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) -
Really keen to see how Funaki goes. A big opportunity for him.
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Interesting to see Sullivan is mainly seen as fullback cover at this stage of his career. Probably the best way to get him used to this level.
Who is covering 13? TJ, with Plummer covering 12?
Is Tele'a over his injury yet?
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@Duluth AJ Lam often plays 13 in club rugby.
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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 -
Fortunately, it looks like most of the rain has gone just in time for the game. It is a bit windy though.
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Scrappy.
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No arms. Hard to see point of contact.
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@Tim man that was seriously dumb from Paulo..hard enough trying to beat Auckland with 15 on 15..
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Being here at the park live , Funaki’s service is very rapid..
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I just heard a ref call penalty advantage over.
I am shocked people, shocked. Unbelivable.
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@nzzp should happen more often , especially if the play is not affected and the team who has the ball gets over the advantage line
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Bit harsh that yellow.
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These whistle fests are shite entertainment.
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Hard to tell if dropped
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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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me oh my I enjoyed that maul, yes I did.
Also, Hickey got smashed
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@Tim full marks for bravery, not so much for execution
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Ref not policing the release both ways.
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Gains in Super Rugby of policing offside lost in NPC. Frustrating that reffing has changed in NPC.
Booth was held on the ground by Hickey earlier.
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Rayasi bombed that.
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@Tim totally agree, he had numbers on the inside
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Southland game ref would've blown four or five cards by now.
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Very good half by Funaki.
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Funaki is unpolished but executes quickly. Has he done a box kick yet?
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Funaki's distribution and decision making light years ahead of Ruru
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@KiwiMurph same can be said of most NPC 9s...
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@Tim you might see him put some up in the 2nd half ,Auckland will playing into a gale ..Chris Eves has made a big difference to the Turbos scrum..
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Tuipulotu off the bench this half, and Renata covering loosehead.
Be interesting to see if Sullivan gets a run.
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What a run from Adams.
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@Tim said in Auckland v Manawatu:
What a run from Adams.
was yelling at the TV. I love the chance of a fat man try, and that would ahve been epic.
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Good to see them taking the scrum.
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That was very very fortunate for Auckland... Ruru just got there to the right place, right time.
Was Ruru taken out early? He stepped and got cleaned out at the same time
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Choat jumping at the front of the lineout.
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400 vs 50 carry metres!
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Penalty try?
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Card warning?
