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SQUAD Shannon Paku
Position: fullback / wing Province: Auckland
Height: 1.82m Weight: 98kg Birthdate: 23.09.80
Season Games: 2 Total S12 Games: 11
Who says unions are enticing players to their provinces with Super 12 contracts - not Auckland, that's for sure (please read that sentence and add dripping sarcasm). The former Wellington fullback / wing is pretty much the only specialist fullback in the squad, so should get plenty of game time - shouold... | Doug Howlett
Position: wing Province: Auckland
Height: 1.85 m Weight: 92 kg Birthdate: 21.09.78 at Auckland
Season Games: 13 Total S12 Games: 62
The best winger in New Zealand at the moment, damn fast, hungry for work, and a nose for the tryline - scoring ten in Auckland's winning of the 2002 NPC, with two in the final. Also proved to be pretty handy at fullback, and may be used there to allow Caucaunibuca and Rokocoko onto the wings. | Rupeni Caucaunibuca
Position: wing Province: Northland
Height: 1.78 m Weight: 96kg Birthdate: 05.05.80
Season Games: 8 Total S12 Games: 10
An injury hit Super 12 last season, and suffering from a crap Northland season in the NPC. Started to pick up a little form in the last few games of the season for the Cambridge Blues, and showed what a good player he can be. Should form the wing pairing for the Blues this season with Howlett, although will have pressure from New Zealand colt Joe Rocokoco who has recovered from a broken leg. | Joe Rokocoko
Position: wing Province: Auckland
Height: 1.89 m Weight: 98kg Birthdate: 06.06.83
Season Games: 13 Total S12 Games: 13
Can't wait to see Joe let lose at Super 12 level. BIg, strong, fast - everything you want in a winger, and young to boot. Will be battling Caucauinbuca to partner Howlett on the wings for the Blues this season. Blues certainly are well stocked in this department this season! | Malili Muliaina
Position: utility back Province: Auckland
Height: 1.83m Weight: 90kg Birthdate: 31.07.80
Season Games: 13 Total S12 Games: 28
The wing slash fullback slash centre slash phantom pisser. Started on the wing for Auckland in the NPC before becoming a suspended player before coming back to form a handy centre partnership with second five Tuitupou - Auckland at last finding a pairing to replace the mobility scooter boys Eroni Clarke and Lee Stensness! Plenty of pace, and seemed right at home in the 13 shirt. A more than handy fullback too. | Sam Tuitupou
Position: second five Province: Auckland
Height: 1.76m Weight: 86kg Birthdate: 01.02.82
Season Games: 12 Total S12 Games: 12
The league player in the XV game. Tuitopou prefers playing league, but is doing a not too bad job in the raa raa code, so is sticking with it. Broke through the old guard this season's NPC, relegating Clarke and Stensness to the bench and beyond in the latter stages of the competition. Combined well with the phantom pisser. | Lee Stensness
Position: second five / first five Province: Auckland
Height: 1.80m Weight: 88kg Birthdate: 23.12.70
Season Games: 2 Total S12 Games: 50
Must still be chuckling to himself after coming back to New Zealand to retire after earning the coin in France, and finding himself in now his SECOND Super 12 campaign with the Blues. Would be one of the last players left from the original Super 12 squads selected back in 1996. | Rico Gear
Position: centre / wing Province: North Harbour
Height: 1.81m Weight: 92kg Birthdate: 26.02.78
Season Games: 13 Total S12 Games: 31
Another player not to feature in the NPC thanks to injury. But was coming along fine in midfield last season for the Blues. | Jason Shoemark
Position: midfield Province: Northland
Height: 1.83.m Weight: 94kg Birthdate: 05.02.81
Season Games: 1 Total S12 Games: 6
Selected on promise more than form shown this season with the Northland side. But full marks for loyalty as the young fulla sticks with the Taniwha boys. Will enjoy getting quality ball and having decent players around him if he gets the chance for game time. Has a best time over 100m of 11.3 seconds. | Orene Ai'i
