Rifles)
14 AJ Lam (Grammar TEC)
15 Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)16 Mike Sosene-Feagai (Marist)
17 Marcel Renata (University)
18 James Lay (University)
19 Patrick Tuipulotu (Ponsonby)
20 Sione Tuipulotu (Eden)(DEBUT)
21 Jonathan Ruru (University)
22 Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC)
23 Zarn Sullivan (College Rifles) -
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First five-eighth Stewart Cruden and loose forward Tyler Laubscher have been named at No 10 and blindside flanker respectively for the match having both come off the bench in each of the first two matches of the season.
Laubscher’s injection into the starting side sees Liam Mitchell slide back into the second row joining Teofilo Paulo with Micaiah Torrance-Read moving to the bench.
With Aaron Smith called back into All Blacks’ camp, Jamie Booth returns to his usual spot at halfback and Newton Tudreu coming into to his place on the right wing.
In the midfield, Nigel Ah Wong starts at centre for his first match in green and white with James Tofa celebrating his blazer game at second five-eighth.
Young halfback Bryn Wilson will make his debut from the bench. The former Palmerston North Boys’ High School star, who is also a handy cricketer, had an impressive season for Varsity in club rugby.
Wilson is the grandson of former Springbok fullback Lionel Wilson, the man who the South Africans deployed at fullback to counter the monster kicking game of All Black legend Don ‘The Boot’ Clarke.
Up front, livewire hooker Siua Maile will start in the place of Sam Stewart after a pair of energetic displays off the bench.
With Cruden starting, Ben Wyness moves to the bench alongside Te Rangatira Waitokia.
The hope of Tom Hughes making his return from his achillies injuries were dashed when he was hurt at training meaning a second opportunity for Sam Liebezeit off the bench.
Manawatū Turbos
1 Tietie Tuimauga
2 Siua Maile
3 Michael Alaalatoa
4 Liam Mitchell
5 Teofilo Paulo
6 Tyler Laubscher
7 Shamus Langton-Hurley
8 Brayden Iose
9 Jamie Booth
10 Stewart Cruden
11 Adam Boult
12 James Tofa (Blazer game)
13 Nigel Ah Wong (Debut)
14 Newton Tudreu
15 Nehe Milner-Skudder16 Sam Stewart
17 Chris Eves
18 Kyle Stewart
19 Sam Liebezeit
20 Micaiah Torrence-Read
21 Bryn Wilson (Debut)
22 Ben Wyness
23 Te Rangatira Waitokia -
Being here at the park live , Funaki’s service is very rapid..
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@Tim imagine being here ..lol..Turbos score a try with only 13 on the paddock ..I am missing something here..?
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@Steven-Harris AJ Lam was in the midfield rather than on the wing.
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