Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022
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Ezekiel Lindenmuth
Samiuela Moli
Sekope Kepu (C)
Veikoso Poloniati
Michael Curry
Sione Tu’ipulotu
Solomone Funaki
Henry Time-Stowers
Ereatara Enari
Christian Leali’ifano
Anzelo Tuitavuki
Solomone Kata
Fine Inisi
Timoci Tavatavanawai (debut)
William Havili
Luteru Tolai
Abraham Pole
Chris Apoua
Alex McRobbie
Alamanda Motuga
Dwayne Polataivao
Lincoln McClutchie
Tomasi AlosioMoana Pasifika Team Named For Blues, Eden Park
Moana Pasifika have named their team to play the rematch against the Blues on Saturday. Round 7 of DHL Super Rugby Pacific sees the two Auckland-based teams play each other twice in the space of four days. With the short turnaround, Head Coach Aaron Mauger has named a very different side to the team who went down on Tuesday 32-19.Sekope Kepu returns to Captain the side and is joined in the front row by Ezekiel Lindenmuth and Samiuela Moli at hooker. Veikoso Poloniati and Michael Curry will combine at lock to round out the tight five. Curry started Tuesday’s match and earnt his start on Saturday after a tremendous performance on debut.
The same starting loose forward trio from Moana Pasifika’s historic 24-19 win over the Hurricanes will return to the field with Tu’ipulotu, Funaki and Time-Stowers set to play at Eden Park.
Ereatara Enari will combine with Christian Leali’ifano in a new 9 & 10 combination which boasts plety of Super Rugby experience.
An unchanged starting midfield combination in Solomone Kata and Fine Inisi will look to build on their fine form from Tuesday’s game.
Playing three games in eight days has seen several debutants take the field and Tasman Mako flyer Timoci Tavatavanawai will make his long awaited debut on the right wing. Anzelo Tuitavuki keeps his left wing spot from Tuesday and William Havili returns to fullback.
There is plenty of impact and firepower to come from the bench with the likes of experienced Manu Samoa halfback Dwayne Polataivao and Tuesday night try scorers Luteru Tolai, Abraham Pole and Tomasi Alosio.
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MacDonald confirmed Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was an unlikely starter for Saturday as he works back from his shoulder injury, and with Beauden Barrett out in concussion protocols and Josh Goodhue, Dalton Papalii, Rieko Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu all nursing blows from the trip to Dunedin, he has a bit to think about on the selection front.
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@tim promising he brackets Goodhue as an injury rather than Concussion protocols.
But on Beaudy, yikes, poor buggar, expect it must be a shit issue to come back from, as it would likely make you a bit tentative going into contact, which is a bad thing in itself!
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Predictions for Saturday’s team?
15 Sullivan
14 Lam/Kneepkens
13 Heem
12 Evans
11 Clarke
10 Perofeta
9 Christie8 Segner
7 Choat
6 Suafoa
5 Darry
4 Tucker
3 Tuungufasi
2 Eklund
1 Lay16 Vikena
17 Tu'inukuafe
18 Renata
19 Romano/Plumtree
20 Plumtree/Ekuasi
21 Nock/Funaki
22 Tele’a
23 McKenzie/Kneepkens/Lam/Telea -
@tim who's your captain...
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@taniwharugby Christie. Romano if he’s replaced.
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Forgot Tom Robinson. He starts with Suafoa or Plumtree on the bench?
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@tim he's been unusually quiet this year, solid but not upto his usual standards.
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@tim are they going to back up forwards? Can see Segner sitting or bench, as well as Darry.
Tucker definitely, Eklund definitely, hopefully BB right
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@nzzp Maybe have an extra forward on the bench?
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@tim said in Blues 2022:
Forgot Tom Robinson. He starts with Suafoa or Plumtree on the bench?
Sotutu at 8 surely.
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@kiwimurph I left out the players carrying injuries.
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I'm guessing that some of the midfielders such as Aumua are injured.
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Rieko, Hoskins and Beauden are on All Black leave, back next weekend
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@tim said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
I'm guessing that some of the midfielders such as Aumua are injured.
Also weird that Visinia is not getting a run on the bench. Fomai must also be injured as well for Tuitavuki to be starting again.
Only 4 Magpies in the team this week, I can't abide this.
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Well, I got the backs and Suafoa right this week.
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Good to see Robinson at lock.
Plenty of experience on the bench
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Players not considered: Beauden Barrett, Josh Goodhue, Akira Ioane, Rieko Ioane, Nepo Laulala, Harry Plummer, Hoskins Sotutu, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Sam Darry.
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Hope we've fixed our defence against the rolling maul for this game. Quite happy with the team we've put out in the circumstances, especially with Corey Evans at 12, he looks a quality player. Good bench we have as well.
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Sullivan covering 10?
Any news on Laulala being suspended?
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Couple of minor things:
Tu'inukuafe bracketed with Lay on the bench.
- Karl Tu’inukuafe (34)/Jordan Lay (2)
Tele'a not Telea on the bench.
- Tanielu Tele’a (16)
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Darry and Goodhue being injured means that all five locks from last year are unavailable!
