QF - North Harbour v Auckland
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The round robin match was 36-26 to Auckland. On form I think it might be a similar score but with the result switched
Halangahu has got the Harbour backline working well. The best back 3 in the competition
I presume Zarn will still be missing for this match?
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@Duluth Are Henry Taefu and Fine Inisi injured? Taefu hasn't played since the Northland game, and Inisi not since the week before that (BOP).
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Previous playoff results:
Year Match Result 1993 Semi Final Auckland won 43-20 1994 Final Auckland won 16-22 1995 Semi Final Auckland won 60-26 1999 Semi Final Auckland won 38-30 2005 Semi Final Auckland won 38-24 So no playoff wins for Harbour yet. Also this is only the second time they've hosted a playoff match between the two sides
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One thing we know.
Pugh will be starting at 8.
The weather forecast looks promising for Friday - which would suit Harbour I would say.
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@KiwiMurph commentators thought he had a good game on Saturday...
There is no way he is the best 8 available from the Auckland comp!
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I believe Patty T will be back for this one and Akira will replace Choat who is injured.
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@Nogusta said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:
I believe Patty T will be back for this one and Akira will replace Choat who is injured.
Sweet!
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@Duluth yep Zarn still out - along with Heem and Rayasi too now. Aoake and McKenzie likely replacements.
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@Nogusta Lam at centre? RTS at 2nd 5 or on the wing?
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@Tim Hickey 10, Plummer 12
, Lam 13, RTS 14 -
@Nogusta Cheers!
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@Nogusta said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:
@Tim Hickey 10, Plummer 12
, Lam 13, RTS 14I thought that combo has been a bit disjointed to close out games.
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@Tim said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:
@Nogusta Lam at centre? RTS at 2nd 5 or on the wing?
I heard considering RTS at fullback for this week
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@Nogusta said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:
I believe Patty T will be back for this one and Akira will replace Choat who is injured.
Patrick should squeeze Vest out of the 23. So that's a big upgrade
The likely trio will be 7 Gibson, 8 Pugh, 6 Ioane. I presume Ekuasi would be the best bench option?
I would like to see Ioane at 8 with Peita starting and Pugh out of the 23. The AB's have subbed Ioane on at 8 twice in the RC so there's an outside chance they want him to have more practise at the back of the scrum. It won't happen though.
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Would feel pretty bad for Peita to get man of the match and then miss out on the 23 by a returning AB swanning back in who hasn't played a game all season.
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The Battle of The Bridge turns to high stakes at North Harbour Stadium
Auckland take on North Harbour with a spot in the Bunnings Warehouse NPC semi-finals up for grabs. Auckland fans...
Unavailable: Salesi Rayasi, Bryce Heem, Adrian Choat, Hamdahn Tuipulotu, Niko Jones, Zarn Sullivan, Tanielu Tele’a, Jamie Lane.
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That's a large pack
Auckland are running out of outside backs.
Happy they went for the Evans/Lam midfield, they were combining well in the first month of the competition
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@Duluth said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:
That's a large pack
Auckland are running out of outside backs.
Happy they went for the Evans/Lam midfield, they were combining well in the first month of the competition
Hope it rains and we can rely on the scrum again.
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Look forward to seeing RTS on wing and Lam at centre. Good opportunity for both.
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@ARHS RTS marking Tevita Li should be fun.
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@Duluth said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:
Unavailable: Salesi Rayasi, Bryce Heem, Adrian Choat, Hamdahn Tuipulotu, Niko Jones, Zarn Sullivan, Tanielu Tele’a, Jamie Lane.
That’s quite the outside backs casualty ward!
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@ACT-Crusader said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:
That’s quite the outside backs casualty ward!
despite that I would still have preferred they use one of youngsters Joel Cobb or Caleb Tangitau on the left wing to mark Mark Telea rather than journeyman Aoake. Although pleased he is on the left wing where he seems more comfortable than on the right.
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Even if it's out of necessity happy to see RTS on the wing again.
Pleased that Peita made the 23.
I don't really like ABs swanning back in to play playoff games without playing any regular season games but good to see Tuipulotu fit.
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Harbour have been pretty poor at naming their sides this season.
Cant find anything so far for tomorrows game but suspect its a pretty predictable team.
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NORTH HARBOUR
15 - Shaun Stevenson
14 - Mark Telea
13 - Moses Leo
12 - Henry Taefu
11 - Tevita Li
10 - Bryn Gatland (capt)
9 - Jamie Booth
8 - Cameron Suafoa
7 - Jed Melvin
6 - Tamarau McGahan
5 - Felix Kalapu
4 - Isoa Nasilasila
3 - Nick Mayhew
2 - Ray Niuia
1 - Tevita Langi16 - Luteru Tolai
17 - Alex Fidow
18 - Sam Davies
19 - Danny Drake
20 - Lotu Inisi
21 - Siaosi Nginingini
22 - Fine Inisi
23 - Kade Banks -
Similar Harbour xv to last week
Taefu replaces Solomona
Melvin replaces Inisi -
Weather has been absolutely awful this week. Really hope the conditions are good tomorrow night!
Unfortunately, the Metservice predictions have been basically random numbers this week.
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@Tim Tomorrow should be good and light winds. Unleash the backs!
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A perfect evening on the Shore, which is easily the best part of New Zealand. Should be a great game.
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@Tim said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:
A perfect evening on the Shore, which is easily the best part of New Zealand. Should be a great game.
Conditions are good for Harbour's style. The best back three in the comp will be hard to stop
I'm still picking a reversal of the round robin result: 36-26 but this time to Harbour
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Interesting change for Auckland
Hickey starting,Plummer to 12 Evans to the bench. -
@Nogusta said in QF - North Harbour v Auckland:
@Tim Hickey 10, Plummer 12
, Lam 13, RTS 14"Late change for Auckland with Hickey at 10"
More like
"Team is as @Nogusta suggested 4 days ago".
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interesting question - is that a knock on against Funaki?
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NH scrum looking to be in trouble early
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3 Auckland scrums, 3 penalties to Auckland
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Pretty average game.
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@KiwiMurph very scrappy
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@Duluth Mayhew not a tight head, and up against quality opposition.
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Because Pugh can't control the ball at the back of the scrum Auckland miss out on a scrum penalty.
Inspired selection Alama......
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Auckland should have had a penalty but Pugh decided to pick it up from the base of the scrum for some bizarre reason.
