Five All Blacks named in Auckland Mitre 10 squad
Auckland have named five All Blacks in their Mitre 10 squad as they mount the defence of the title they won in 2018.
The season begins in earnest next Friday night at Eden Park against North Harbour. The annual ‘Battle of the Bridge’ will surely produce an enthralling contest on the back of the squad announced by Alama Ieremia and his coaching team.
The 40-man strong squad named – which includes five All Blacks – for the campaign features several notable returnees from last year as well as new up-and-coming talent from the local club scene in Auckland.
Dalton Papalii, Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu and Rieko Ioane are all vying for a spot in Steve Hansen’s 31-man squad, and are unlikely to feature heavily in the Mitre 10.
In the forwards, Robbie Abel, Jack Whetton, Dalton Papalii, Blake Gibson and Akira Ioane are all back for another tilt at the title. Scott Scrafton also returns after missing all of last year’s campaign with injury.
New players to squad include young flanker Cameron Suafoa of College Rifles who is primed to add valuable experience at a higher level to his already considerable frame. Hooker Michael Lea and Lock Peter-Chanel Tagaloa, both of Marist, will look to bring their own brands of dynamic physicality from the club scene to the Mitre10 Cup.
The backs, once again, have an exciting flavour to them. Jonathan Ruru and Harry Plummer will aim to build on their relationship at the 9-10 axis with TJ Faiane, Tumua Manu and Tanielu Tele’a battling it out in the midfield. Caleb Clarke and Salesi Rayasi will ensure there’s no shortage of speed, power and guile on the flanks.
Providing plenty of competition and support out wide will be new and local lads to the group. Danny Tusitala, of Ponsonby and the Samoan Sevens team, will look to bring his high tempo game at halfback. Papatoetoe’s D’Angelo Leuila is also likely to be afforded time in the middle to show off his own dazzling array of skills in the playmaker role.
Alama Ieremia will once again lead the side as Head Coach with able support provided by Filo Tiatia, Tai Lavea, Mike Casey and Sir Graham Henry.
Ieremia is under no illusions heading into the opening round as to how difficult it will be to repeat last year’s efforts.
“For us, it’s about going out and winning it all over again. 2018 has been and gone, and we celebrated those achievements last year. It’s now all about being prepared and ready for each challenge and each game that awaits us.”
Regarding those selected in the squad, Ieremia conceded that not all would play right away, but that good form would be rewarded if players performed for other representative sides.
“Our representative programme is aligned from the top-down, and we’re extremely lucky to have great support from our clubs and their coaches to allow us to pick from such a strong and talented player-base.”
2019 Auckland Mitre 10 Cup squad:
Robbie Abel (College Rifles)
Leni Apisai (Loaned)
Michael Lea (Marist)
Jarred Adams (Suburbs)
Rob Cobb (Ponsonby)
Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby)
Alex Hodgman (Suburbs)
Taniela Koroi (Marist)
Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Suburbs)
Marcel Renata (University)
Angus Ta’avao (Eden)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Grammar TEC)
Jamie Lane (Ponsonby)
Scott Scrafton (Grammar TEC)
Peter-Chanel Tagaloa (Marist)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Ponsonby)
Jack Whetton (Grammar TEC)
Lyndon Dunshea (University)
Cameron Suafoa (College Rifles)
Adrian Choat (Waitemata)
Blake Gibson (Ponsonby)
Dalton Papalii (Pakuranga)
Akira Ioane (Ponsonby)
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Ponsonby)
Hoskins Sotutu (Marist)
Desma Liaina (Eden)
Jonathan Ruru (University)
Danny Tusitala (Ponsonby)
Daniel Kirkpatrick (University)
D’Angelo Leuila (Papatoetoe)
Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC)
TJ Faiane (Pakuranga)
Tumua Manu (College Rifles)
Tanielu Tele’a (Marist)
Caleb Clarke (Suburbs)
Kurt Heatherley (Loaned)
Rieko Ioane (Ponsonby)
AJ Lam (Grammar TEC)
Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)
*One Back to be added
– Auckland Rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
Think it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
235 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to comments