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After five weeks on sideline Papalii puts All Blacks hand up once again
By Ian Cameron
Injured All Black Dalton Papalii is to make his return to the field this week after five weeks on the sidelines.
Papalii injured his ankle against Bay of Plenty in Round 3 of the Mitre 10 Cup but is set to return for Auckland against Southland this weekend.
Papalii will don the number six jersey allowing teammate Adrian Choat to continue in his favoured openside role.
The looseforward - who can play both open and blindside - was not considered as an All Blacks option due to the injury. With three caps to his name, the 21-year-old will be eager to throw his name into the mix should New Zealand suffered injuries to their backrow in Japan.
As well as Papalii, Auckland are boosted this weekend by the return of Scott Scrafton to the
forward pack.
The blue and white hoops currently sit outside a semi-final spot, but know that positive results in the final two rounds will give them every chance at playing finals footy in 2019.
Head Coach Alama Ieremia is adamant that the team can put in a performance to be proud of. With key players back in for this week, Scrafton and Papalii in particular, Ieremia is well aware of what the two will bring come Saturday.
“They bring a lot of enthusiasm and experience, and they’ve really fired into their work this
week. They’re leaders in their roles, and as a leader you tend to do what’s best with the rest
following on from there.”
Auckland team to play Southland:
1. Alex Hodgman (Suburbs, 8 caps)
2. Leni Apisai (Loaned, 8)
3. Marcel Renata (University, 40)
4. Scott Scrafton (Grammar TEC, 26)
5. Jack Whetton (Grammar TEC, 35)
6. Dalton Papalii (Pakuranga, 15)
7. Adrian Choat (Waitemata, 9)
8. Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Ponsonby, 9)
9. Jonathan Ruru (University, 19)
10. Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC, 20)
11. Salesi Rayasi (Marist, 19)
12. TJ Faiane – C (Pakuranga, 36)
13. Tanielu Tele’a (Marist, 12)
14. Caleb Clarke (Suburbs, 18)
15. Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby, 21)
16. Robbie Abel (College Rifles, 15)
17. Jarred Adams (Suburbs, 14)
18. Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby, 15)
19. Jamie Lane (Ponsonby, 13)
20. Akira Ioane (Ponsonby, 44)
21. Danny Tusitala (Ponsonby, 8)
22. Daniel Kirkpatrick (University, 8)
23. Tumua Manu (College Rifles, 20)
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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