Tasman v Auckland

[Duluth]

Does anyone know if Sullivan will be available this weekend?

I assume he'll probably be out because of the head knock. That might cause some issues.. There's plenty of fullback cover in the squad but who moves into 10 if Plummer gets injured? Zarn was covering 10 in the 6/2 split last week.

I presume Hollinshead is still in quarantine? Do they think Jock McKenzie is ready? Is Hickey fit? Maybe Ruru?

[nzzp]

@duluth expecting us to lose this.

Zarn looked really good before going off last week

[cgrant]

@duluth
Trainor ?

[Bovidae]

Weren't you Auckland supporters saying that Evans is a 10/12? You just have to hope Plummer doesn't get injured.

[george33]

They could put ryasi at 15 and kata or clarke on wing if zarn out ,plenty options or maybe Roger tuivase sheck comes in ,fingers crossed zarn ok tho

[pakman]

When's the team named?

[Duluth]

@george33 said in Tasman v Auckland:

They could put ryasi at 15 and kata or clarke on wing if zarn out ,plenty options or maybe Roger tuivase sheck comes in ,fingers crossed zarn ok tho

Yes it's easy to find another starter at fullback - Rayasi/Trainor etc

Who covers ten if Zarn is out is the harder question. I would go for Jock McKenzie on the bench

[Dice]

Will Talataina-Mu is another 10 option.

He was involved with the team during pre-season.

[Duluth]

Sullivan out, McKenzie onto the bench

1 Alex Hodgman
2 Leni Apisai
3 Marcel Renata
4 Scott Srafton (VC)
5 Jamie Lane
6 Adrian Choat
7 Blake Gibson
8 Vaiolini Ekuasi
9 Jonathan Ruru
10 Harry Plummer (C)
11 AJ Lam
12 Corey Evans
13 Bryce Heem
14 Solomone Kata
15 Salesi Rayasi

16 Soane Vikena
17 Jordan Lay
18 Sione Ahio
19 Hamish Dalzell
20 Waimana Riedlinger Kapa
21 Taufa Funaki
22 Jock McKenzie (DEBUT)
23 Heremaia Murray (DEBUT)

Auckland head to the sunshine city to face the Mako

Two more debutants in game day squad. Auckland last played at Trafalgar Park in the 2019 Premiership...

[george33]

@duluth good choice rayasi at fullback big boot like zarn,bench looks good more experience in forwards but 2 rookie backs good luck

[Stargazer]

[Bovidae]

Wouldn't it make sense that Renton and Frizell are playing the 8 and 6, not as listed?

[Stargazer]

@bovidae Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I also can't imagine this being a request from the ABs coaches. Maybe a mistake?

[Chris B.]

@bovidae Slightly surprising - though Shannon has played No. 8 for us before.

I wonder whether the main plan for the season is for Taina Fox-Matamua to be the starting 8, with Renton at 6. That was how we played the play-off games last year.

I also wonder a bit why Ethan Blackadder hasn't been released to play - he won't have had any rugby for weeks? They could have kept Sotutu as the spare loosie this week.

Edit: Also a bit surprising to see Quinten Strange on the bench again, this week. The backs look stronger with Fetuli Paea starting. Maybe with Grooby there as well, though I didn't think he kicked particularly well in the little bit I saw of him last week.

Bench forwards look pretty robust.

[Bovidae]

@chris-b Is Nankivell not available?

[Chris B.]

@bovidae He's in the squad, so presumably injured - but, I've got no news of him.

Similarly Makalio - I presume they wouldn't have named him if he wasn't due back at some point.

Cirikidaveta and Fox-Matamua also MIA.

[Stargazer]

@chris-b Other provinces have also named injured players in their squad, who will not play this season. Hoping for you that Makalio will become available this season, but presuming he will because he's named in the Mako squad, nope.

[KiwiMurph]

That's why Heem plays wing in Super....

[gt12]

@kiwimurph said in Tasman v Auckland:

That's why Heem plays wing in Super....

Was that Frizell who just waved him through?

[Tim]

Big run from Ekuasi.