Auckland welcomes back reinforcements

Auckland: Auckland rugby coach Alama Ieremia is buoyed by the return of some key men for a Mitre 10 Cup semifinal against Waikato he can’t help but feel a little nervous about.

Ieremia’s men rather stumbled over the finish line of the regular season last weekend with a 34-33 defeat to Canterbury in Christchurch, but still finished top of the Premiership standings to earn a home semi against the Mooloo men on Saturday.

That, coupled with a 31-10 victory when the two teams clashed at the same venue in round 8, has the bookies installing Ieremia’s men as firm $1.27 favourites to win through to their second final in three seasons. The Auks won the title in Ieremia’s first year in charge in 2018 and were beaten semifinalists last year.

“Although we beat them (Waikato) a couple of weeks ago, finals rugby is a different ball game,” said Ieremia. “These are one-off games, whoever turns up and wants it the most will get to live another week.

“There is no next week as far as our mindset goes right now. We have some momentum from last week, and it’s a matter of channelling that for Saturday afternoon.”

Ieremia brings back seven players off the injury-list this week to bolster a squad that lost flanker Blake Gibson and prop James Lay to knocks from the visit to Christchurch.

Hooker Leni Apisai, openside flanker Adrian Choat, No 8 Sione Tuipulotu and in-form wing AJ Lam all come straight back into the starting XV to face Waikato. Lock Jack Whetton, prop, Marcel Renata (for his 50th appearance) and fullback Jordan Trainor all return via the bench.

There will also be a provincial debut for Pakuranga prop Fatongia Paea if required off the bench.

Ieremia felt that despite the result in Christchurch his team took plenty of positives from a match they only coughed up late in the piece with a penalty. Rugby Pass