Position: first five / fullback Province: Auckland
Height: 1.70m Weight: 81kg Birthdate: 23.09.79
Season Games: 8 Total S12 Games: 26
The forgotten man for Auckland, missing the NPC with (I think), an operation to repair a shoulder. Played for the Crusaders development squad last season after being selected for the Crusaders but getting no game time for the Super 12 champions. First five cover for Spencer one would expect with no other specialist first five named in the side - Stensess maybe?? ......... nah! | Carlos Spencer
Position: first five / fullback Province: Auckland
Height: 1.84 m Weight: 95 kg Birthdate: 14.10.75 at Levin
Season Games: 12 Total S12 Games: 83
Is it a fullback, no, is it a fist five, no, it's SpencerMan. OK, that was slack, but Carlso seems equally at home in both positions now. Injured on the All Black tour before he could show his paces. Top NPC, with the good far outweighing the bad for a change. | David Gibson
Position: halfback Province: Auckland
Height: 1.76m Weight: 87kg Birthdate: 04.01.80
Season Games: 11 Total S12 Games: 18
A tidy little halfback in the 'new' mold, not a runner as New Zealand has had since Marshall came along, but a passer and clearer of the ball first, and a runner when the opportunity presents itself. | Steve Devine
Position: halfback Province: Auckland
Height: 1.76 m Weight: 80 kg Birthdate: 12.12.76
Season Games: 12 Total S12 Games: 38
The last man selected for the Blues squad in 2003, and only because the national selectors thought he'd make a good All Black. SO out went Mark Robinson, and in came Steve Devine. The little Aussie came to New Zealand a few years back with the express aim of making the All Blacks, and he has - good on him. Not in the mold of Kelleher and Marshall, Devine is more of a passer first, runner second at halfback - something that we need. Solid tour, not out of place at international level. | Daniel Braid
Position: flanker Province: Auckland
Height: 1.80m Weight: 96kg Birthdate: 12.02.81
Season Games: 12 Total S12 Games: 13
Youngster who burst onto the scene with Auckland in the 2002 NPC, and was rewarded with a place on the end of season All Black tour, leap frogging Otago's Sam Harding in the process.
A very quick opensider with a big tackle and good handling skills. Not a big bloke though by any stretch of the imagination. Son of 1983 All Black lock Gary Braid. | Justin Collins
Position: flanker Province: Auckland
Height: 1.94m Weight: 101kg Birthdate: 04.09.74
Season Games: 13 Total S12 Games: 49
Converted to a blindside flank with great success last NPC season as Auckland played new All Black Daniel Braid in the seven shirt. Will be Braid's back up for the seven jersey, and may struggle to play in the 6 shirt for the Blues, with Flavell and Maimuri both more powerful players gunning for the same spot, along with Rush and Cribb. But if looking for a pacey pack, he could get the spot. | Ron Cribb
Position: Number 8 Province: North Harbour
Height: 1.90m Weight: 107kg Birthdate: 07.07.76
Season Games: 2 Total S12 Games: 34
Ron the Crabb. Will be interesting to see if his tendency to run sideways has been fixed with his knee after the operation. Lucky to be selected really after not playing any NPC and having an average Super 12 last year. Stiull has plenty to offer if he gets stuck in and does some of the hard graft before he tries the flash harry stuff. | Angus Macdonald
Position: flanker Province: Auckland
Height: 1.94m Weight: 107kg Birthdate: 12.01.81
Season Games: 10 Total S12 Games: 10
Big loose forward who took his chances well for Auckland in the NPC - but better than Blair Urlich - time will tell, but maybe in the side because of the colour of his NPC jersey, not the quality of his play. Was invited to the All Black fitness tests at the start of 2003 though, so perhaps there is something there...? | Xavier Rush (captain)
