All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour
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Pretty sure TJ is being lined up to start vs Ireland.
They've said Smith is being called up "as cover", which sort of suggests to me that if TJ and Christie are both fit they'll be the pairing for this game (and that Weber isn't fit).
Of course, if our halfbacks shit the bed vs Ireland, I'm sure the coaches are pragmatic enough to get Smith in the team for France.
If they've got concerns about Christie, they'll probably be pragmatic enough to play Smith on Saturday - but, most people seemed to think he went pretty well vs Italy.
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Smith plays, Ireland won’t win.
Smith doesn’t play, Ireland can win.
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Smith plays, Ireland won’t win.
Smith doesn’t play, Ireland can win.
@mikethesnow said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Smith plays, Ireland won’t win.
Smith doesn’t play, Ireland can win.
That's kind of my take on it. Smith can't start though.
He is the most important playing in our team at the moment. Like NZ cricket when Kane Williamson isn't there.
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@hooroo said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Only issue is if Christie does a Weber and pulls up short with a hammie in the first few minutes. Smith wouldn't manage 75 mins I doubt. Dmac into halfback most likely
There is no guarantee that DMac will be on the bench. He wasn't against Wales. I think they'll go for the TJP-Christie combo in this test.
@bovidae said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@hooroo said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Only issue is if Christie does a Weber and pulls up short with a hammie in the first few minutes. Smith wouldn't manage 75 mins I doubt. Dmac into halfback most likely
There is no guarantee that DMac will be on the bench. He wasn't against Wales. I think they'll go for the TJP-Christie combo in this test.
Sounds like Sevu Reece is fit - I reckon he'll be on the bench again. That's probably the most balanced sub, with Rieko covering the midfield and Jordan or Mo'unga/Barrett covering fullback.
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"Right now we have three nines in hunt for this weekend's start,'' Plumtree said. "Aaron is only arriving Wednesday, he doesn't know what the plan is. So it's pretty unrealistic to think that Aaron is going to be playing at the weekend.''
Weber had to leave the field in the first half of the 47-9 win over Italy in Rome last weekend after suffering a nasty blow to the nose, and is still working through World Rugby's head injury assessment protocols.
Christie, who replaced Weber, also has a sore neck but Plumtree said he was still able to be involved in a practice on Tuesday and should be available for selection.
"TJ is pretty happy with his form. All of them are going pretty well,'' Plumtree added. "Obviously Brad has got these HIA protocols that he is going through this week, and Finlay has a little bit of an issue with his neck.
"But he trained today and (we) are expecting him to be fit for the weekend.''
Other than tighthead prop Angus Ta'avao, who is still recovering from an elbow injury, Plumtree said the All Blacks had no other injuries.
@tim said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Aaron is only arriving Wednesday, he doesn't know what the plan is.
....its aaron smith....he decides what the plan is and it more often than not works
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Pretty sure TJ is being lined up to start vs Ireland.
They've said Smith is being called up "as cover", which sort of suggests to me that if TJ and Christie are both fit they'll be the pairing for this game (and that Weber isn't fit).
Of course, if our halfbacks shit the bed vs Ireland, I'm sure the coaches are pragmatic enough to get Smith in the team for France.
If they've got concerns about Christie, they'll probably be pragmatic enough to play Smith on Saturday - but, most people seemed to think he went pretty well vs Italy.
@chris-b said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
If they've got concerns about Christie, they'll probably be pragmatic enough to play Smith on Saturday - but, most people seemed to think he went pretty well vs Italy.
Finlay Christie being picked ahead of Aaron Smith - Jesus fuck no
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@chris-b said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
If they've got concerns about Christie, they'll probably be pragmatic enough to play Smith on Saturday - but, most people seemed to think he went pretty well vs Italy.
Finlay Christie being picked ahead of Aaron Smith - Jesus fuck no
@frank said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@chris-b said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
If they've got concerns about Christie, they'll probably be pragmatic enough to play Smith on Saturday - but, most people seemed to think he went pretty well vs Italy.
Finlay Christie being picked ahead of Aaron Smith - Jesus fuck no
No worries - it's not like we've never lost to Ireland before!
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For all the talk of Christie starting it 100% won't happen, TJP is a lock, it just depends if it's Christie or A Smith on the bench. I'd far prefer Smith.
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@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@hooroo said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
I think Christie has proved himself and I would have him starting again and Smith on the bench
Though he hasn't played much against top tier teams, he's been a bit of a revelation at 9 for me.
Didn't really rate him that much in Super Rugby - just a good solid halfback - but he seems to be an equally good, solid 9 at Test level and looks comfortable in the Black jersey.
He has a nice crisp pass and isn't shy on the tackle and he snipes. That's good enough for me at the moment
@hooroo said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
He has a nice crisp pass and isn't shy on the tackle and he snipes. That's good enough for me at the moment
I've been impressed with him - but sniping was not his strong point for the Blues. He often didn't even look at the gap in front of him, was so focussed on hitting runners outside him.
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Be nice if our own backs could catch and pass like this last weekend...
https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1458041661246910467
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Be nice if our own backs could catch and pass like this last weekend...
https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1458041661246910467
@antipodean feels like an age since we just saw a blackline move resulting in the wing in clear space
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@hooroo said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
He has a nice crisp pass and isn't shy on the tackle and he snipes. That's good enough for me at the moment
I've been impressed with him - but sniping was not his strong point for the Blues. He often didn't even look at the gap in front of him, was so focussed on hitting runners outside him.
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@antipodean feels like an age since we just saw a blackline move resulting in the wing in clear space
@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@antipodean feels like an age since we just saw a blackline move resulting in the wing in clear space
because we don't play a lot of shit teams that don't know how to defend space
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@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@antipodean feels like an age since we just saw a blackline move resulting in the wing in clear space
because we don't play a lot of shit teams that don't know how to defend space
@mariner4life ha, that could be Northland defending that, I mentioned that very thing in my season review!!
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@nzzp alot of his play for the Blues is inferior to what he has done in Black, certainly taken his chances and stepped into international level well so far.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@nzzp alot of his play for the Blues is inferior to what he has done in Black, certainly taken his chances and stepped into international level well so far.
He's pretty harshly reviewed here, but he was good for the Blues too.
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Be nice if our own backs could catch and pass like this last weekend...
https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1458041661246910467
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Be nice if our own backs could catch and pass like this last weekend...
https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1458041661246910467
Since we are doing Hugo Keenan appreciation: https://www.the42.ie/hugo-keenan-ireland-2-5596413-Nov2021/
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@antipodean feels like an age since we just saw a blackline move resulting in the wing in clear space
@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@antipodean feels like an age since we just saw a blackline move resulting in the wing in clear space
Sotutu try on Saturday wasn't bad, though!
