SQUAD 

John Afoa
Position:  Prop  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.83m  Weight:  126kg  Birthdate: 16.10.83
His time to shine.  Is no longer the new boy on the block, has a couple of solid seasons of NPC behind him, and All Black selection, it is time to stand up and take control.  No qualms about his general play, he is another Kees Meeuws type ball runner, probably with better skills.  However, he is also like Meeuws in the fact that his scrummaging is not in the top three or four in New Zealand, which is something that needs to be worked on.

Ben Atiga
Position:  Utility Back  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.75m  Weight:  93kg  Birthdate: 05.05.83
Holy cow Batman!  A complete season for Auckland in the NPC, with no game stopping injuries!  Mark Ranby will be asking for his union card back (union for player who constantly get selected for Super12/14 withouth while playing sod all NPC).  And not only was he injury free, he was looking pretty solid at centre, bordering on classy.  If he gets enough game time here, he may seriously push for more All Black time, especially if Umaga retires, as has been hinted by the dreaded man himself, and as has been heard on TSF grapevines.  Early days though, lets see if he can get through a few Super games injury free, and in form before that sort of thing is even suggested!

Anthony Boric
Position:  Lock  Province:  North Harbour
Height:  2.00m  Weight:  108kg  Birthdate: 27.12.83
A reward for a solid NPC season.  Must admit I did not see him play that much, but at 2 metres tall, he has got to be worth a look.  Has forced the Blues to not select Bradley Mika, so must have something going for him, as Mika had a good season for the NPC champs!  Being a good 3 inches taller is a start no doubt.  Will struggle for game time barring injures.  last season though, plenty of injuries and suspensions decimated the Blues locks, so, you never know!

Daniel Braid
Position:  Flanker  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.80m  Weight:  96kg  Birthdate: 13.02.81
Playing better than in the last coupole of seasons, but still not the ground hog that the All Black selectors seem to require at the top level.  Suits Auckland's and the Blues's open style of play though, with the support lines he runs being up there with the best in the world.  A perfect link flanker.  Just no presence at the bearkdown.

Justin Collins
Position:  Flanker  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.94m  Weight:  101kg  Birthdate: 04.09.74
The Auckland captain keeps on keeping on, and with quality displays.  His leadership an integral part of the Auckland NPC victory this season, at least I reckon so!  Still a solid performer, an ideal tight / loose foreward, ties the loose trio together.

Steve Devine
Position:  Halfback  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.76m  Weight:  80kg  Birthdate: 21.12.76
Not a patch on the player he was a few seasons ago.  Solid at best, but impact on a game, not really, a good pass, and that is about it. 

Tim Dow
Position:  Hooker  Province:  Northland
Height:  1.78m  Weight:  103kg  Birthdate: 09.09.80
A deserved call up for the non stop Northland hooker, even if by default, due to the injury to Witcombe.  Anyway, he is a try scoring dynamo, explosive in the loose, and more than holds his own at scrum time - he'll love having a couple of decent props alongside him at the Blues - well fit anyway!  Might not get that much game time with Mealmau being the other hooker in the squad, but expect him to make the most of any time on the field - and he'll be scoring tries too, wait and see!

Troy Flavell
Position:  Lock / Loose forward  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.95m  Weight:  115kg  Birthdate: 04.11.76
Two years in the wilderness of Japan (and about a dozen half arse games a season I believe), and the big man is back, wanting to grab himself a spot in the 2007 RWC.  He has a season to do it, and good luck to him I say.  Sure, he has done many brainless things on the field, but, fingers crossed, it is all over, and rugby only is the name of the game fromnow on in.  One of the more damaging ball carriers among tight forwards in the game today, along with being a damaging tackler, and a strong bugger to boot, make him an ideal tight lock.  Athletic enough to make up for the couple of inches he lacks in height.  Versatile enough to be guaranteed a spot in a match day 22.

David Gibson
Position:  Halfback  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.76m  Weight:  87kg  Birthdate: 04.01.80
Keeps on keeping on, not setting the world on fire, and at the same time not letting anyone down with his performances.  Will never be an All Black unless his games evolves 100 fold, but will continue to offer yeoman service to Auckland and the Blues, until someone better comes along!