Position: Number 8 / flanker Province: Auckland
Height: 1.87 m Weight: 108kg Birthdate: 13.07.77
Season Games: 12 Total S12 Games: 65
Must have gone close to an All Black recall with a huge NPC season from the boot of the Auckland scrum. An older and wiser player now, Rush is far more constructive around the field and consequently more effective in everything he does. Will be battling with Cribb for the eight jersey. If you want a number eight that runs forward, Rush is the man for the job until Cribb proves otherwise! | Troy Flavell
Position: lock / flanker Province: North Harbour
Height: 1.95m Weight: 116kg Birthdate: 04.11.76
Season Games: 2 Total S12 Games: 47
Now officially an Ex All Black after not being included in the 'unavailable' list released by the NZRFU when the touring side was named. Suffers still from being a half lock, half flanker, and having an ego the size of a small province and having to prove that he is the best / hardest / meanest player in New Zealand at the slightest provocation. Could actually be the best / hardest / meanest player if he decided just to play rugby and belt people with big tackles and big runs. | Vula Maimuri
Position: lock / flanker Province: Northland
Height: 2.00m Weight: 118kg Birthdate: 03.11.75
Season Games: 2 Total S12 Games: 19
Dynamic player in the air and around the field. Able to lock of flank with equal efficiency. Hard to stop with ball in hand, and a huge tackler in defence. | Bradley Mika
Position: lock Province: Auckland
Height: 1.98 m Weight: 123 kg Birthdate: 02.02.81 at Auckland
Season Games: 12 Total S12 Games: 18
Another player to benefit from a Crusader experience. Big NPC, with huge semi and final performances saw him selected for the All Black end of season tour. Certainly not an aerial lock, but a grafter who will add bulk to the tighthead side of the scrum, and an at times fearsome runner with the ball in hand. | Ali Williams
Position: lock Province: Auckland
Height: 2.02 m Weight: 106 kg Birthdate: 30.04.81 at Auckland
Season Games: 13 Total S12 Games: 17
The tallest player in the Blues squad, young Ali ploayed four games for the Blues last season, and featured in all the Auckland NPC games this season. Selected in the All Blacks for his ability to steal opposition linepout pill and for his skill in the air at kickoff time. Get around the field well and like tom run with the ball in hand - his 60m intercept try against Wellington was a gem. In just his 4th year of rugby after being a pretty handy soccer goal keeper. | Tony Woodcock
Position: prop Province: North Harbour
Height: 1.84 m Weight: 118 kg Birthdate: 27.01.81 at Helensville
Season Games: 13 Total S12 Games: 24
The Harbour prop was one of the few players north of the bridge that played well in the NPC this season. Solid at scrum time, and skilled with the ball in hand, he gets around the field and does his job with the maximum of efficiency and minimum of fuss. Just like a good prop should. Selected for the All Blacks end of season tour and handled himself well against the Welsh in his debut. | Nick White
Position: prop Province: Auckland
Height: 1.83m Weight: 114kg Birthdate: 01.05.74
Season Games: 4 Total S12 Games: 18
The props prop. No flash harry diets for this boy - sees no need to run around eating rabbit food when there is steak to be eaten. Shaped like a prop, plays like a prop, and can kick goals like a Don Clarke. Solid NPC performer, would be ranked number four of the Blues props. | Kees Meeuws
Position: prop Province: Auckland
Height: 1.83 m Weight: 121 kg Birthdate: 26.07.74 at Auckland
Season Games: 13 Total S12 Games: 71
There is one problem with the big bruiser, and that is his concentration at scrum time. Now and then he'll be off in laa laa land, and will get buckled. Not what you need at international level. Around the field still the massive presence he has always been. The second best in NZ after Greg Somerville. | Deacon Manu
