Son of former All Blacks great among key figures in powerful Auckland Mitre 10 Cup squad
Auckland have named a powerful 40-man squad for this season’s Mitre 10 Cup as they look to clinch their second domestic title in three years.
Head coach Alama Ieremia will have plenty of experience and a multitude of talent to draw upon this season, with 13 of his players featuring for the Blues in their impressive Super Rugby and Super Rugby Aotearoa campaigns.
A further nine players have Super Rugby experience, either from Blues teams in years gone by or with other franchises this season, while Ieremia has five All Blacks – Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Angus Ta’avao Patrick Tuipuloutu, Akira Ioane and Rieko Ioane – in his ranks.
How often he can call upon that quintet of players remains to be seen given this year’s international schedule is yet to be solidified, but there can be no denying the depth Ieremia has at his disposal.
“We have an experienced squad this season, and it will be up to the players and management to lead from within the group, to get the best out of our preparation,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We haven’t had an ideal pre-season like other teams, but that’s not going to stop us from being excited and coming out firing for opening round.”
The former All Blacks midfielder is, of course, referring to the cancellation of pre-season fixtures and training schedules brought on by the outbreak of COVID-19 in Auckland last month that forced the city into level three lockdown.
Despite the disruptive start to the provincial campaign, there is plenty for Ieremia and the Auckland faithful to be excited about, particularly among the young cohort of players coming through the grades.
Perhaps the most eye-catching rookie named in this year’s squad is 20-year-old loose forward Niko Jones.
Son of former All Blacks great Michael Jones, Niko burst onto the scene as a schoolboy at St Peter’s College two years ago, where a string of standout performances led to his school crowned national champions in spite of their underdog status.
Canterbury are set to again be strong contenders for the #Mitre10Cup this year after unveiling a 37-man squad on Wednesday that oozes depth and experience.https://t.co/juQNFI7Nzy
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 2, 2020
Inclusion in that year’s New Zealand Schools squad was followed by selection in the 2019 All Blacks Sevens squad, although injury while playing for the national development side thwarted his chances of an international debut.
However, Jones has been handed his first opportunity at Mitre 10 Cup action this year, and is among a raft of highly-rated rookies, including 2019 Auckland academy members Taufa Funaki, Zarn Sullivan and Soane Vikena, who was named Development Player of the Year at the 2020 Blues Awards.
Elsewhere, new Hurricanes recruit Simon Hickey, young loose forward Adrian Choat, livewire halfback Danny Tusitala and Manu Samoa prop James Lay have all returned to the province after stints abroad in European and American club rugby.
Ieremia will hope the experience they gained overseas will complement the services of the likes of All Blacks hopefuls Caleb Clarke, Hoskins Sotutu, Alex Hodgman and Scott Scrafton, all of whom earned selection in this weekend’s North vs South clash in the wake of some impressive Super Rugby showings.
Auckland fans will get the chance to see their side in action for the first time this year next Saturday, when they open their domestic campaign against Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Auckland Mitre 10 Cup squad for 2020:
Forwards: Alex Hodgman, Jarred Adams, Leni Apisai, Mike Sosene, Soane Vikena, Joe Royal, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fatogia Paea, Angus Ta’avao, Marcel Renata, Marco Fepulea’i, James Lay, Scott Scrafton, Hamish Dalzell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jack Whetton, Liam Hallam-Eames, Sione Tuipulotu, Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa, Blake Gibson, Niko Jones, Adrian Choat, Hoskins Sotutu, Akira Ioane.
Backs: Jonathan Ruru, Taufa Funaki, Danny Tusitala, Simon Hickey, Zarn Sullivan, TJ Faiane, Harry Plummer, Tumua Manu, Inga Finau, Tanielu Tele’a, Rieko Ioane, Joel Cobb, Caleb Clarke, Salesi Rayasi, AJ Lam, Jordan Trainor.
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments