Super players return for final pre-season hit out

Akira Ioane makes his 2018 Auckland bow this Friday (Photosport NZ)

 

  • Final pre-season hit out for Auckland on Friday against Bay of Plenty
  • Returning Super Rugby players add firepower to forward pack and back line

 

Auckland are looking to sign-off their pre-season in style with their final hit out coming on Friday against Bay of Plenty in Katikati. The match will look to provide the coaching team with plenty to ponder as the start of the Mitre 10 Cup season approaches, but also, allows for players to make a late play for a spot in the opening matchday squad.

There are a number of Super Rugby players who will make their Auckland bow for 2018. Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson and Dalton Papali’I form a powerful and mobile loose forward trio, while halfback Jonathan Ruru makes his first appearance in blue and white hoops after making the shift north this year.

The likes of TJ Faiane, Melani Nanai and Jordan Trainor round out what could prove to be a more than exciting backline. Daniel Kirkpatrick is also likely to get some minutes under his belt having been named on an extended bench. His experience and guidance for a youthful Auckland squad could prove to be invaluable throughout the course of the season.

After coming away with a positive result from Wellington last Friday, there will be plenty of motivation for this Auckland side to reproduce that same form against a Bay of Plenty team who managed to put away North Harbour in convincing fashion recently.

Despite it still only being pre-season, the compressed nature of the Mitre 10 Cup competition means form and momentum can be a crucial factor, and selection headaches for Head Coach Alama Ieremia can only be a good thing if this promising form and level of player performances continues come Friday.

 

Auckland team to play Bay of Plenty:

  1. Jarred Adams (Suburbs)
  2. Leif Schwencke (Suburbs)
  3. Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby)
  4. Jamie Lane (Ponsonby)
  5. Jack Whetton (Grammar TEC)
  6. Dalton Papalii (Pakuranga)
  7. Blake Gibson (Ponsonby)
  8. Akira Ioane (Ponsonby)
  9. Jonathan Ruru (University)
  10. Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC)
  11. Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
  12. TJ Faiane (Pakuranga)
  13. Tanielu Tele’a (Marist)
  14. Melani Nanai (Manukau Rovers)
  15. Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)

 

  1. Penisoni Fineanganofo (Papatoetoe)
  2. Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Suburbs)
  3. Taniela Koroi (Marist)
  4. Evan Olmstead (Suburbs)
  5. Faatiga Lemalu (Papatoetoe)
  6. Ezra Meleisea (Pakuranga)
  7. Taina Fox-Matamua (Ponsonby)
  8. Adrian Choat (Waitemata)
  9. Desma Liaina (Eden)
  10. Daniel Kirkpatrick (University)
  11. Nikolai Foliaki (Grammar TEC)
  12. AJ Lam (Grammar TEC)
  13. Jacob Umaga (Eden)

 

Match details:

Who: Auckland v Bay of Plenty

Where: Katikati Rugby & Sports Club

When: Friday 10 August, 2.45pm

 

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