Kurtis Haiu
Position:  Lock / Loose forward  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.95m  Weight:  106kg  Birthdate: 14.07.84
This big hair bear was awesome this NPC season, locking the Auckland scrum until the logjam of All Black loose forward / locks came back on deck.  Not quite tall enough to lock I reckon, but more than skilled and mobile enough to play at 6.  Just needs the chance.  I am sure there are unions out there that would love to give him one!! 

Doug Howlett
Position:  Wing  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.85m  Weight:  92kg  Birthdate:  21.09.78
Back in form at last, after an 18 month spell of being just average - on attack.  His defence and covering has been world class throughout, but his try scoring and beating a man had just dried up.  Well, not anymore.  From his hat trick in the second Beldisloe Cup test, throughout the NPC, he has been dangerous with ball in hand, and should go into the first Super 14 full of confidence.

Tasesa Lavea
Position:  First Five  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.76m  Weight:  87kg  Birthdate: 10.01.80
Well, it appears the former league star has finally found his feet on the rugby field - at NPC level at least.  His control and direction of play in the NPC semi final and final was up there with the best when it comes to first fives.  A kicking game well hidden until these two games, combined with his mercurial running have made him into a well rounded player.  Should be an interesting battle between he and McAlister for the ten shirt, although the option of unlucky Luke moving to 12 is still there, although I for one would not like to see that!

Angus Macdonald
Position:  Lock / Flanker  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.97m  Weight:  107kg  Birthdate: 12.01.81
An absolutely massive season for Auckland in the NPC, where he played lock, openside flanker and number eight, saw him selected for the All Black end of season tour.  He was superb in whichever position he played, and must be in line for an extended career in black.  Scarily quick for a big man (just ask the Harbour backs who were chasing him on the way to a 70 metre intercept try), a good rugby brain, ball skills to burn at lineout time, he has it all - just needs to specialise, and for me, I think 8 or 6, give away the 7 and lock jerseys!

Luke McAlister
Position:  First five / Second five  Province:  North Harbour
Height:  1.78m  Weight:  94  Birthdate:  28.08.83
Now an established fixture as Dan Carter's number 2 in the All Blacks, a season directing a backline for the Blues would see him pushing Canterbury's favourite son for his place in the All Blacks.  However, he may see plenty of time at 12, outside Lavea, which is not bad, as that could tie into All Black plans.  It would however, be bad if Carter was to get injured again...

Keven Mealamu (Auckland)
Position:  Hooker  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.81m  Weight:  106kg  Birthdate:  20.03.79
Up there with the worlds best.  Has it all, good scrummager, accurate thrower, brutal defender, and dynamite with the ball in hand.

Isa Nacewa
Position:  Wing  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.85m  Weight:  88kg  Birthdate: 22.07.82
From ten through to fifteen, this bloke can play them all, and well.  Plenty of pace, a sure tackle, and good rugby brain, should make the Blues match day 22 all season, and fill in any position as required.  Showed good enough form to crack the All Blacks I reckon, but for an appearance for Fiji in the 2003 RWC.  I am sure Henry and the Cartel are not too happy with that, as he would fit into any All Black squad with ease.

Mike Noble
Position:  Peop  Province:  North Harbour
Height:  1.80m  Weight:  128kg  Birthdate: 07.11.78
Has come a long way from holding up the East Coast scrum at Ruatoria, and done it well.  In his second season with North Harbour, the rotund prop has been the anchor around which the pack was built, and is a deserved selection in the Blues side.  Not the most athletic looking prop, the big man has the full range of ball skills, and is more than mobile enough to hack it at the highest level.  Becoming a full time professional will also help no doubt.

George Pisi
Position:  Fullback  Province:  North Harbour
Height:  1.85m  Weight:  83kg  Birthdate: 29.06.86
A solid season at the back for Harbour as they reached the semi finals of the NPC, losing to eventual champions Auckland.  Extremely pacey, a genuine threat on counter attack, especially if the defensive line does not chase properly!

Greg Rawlinson
Position:  Lock  Province:  North Harbour
Height:  1.99m  Weight:  114kg  Birthdate: 14.08.78
Another massive season for Harbour in the NPC, and would be easily in the top 4 locks in New Zealand, and but for residency, would have toured with the All Blacks at the end of the season.  Qualifies for the end of season tour next season I believe, and will be snapped up in a minute if his form continues.  A genuine tight forward, whose first thoughts are for the basics, line outs, scrums, rucks and mauls.  He has been working hard on the extras too, and in the NPC this season revealed a new running game with the ball in hand that has rounded has game nicely.

