RD 6 2017: The Auckland Blues VS The Western Force.

[Dismal Pillock]

The Auckland Blues welcome The Road Kill Safety Western Force to Eden Park for a sumptious Saturday evening's entertainment.

For those of you not watching live, please remember to adjust your settings:

 

[zer0]

The Blues have a good record against international opposition under Umaga, with only the bollocking at the hands of the Lions as the sole blemish on their record. They should win this one.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Force need to step up as they were disappointing against saders

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[zer0]

To elaborate on the above, the Blues have a 10/1 international record, a +94 PD and an average score of 30-21.

Though if you remove the aforementioned Lions bollocking as an outlier, their numbers improve to a +132 PD and an average score of 32-19.

 

[Moono75]

Spare us from Rohan Hoffman and we may just be a chance.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^^^ wish granted:

Referee: Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

Actually not only do you not get him this week, no-one does, even as AR. I wonder if that's rest, rotation, or something else?

 

[KiwiM]

Blues
1 Pauliasi Manu, 2 James Parsons (c), 3 Charlie Faumuina, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 6 Jimmy Tupou, 7 Murphy Taramai, 8 Jerome Kaino
9 Augustine Pulu, 10 Piers Francis, 11 Melani Nanai, 12 TJ Faiane, 13. George Moala, 14 Matt Duffie, 15 Michael Collins.
Reserves: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi or Sam Prattley, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Scott Scrafton, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Rieko Ioane.

Youngster TJ Faiane gets his first ever Super Rugby start after back to back season ending ACL injuries. Go well young jedi.

 

[Melchior]

^^^^^^^^^^^ wish granted:

Referee: Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

Actually not only do you not get him this week, no-one does, even as AR. I wonder if that's rest, rotation, or something else?

He's an assistant in the U20 tah/reds match this week. Precisely where he belongs.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^ so "something else", then

 

[Melchior]

Force named:

1. Ben Daley
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
3. Tetera Faulkner
4. Matt Philip
5. Richie Arnold
6. Ross Haylett-Petty
7. Matt Hodgson
8. Isi Naisarani
9. Ryan Louwrens
10. Jono Lance
11. Alex Newsome
12. Billy Meakes
13. Marcel Brache
14. Chance Peni
15. Dane Haylett-Petty

Reserves

1. Anaru Rangi
2. Pek Cowan
3. Shambeckler Vui
4. Richard Hardwick
5. Kane Koteka
6. Michael Ruru
7. Ian Prior
8. Robbie Coleman

 

[Shaker]

Very interesting team. Rona has concussion apparantly, Morahan rested?

 

[Lee Grant]

Under 20s player Shambeckler Vui

The Force U20 coach told me a few weeks ago that he was "making a call" that the 19-year-old THP would play Super Rugby one day - and he is.

Wow.
.

 

[Moono75]

Good to see DHP and Meakes back in for the team. Will miss Rona but Brache played OK last week. We could be a really good team if we just had all the pieces in place at the one time. Need to get Adam Coleman and Benny Mac back ASAP and playing good footy.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Out on a limb this week - Force to get the win by 5.

 

[Forcefield]

Would love it if we did. While we could be doing better on the ladder so far, we are 1/1 at home. Win your home games and pinch a couple away and you could be up the right end of the table come the end of the season.

 

[ChargerWA]

The Forces head space will be key to the outcome. Equal chances to come out and surprise the Blues or come out with their heads down and get thumped.

The latest Pandaram stitch up article says their heads are down.

 

[Moono75]

A couple of Force posts on Instagram show them in good spirits. Shambeckler Vui length of the field try for the win. Come on Force!

 

[Lee Grant]

There is an excellent preview by Shaker here:

​

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/preview-blues-v-force/​

Give it a click.
.

 

[RugbyReg]

It's a very decent Force team and a Blues team with a heap of changes.

But the whole Eden Park hoodoo thing is tough to overlook.


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[KiwiM]

It's a very decent Force team and a Blues team with a heap of changes.

But the whole Eden Park hoodoo thing is tough to overlook.

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Heap of changes is pushing it. 2 changes to the starting XV and 1 positional change.