Would love to know if anyone has been brought into the training group.
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@tim said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
Sullivan covering 10?
Any news on Laulala being suspended?
3 weeks, in SR 2022 thread
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@african-monkey yea excited to see Evans get a start. He is deceptively quick and having played 10 as a schoolboy has a good skillset. He might've missed a possible 4 on 2 on Tuesday night opting to carry instead but apart from that acquitted himself very well when the pressure went on in that 2nd half.
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Really excited to see Suafoa and Evans start.
Pleased to see JRK and Vikena on the bench too.
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@nogusta said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
@african-monkey yea excited to see Evans get a start. He is deceptively quick and having played 10 as a schoolboy has a good killset. He might've missed a possible 4 on 2 on Tuesday night opting to carry instead but apart from that acquitted himself very well when the pressure went on in that 2nd half.
I really like his quick feet so I’m pleased to see him get a go.
I’d prefer having RTS available though.
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Bluuuuueeesss by a thoooooouuuusand.
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Blues have picked a very mobile starting forward pack. Wonder if they will look to go a bit wider? Maybe stress kick chase?
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@tim said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
Blues have picked a very mobile starting forward pack. Wonder if they will look to go a bit wider? Maybe stress kick chase?
MP had alot of stoppages on Tuesday, so hopefully they get the refs ear about that sort of gamesmanship.
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@tim said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
Ezekiel Lindenmuth
Samiuela Moli
Sekope Kepu (C)
Veikoso Poloniati
Michael Curry
Sione Tu’ipulotu
Solomone Funaki
Henry Time-Stowers
Ereatara Enari
Christian Leali’ifano
Anzelo Tuitavuki
Solomone Kata
Fine Inisi
Timoci Tavatavanawai (debut)
William Havili
Luteru Tolai
Abraham Pole
Chris Apoua
Alex McRobbie
Alamanda Motuga
Dwayne Polataivao
Lincoln McClutchie
Tomasi AlosioMoana Pasifika Team Named For Blues, Eden Park
Moana Pasifika have named their team to play the rematch against the Blues on Saturday. Round 7 of DHL Super Rugby Pacific sees the two Auckland-based teams play each other twice in the space of four days. With the short turnaround, Head Coach Aaron Mauger has named a very different side to the team who went down on Tuesday 32-19.Sekope Kepu returns to Captain the side and is joined in the front row by Ezekiel Lindenmuth and Samiuela Moli at hooker. Veikoso Poloniati and Michael Curry will combine at lock to round out the tight five. Curry started Tuesday’s match and earnt his start on Saturday after a tremendous performance on debut.
The same starting loose forward trio from Moana Pasifika’s historic 24-19 win over the Hurricanes will return to the field with Tu’ipulotu, Funaki and Time-Stowers set to play at Eden Park.
Ereatara Enari will combine with Christian Leali’ifano in a new 9 & 10 combination which boasts plety of Super Rugby experience.
An unchanged starting midfield combination in Solomone Kata and Fine Inisi will look to build on their fine form from Tuesday’s game.
Playing three games in eight days has seen several debutants take the field and Tasman Mako flyer Timoci Tavatavanawai will make his long awaited debut on the right wing. Anzelo Tuitavuki keeps his left wing spot from Tuesday and William Havili returns to fullback.
There is plenty of impact and firepower to come from the bench with the likes of experienced Manu Samoa halfback Dwayne Polataivao and Tuesday night try scorers Luteru Tolai, Abraham Pole and Tomasi Alosio.
Bit of important info from that same media release:
Unavailable for selection: Xavier Cowley-Tuioti, Jack Lam, Josh Kaifa, Isi Tu’ungafasi, Lotu Inisi, Don Lolo, D’Angelo Leuila, Niko Jones, Levi Aumua, Danny Toala, Henry Taefu, Taukiaha’amea Koloamtangi, Lolagi Visinia, Manu Paea, Jonathan Taumateine, Samuel Slade, Neria Foma’i, Tima Fainga’anuku, Ray Niuia
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@tim said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
Blues have picked a very mobile starting forward pack. Wonder if they will look to go a bit wider? Maybe stress kick chase?
I thought the Blues ruck play was sloppy in the midweek game. Choat doesn't put much pressure on over the ball, Segner has a bad habit of putting hands on the ground before attempting a steal, Plumtree was very quiet etc
Maybe the mobile pack is about getting a few more turnovers and/or forcing them to commit more?
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@stargazer said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
Bit of important info from that same media release:
I'll put my toys back in the cot now. Covid?
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Big chance for Suafoa at 6. At 196cm tall and 116kg he's got the frame that's for sure.
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Hopefully we put in a more convincing performance.
MP can't catch a break. They're missing most of their backs from the Canes game.
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@nepia said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
@stargazer said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
Bit of important info from that same media release:
I'll put my toys back in the cot now. Covid?
Looks like it.
Levi Aumua posted that he's iso training.
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would be nice to see Tasman winger Timoci score on Debut , he's paying $4 anytime try scorer 👀
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