Joe Rokocoko
Position:  Wing  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.89m  Weight:  98kg  Birthdate:  06.06.83
Has had one superb Super 12 season, and two average NPC seasons, but when this lad pulls on an All Black jersey, all bets are off, he plays like a champion every time.  Lets hope he brings that sort of form to the Blues this season, and drops in with a dozen tries to round it off.  Always dangerous with ball in hand, backlines just need to give him that half yard, and he'll do the rest.

Saimone Taumoepeau
Position:  Prop  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.86m  Weight:  105kg  Birthdate:  21.12.79
Struggled to find NPC form until the end stages of the NPC, and then found it with a vengeance.  Has produced a running game to rival the best front rowers (reminds me of Steve McDowell) games.  Add that to his rock solid performance at scrum time, and healthy work ethic in the tight, makes him a valuable member in any team.  Will be battling for game time with All Black number one Tony Woodcock.

Rua Tipoki
Position:  Midfield  Province:  North Harbour
Height:  1.78m  Weight:  92kg  Birthdate: 11.08.75
Called into the Blues last season after a massive year with the Bay, and this year, a first choice, after captaining Harbour to an NPC semi final.  Has formed a dangerous partnership with Anthony Tuitavake, that would excel at Super 14 level I expect, but might not get the chance with the surfeit of talent the Blues posses in the centres.

Anthony Tuitavake
Position:  Centre  Province:  North Harbour
Height:  1.85m  Weight:  93kg  Birthdate: 12.02.82
Followed up his form in last seasons Super 12 (for the Highlanders) with another top season for Harbour, and must have gone close to All Black selection for the end of season tour.  Broke the line with alarming regularity (for the defensive teams), and along with Tipoki, formed a very solid defensive line.  Tackles well above his weight, and will be under the microscope from the Henry Cartel during the Super 14 I am sure.

Vili Waqaseduadua
Position:  Wing  Province:  North Harbour
Height:  1.82m  Weight:  83kg  Birthdate: 23.04.83
Bloody fast this boy.  A strong determined runner who scored some freakish tries for Har bour this season.  May not be seen too much though, barring injury, being stuck in behind the All Black duo of Rokocoko and Howlett.  However, if he can learn from them, then he will come out of this season a better play, and Harbour will benefit from that!

Brent Ward
Position:  Fullback  Province:  Auckland
Height:  1.85m  Weight:  86kg  Birthdate:  14.05.79
The goal kicking Auckland fullback finally back in his home catchments area, and must be eyeing a regular starting spot with the movement of Muliaina to Waikato and the Chiefs.  Will need to keep on his toes though, with Howlett able to play fullback (which would allow Waqaseduadua to play on the wing), and Pisi a viable option too, along with Atiga!

Ali Williams
Position:  Lock  Province:  Auckland
Height:  2.02m  Weight:  110kg  Birthdate:  30.04.81
The best lock in New Zealand at the moment.  A far cry from 12 months ago when the rugby public were wondering if the big lad could contain the brain explosions long enough to help tame the Lions.  He did that, in spades, scoring two tries in the process.  Now an integral part of the All Black pack, and pushing 30 tests (at time of writing), is getting into veteran status, at 24 years of age! 

Nick Williams
Position:  Number 8  Province:  North Harbour
Height:  1.89m  Weight:  120kg  Birthdate: 02.12.83
Big, strong, and with a chance to cement a starting spot behind one of the stronger tight fives in the Super 12.  Will need to up his work off the ball to do so.  His play with the ball in hand like a bulldozer on steriods.

Tony Woodcock
Position:  Prop  Province:  North Harbour
Height:  1.86m  Weight:  118kg  Birthdate: 27.01.81
Has made every post a winner since the demolition of the French front row at the end of the 2004 end of season tour.  Big Super 12, part of the Lions demolition, slotted back into the Harbour NPC side and proceeded to demolish fringe All Black props - everything you would expect from an All Black test prop.  Work ethic is his middle name, or two middle names, and he is into everything for 80 minutes, loving the tight exchanges, and still getting out to run with the ball when required.

RESULTS 

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