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Week 7 of New Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup competition got off to an early start on Tuesday but it wasn’t until earlier today that any Americas players were involved. Chris Baumann made his 7th consecutive start at tighthead prop for Wellington in the resounding 60-21 win over Southland. Bill Fukofuka was given the week off by the Stags. Toni Pulu was not in the Counties Manukau lineup yesterday, and Spike Davis has brought an abrupt end to his stay in New Zealand, opting instead to return state-side to potentially earn a spot in the USA Eagles 7s team for Dubai.
In fact the only other Americas players in senior Mitre 10 Cup action are both involved in Palmerston North. Canadian prop Jake Ilnicki finds himself on the Manawatu Turbos bench for the match against Hawke’s Bay Magpies, who feature in-form Eagles flanker Tony Lamborn at openside. Northland’s lineup for Sunday’s game against Waikato has yet to be named, with Josh Larsen a possibility for inclusion.
Round 6 of the National Rugby Championship in Australia is equally sparse this week as far as Americas fans are concerned. James Hilterbrand is reserve hooker for Sydney Rays at Pittwater Park on Saturday, while Marcel Brache starts on the wing for Perth Spirit against Brisbane City on Sunday.
