Auckland vs Taranaki

[Duluth]

15. Brent Ward
14. Atieli Pakalani
13. Ben Atiga
12. Jamie Helleur
11. Bryce Heem
10. Matt Berquist
9. Toby Morland
8. Chris Lowrey
7. Daniel Braid (c)
6. Peter Saili
5. Andrew van der Heijden
4. Liaki Moli
3. Charlie Faumuina
2. Tom McCartney
1. Tevita Mailau

Reserves: Ash Dixon, Angus Ta'avao, Kurtis Haiu, Adam Kleeberger, Brenton Helleur, Gareth Anscombe, Winston Stanley

Loads of changes (although Stanley and Afoa return the AB's and Auva'a is injured)

Heem comes home, I'm a little surprised he's come in for Thomas and not Pakalani
Lowrey replaces the injured Auva'a
Kurtis gets dropped for Liaki Moli

The bench is interesting - Gareth Anscombe gets a chance ahead of Moeke (yay!), Winston Stanley comes back from injury and a Canadian international Kleeburger is on the bench

[Watu]

How come the province that gave us such backrow luminaries as Brooke, Jones, Whetton et al have a canuck on the bench? Sheesh.

And its not like hes been battling away in Auckland club rugby either:
http://www.rugbycanada.ca/leagues/ne...D=0&page=45948

[mimic]

auvaa got injured and is pryor an aucklander playing for northland?

[Duluth]

How come the province that gave us such backrow luminaries as Brooke, Jones, Whetton et al have a canuck on the bench? Sheesh.

Totally agree. I just assumed someone like Hamish Paterson would be on the bench.

Unless the guy is an absolute superstar I'd rather a local guy was at least given a shot. Particularly when you see unknown Auckland club players performing else where with distinction (Pryor, Semple etc)

The other interesting name on the bench is Ta'avao. Who was the NZ u20's vice captain. So Moli and Ta'avao have been promoted fast.. hopefully Polwart doesn't have to wait long either

[Duluth]

auvaa got injured and is pryor an aucklander playing for northland?

Yeah another loan player

I reckon Paterson could have done the 6.5 role that Auva'a was doing..

Edit - Oops Paterson is playing in Sydney now

[Red Beard]

Kieran Williams a Te Aroha boy is a very good flanker and plenty hard nosed. Plays for University club and currently away captaining NZU in Spain. Wonder when he will get his shot? Played Auckland Development last year also. Athletic, skilled and fearless.

Here is the big fella in action doing the damage.

Auckland+Club+Rug&#.jpg

[Kirwan]

Thomas is injured I think.

[Tim]

Berquist and Morland are rubbish. It's pretty shitty that the biggest province is starting players of that ilk.

[Tim]

BTW, how the fuck has Andy Dalton managed to keep his job for so long!? Under him Auckland has become an also ran.

[Tim]

Great play by Ward and the pacey but raw Pakalani. Morland (they actually recruited this fuck?) and Berquist get worse by the minute. Who are they going to recruit next, Kirkpatrick?

[Voltron]

Is it just me or is it bring your own socks day for Auckland?

[rustycruiser]

Wear your club socks day? Or your high school socks day?

And the answer is :

No, Auckland team manager Steve Devine has not lost the team’s socks in the wash. On Sunday Auckland Rugby celebrates Club Day and to mark the special occasion all the players will all be running out in their clubs socks, recognising all the clubs that make up this proud Union.

[rustycruiser]

Oh, and Taranaki just scored to make it 14 - 10 to the Jaffas.

[Nepia]

Great play by Ward and the pacey but raw Pakalani. Morland (they actually recruited this fuck?) and Berquist get worse by the minute. Who are they going to recruit next, Kirkpatrick?

I'll happily swap Kirkpatrick for Berquist right now.

Ps: Funnily enough I didn't notice the socks until I read this thread.

[Winger]

Oh, and Taranaki just scored to make it 14 - 10 to the Jaffas.

Was this the final score

[mimic]

27-13 i think.. to Auckland

[rocketx]

Berquist and Morland are rubbish. It's pretty shitty that the biggest province is starting players of that ilk.

You can't be serious? Imagine if Ripia and Moa were on the Auckland side. Berquist/Morland are better.

[KiwiMurph]

In a positive for Auckland Moli went really well on his run on debut - hes got terrific hands which really come in handy on kickoff/lineout time. If he can stay injury free i'd have no problem picking him in the Blues/Blues WTS next year - seems like he's destined for big things.

[Cactus Jack]

What a shit fest of a game . Taranaki played the way they did against Northland . I am still kicking myself for sitting through the whole game . I must love pain .