Position: prop Province: Auckland
Height: 1.82m Weight: 120kg Birthdate: 18.02.78
Season Games: 9 Total S12 Games: 30
Finally decided. Manu a Blue for 2002, and back to Waikato for the NPC, unless he changes his mind again... A stupid move to come north to the Blues anyway - with All Black Kees Meeuws the number one tighthead in the squad, Manu would have to switch to loosehead, which we know he can do, but he is now up against new All Black Tony Woodcock for that position. Could become another of the many players Auckland have bought only to see sit on the bench. | Keven Mealamu
Position: hooker Province: Auckland
Height: 1.81 m Weight: 102 kg Birthdate: 20.03.79
Season Games: 12 Total S12 Games: 42
Once a Chief, now a Blue once more, and an All Black to boot. Had added a little bulk to his frame, and is looking good for it. Still an explosive force around the field, his increased scrummaging presence (and combination with tighthead Kees Meeuws) has seen him blossom this season. A nose for the tryline. Started career as a flanker, but too short, so moved into the front row. | Derren Witcombe
Position: hooker Province: Northland
Height: 1.85m Weight: 114 kg Birthdate: 30.10.78
Season Games: 10 Total S12 Games: 21
Gets the nod ahead of Slade McFarland. Like the rest of the Northland players in the Blues, he's there on last seasons form and future potential. Didn't have a good season at all in the NPC. |
RESULTS February 21 v WARATAHS @ Sydney
Won 31-18
Scoring: Caucaunibuca 2, Rokocoko, Gibson tries; Ai'i conversion, 3 penalties. | February 28 v CHIEFS @ Hamilton
Won 30-27
Scoring: Caucaunibuca 2, Rush, Devine tries; Spencer 2 cons, 2 pens. | March 8 v CRUSADERS @ Albany
Won 39-5
Scoring: Caucaunibuca, Rokocoko, Tuitupou, Spencer, Howlett tries; Spencer 2 pens, 3 cons. Muliaina con. | March 21 v REDS @ Whangarei
Won 62-20
Scoring: Tuitupou, Muliaina, Braid, Gibson, Howlett (2), Spencer, Woodcock, Ai'i tries; Spencer 5, Ai'i 2 cons, Spencer pen. | March 28 v BRUMBIES @ Auckland
Won 41-15
Scoring: Caucaunibuca 2, Howlett, Rush, penalty tries; Spencer 5 con, 2 pen. | April 4 v HIGHLANDERS @ Dunedin
Lost 11-22
Scoring: Braid try; Spencer 2 pens. | April 12 v BULLS @ Pretoria
Won 56-28
Scoring: Howlett (2), Collins (2), Rokocoko, Gibson, Caucaunibuca, Ai'i, Gear tries; Spencer (3), Ai'i cons, Spencer pen. | April 19 v STORMERS @ Cape Town
Won 36-8
Scoring: Howlett (2), Meeuws, Tuitupou tries; Spencer, Ai'i cons, Spencer 4 pen. | April 26 v SHARKS @ Auckland
Won 25-16
Scoring: Witcombe, Gear (2) tries; Spencer2 cons, 2 pens. | May 2 v CATS @ Auckland
Won 33-9
Scoring: Rokocoko, Devine, Muliaina, Meeuws, Ai'i tries; Spencer 3, Ai'i cons. | May 9 v HURRICANES @ Auckland
Won 29-17
Scoring: Howlett 2, Tuitupou, Spencer tries; Spencer 3 cons, pens. | May 17 v BRUMBIES (semi final) @ Auckland
Won 42-21
Scoring: Rokocoko 2, Devine, Meeuws, Muliaina, Howlett tries; Spencer 3 cons, 2 pens. | May 24 v CRUSADERS (final) @ Auckland
Won 21-17
Scoring: Howlett, Braid tries; Spencer conversion, 3 pens. | | Played 13, won 12, lost 1, points for 456, against 223. |
SCORING | | TRIES | CON | PG | DG | TOTAL | | Carlos Spencer | 3 | 31 | 22 | - | 143 | | Doug Howlett | 12 | - | - | - | 60 | | Rupeni Caucaunibuca | 8 | - | - | - | 40 | | Orene Ai'i | 3 | 6 | 3 | - | 36 | | Joe Rokocoko | 6 | - | - | - | 30 | | Sam Tuitupou | 4 | - | - | - | 20 | | Mils Muliainia | 3 | 1 | - | - | 17 | | David Gibson | 3 | - | - | - | 15 | | Rico Gear | 3 | - | - | - | 15 | | Steve Devine | 3 | - | - | - | 15 | | Kees Meeuws | 3 | - | - | - | 15 | | Daniel Braid | 3 | - | - | - | 15 | | Xavier Rush | 2 | - | - | - | 10 | | Justin Collins | 2 | - | - | - | 10 | | Derren Witcombe | 2 | - | - | - | 10 | | Tony Woodcock | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | | TOTALS | 61 | 38 | 25 | - | 456 | | OPPOSITION | 25 | 16 | 22 | - | 223 |
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