Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown & Dublin Duel

kidcalder

Im going to say Ireland will push us very hard in this- I would not be shocked to see an upset

Billy Tell

Any specific reasons...or just vague musings?

kidcalder

Look I realise as usual the chances of the Irish having a full 80 against us is medium - but they showed in 2013 that that has improved.
Just think we have had the high of taking the record had a few injuries (best locking pair in the world out) a centre pairing that are solid but not creative...
I think the bench will have to save us from a tough time.

DMX

Rettalick and Whitelock are a massive loss but I think we will get real physicality from their replacements, physicality from Cane and powerful running from wings and center. I don't expect this to be banana skin game , would be more cautious about last game of the tour. With weather we can really turn screws in last half an hour.

ACT Crusader

Only real surprise is Moala, and IMO a pleasing one. I like his game either at centre or wing. He has some areas to develop when it comes to passing but I like his footwork and he has excellent reactions.

A very good 23. It will be interesting to see how they use the bench.

ACT Crusader

@kidcalder said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:

Look I realise as usual the chances of the Irish having a full 80 against us is medium - but they showed in 2013 that that has improved.
Just think we have had the high of taking the record had a few injuries (best locking pair in the world out) a centre pairing that are solid but not creative...
I think the bench will have to save us from a tough time.

By the same token the ABs have improved from 2013. Until we surpass Cyprus there is no record....

Paekakboyz

I'm with you ACT-C, stoked to see Moala get a run. I wonder how a Moala at 12 and Anton L-B at 13 midfield would go :thinking: .

I quite like Moala at 2nd five but agree that his passing game is still developing. Crotty hasn't put a foot wrong and just keeps improving. A lot of options for our midfield, but I imagine they'd want to start developing a couple of combos looking ahead to the lions in 2017.

Derm McCrum

Same old first up, newbies on the bench for Ireland.

Kearney, Trimble, Payne Henshaw Zebo Sexton Murray
McGrath Best Furlong, Toner, Ryan Murphy Stander Heaslip

Bench - Cronin, Healy, Bealham, Dillane, vdF, Marmion, Carbery Ringrose

No back up prop. Pace and youth on the bench - just trying to work out the caps and average age

ACT Crusader

@Paekakboyz I think they see Moala as a 13/wing that could cover 12 if required. If Crotty were to go down with injury in this one it's more likely they'd use Fekitoa at 12 and keep Moala at 13 given Fekitoa has started at 12 for the ABs.

But when you think about the four midfielders in the squad, they are all versatile. Then there's Ioane who is more a winger that could develop into a centre.

taniwharugby

very interesting line-up.

Obviously the biggest 'issue' is at lock, but Tuipulotu is a very good player, we know Kaino can play a bit, so disruption will be minimal, it will likely be us disrupting their lineout ball that will suffer the most.

That is a strong running backline, is this the first time Savea & Naholo have played together?

reprobate

interesting team. a brutally physical team.

ACT Crusader

@taniwharugby said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:

very interesting line-up.

Obviously the biggest 'issue' is at lock, but Tuipulotu is a very good player, we know Kaino can play a bit, so disruption will be minimal, it will likely be us disrupting their lineout ball that will suffer the most.

That is a strong running backline, is this the first time Savea & Naholo have played together?

This will be their third test start together I think. There was a RWC pool game and they got a start vs Wales earlier this year.

MN5

@taniwharugby said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:

very interesting line-up.

Obviously the biggest 'issue' is at lock, but Tuipulotu is a very good player, we know Kaino can play a bit, so disruption will be minimal, it will likely be us disrupting their lineout ball that will suffer the most.

That is a strong running backline, is this the first time Savea & Naholo have played together?

At the risk of getting all @Canes4life on us......should we be worried that Ireland have a guy who is about 20 feet tall in their lineup ? our locks look pretty sawn off in comparison.

Gonna be a tough day for the Irish outside backs with Moala, Savea and Naholo running hard and straight.

Stargazer

http://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/794260510422265860

taniwharugby

@ACT-Crusader I thought they probably had done in the RWC but couldn't recall any others.

antipodean

@Daffy-Jaffy That's an interesting selection. Isn't Soldier Field narrow compared to normal rugby pitches? So the coaches would expect a more direct game - there's a lot of very physical individuals in that lineup.

booboo

Any bets on Sexton trying out our wings under the high ball?

taniwharugby

@kidcalder said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:

Look I realise as usual the chances of the Irish having a full 80 against us is medium - but they showed in 2013 that that has improved.
Just think we have had the high of taking the record had a few injuries (best locking pair in the world out) a centre pairing that are solid but not creative...
I think the bench will have to save us from a tough time.

looking at their lineup and the players that could have played if Schmidt wanted to, you'd think they are more targeting Dublin.

This is a feeler game, see how they go, hopefully keep it close to give belief for the Dublin test...however if its a blowout....

Derm McCrum

@taniwharugby said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:

@kidcalder said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:

Look I realise as usual the chances of the Irish having a full 80 against us is medium - but they showed in 2013 that that has improved.
Just think we have had the high of taking the record had a few injuries (best locking pair in the world out) a centre pairing that are solid but not creative...
I think the bench will have to save us from a tough time.

looking at their lineup and the players that could have played if Schmidt wanted to, you'd think they are more targeting Dublin.

This is a feeler game, see how they go, hopefully keep it close to give belief for the Dublin test...however if its a blowout....

I'd agree with that. It has a 'feeler' look about it. And I think New Zealand lineup has a touch of the same. Neither coach fully showing their hand or putting it on the table in the first up.

The team hasn't played any test rugby since June, and they've had about 5-6 days to prepare so rustiness is a big factor, particularly when compared to the match-hardened experience that NZ have.

Will Schmidt seek to keep it tight and careful, long balls into touch/crowd rather than Garryowens, test the NZ lineout, and keep the scoreline as tight as possible in the first half. Was also wondering if Schmidt is going to delay replacements by a few minutes extra than normal - maybe closer to the 55-60 minute mark - and then unleash the bench during the expected NZ try flood that normally occurs.

KiwiMurph

At first I thought Ofa T covering loosehead was a strange selection - but it makes sense - if they genuinely see Ofa T as having ability to cover loosehead, this is probably the easiest game on tour to try that out - probably easier than Italy's scrummaging ability, Ireland in Ireland and France.

Moala has barely played in months but i'm guessing he must be going ok at training if he is given the start.

The Silver Fern

Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown & Dublin Duel