All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour
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That's the best centre pairing IMO, so pleased to see that. Also good to see them reward BB with the ten jersey, as I said last week now that the goalkicking is handled by JB they can just pick the best ten on form. Right now that's comfortably BB, and the backs outside of him will enjoy the extra space.
It was also interesting to see them previously trying RM at fullback too.
I'd swap the halfbacks on form as well, but perhaps TJ's lack of composure recently counts against him being the bench player.
As for the forwards, if you pick Coles IMO you need to start him, ST has provided real impact from the bench and would have kept that.
For all the talk from Plummer about wanting to dominate in the forwards, we are picking a mobile pack over a ball running, physical pack, starting at eight. And obviously, I think Akira and Blackadder should be switched but if they give Akira a good 30mins we can get the impact we'll need from his defence.
So I worry out plan is to go wide too early still, we look a better side when we flood the breakdown and do a few pick and goes before using the pace out wide. We've not picked the team to play that way though.
Really pleased to see Reece start too.
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@mn5 said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
So three O'kiwis starting for the Emerald Isle and not one of them had a shit show of making the ABs.
Right timing and maybe, just maybe Aki might have made black but it would have been dependent on injuries and availability of others. He wouldn't have been likely to have a chance of growing into the role as he has had over there.
Equal number of Chiefs in either 23.
Fuck, I’d have taken James Lowe over George Bridge any day of the week ending in Y but maybe that’s just me.
Agree, but somehow Bridge was being creamed over and talked up yet Lowe was put down as flakey (and he can be).
Point is that Lowe got nowhere near selection. -
@crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@mn5 said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
So three O'kiwis starting for the Emerald Isle and not one of them had a shit show of making the ABs.
Right timing and maybe, just maybe Aki might have made black but it would have been dependent on injuries and availability of others. He wouldn't have been likely to have a chance of growing into the role as he has had over there.
Equal number of Chiefs in either 23.
Fuck, I’d have taken James Lowe over George Bridge any day of the week ending in Y but maybe that’s just me.
Agree, but somehow Bridge was being creamed over and talked up yet Lowe was put down as flakey (and he can be).
Point is that Lowe got nowhere near selection.Ok, as long as you agree because talking up Bridge is a bit frowned up in these here parts.
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@mn5 said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@mn5 said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
So three O'kiwis starting for the Emerald Isle and not one of them had a shit show of making the ABs.
Right timing and maybe, just maybe Aki might have made black but it would have been dependent on injuries and availability of others. He wouldn't have been likely to have a chance of growing into the role as he has had over there.
Equal number of Chiefs in either 23.
Fuck, I’d have taken James Lowe over George Bridge any day of the week ending in Y but maybe that’s just me.
Agree, but somehow Bridge was being creamed over and talked up yet Lowe was put down as flakey (and he can be).
Point is that Lowe got nowhere near selection.Ok, as long as you agree because talking up Bridge is a bit frowned up in there here parts.
The Crusader Mafia did all the talking and somehow convinced everyone that he had the goods.
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@kirwan said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
And obviously, I think Akira and Blackadder should be switched but if they give Akira a good 30mins we can get the impact we'll need from his defence.
Yep, Akira only got 15 mins off the bench against Wales, which really isn't a lot of time to make an impact.
I'll be interested to see how Mo'unga and Havili are used. I would assume that Rieko moves to the wing to accommodate Havili in the midfield.
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@crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
So three O'kiwis starting for the Emerald Isle and not one of them had a shit show of making the ABs.
Right timing and maybe, just maybe Aki might have made black but it would have been dependent on injuries and availability of others. He wouldn't have been likely to have a chance of growing into the role as he has had over there.
Equal number of Chiefs in either 23.
JGP has improved a good bit. I always rated Aki higher than Francis Saili. Lowe has defence issues but he is handy enough on attack.
Aki could well made the ABs, the other 2 I tend to agree not.
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Happy with the team, only gripes is Akira should really start against a big and fired up Irish pack, and Havili offers nothing from the bench - he either starts or doesn't play for mine.
Mo'unga has carved up from the bench in the past, that role suits him as he gets to use his jinking running game against tiring defenses. Beauden is definitely in better form and handles the physical stuff a lot better so good to see him start again.
Very excited about the midfield, that's a much better balance and Rieko could wreck some havoc outside of ALB. Reece has been in good form which allows us to move Rieko in closer which is great.
Should be cracker of a game, can't wait.
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@crucial ...i think its because we've lost so much of the first one...the other things dont seem like a big deal
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@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@crucial ...i think its because we've lost so much of the first one...the other things dont seem like a big deal
And nowadays they poach as much as we do so they can't really go on about that either...
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@crucial Not the aura exactly but our energy is draining away
Timing is right for Ireland as energy drains out of All Blacks’ spring break
The spring tour, as it’s known in New Zealand and Australia, is not quite as it sounds.
Meanwhile Chris Foy in the Daily Mail reckons other teams fear the AB's but England will be ready when they play in a years time. It seems they've had their jabs against our aura
For Foster, it provides the welcome scenario of taking on a team, away from home, who do not fear the All Black aura or subconsciously submit to it. England are not beaten before they start, as so many are. -
@stargazer said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@nostrildamus The poll haha.
I wasn't saying anything about how many peaks, or how high their peaks, early in the season were. Just that both were better earlier in the season than in the last few games.
fair enough on your second point.
But don't pour scorn on the poll, it is TSF polling science! -
@tim said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
"TJ is pretty happy with his form"
Well that sounds like the height of objectivity. Not sure we need coaches and selectors, just ask the players to pick themselves each week.
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@crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Third test up north and we've had no aura, haka or poaching stories. This tour is about as real as the moon landing.
"Irish Poach All Blacks Haka Aura".
There's a potential headline to get the ball rolling. -
@dogmeat said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Very wandering article, read like he was paid per word to just make column inches.
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Aki's rep has gotten better the longer he's been away from NZ. I never thought he was AB material when he was with the Chiefs.
Lowe would have run in lots of tries against some of the bunny teams if he was ever selected by the ABs.
On the team I don't have too many issues with it, still prefer Rieko on the wing though, don't mind Akira on the bench if he's brought on earlier (hopefully the stats men don't do a Nisbett this week), wouldn't have minded seeing Ofa there.
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I know this is the best we've got available and that we've been ridiculously spoilt over the past 2 decades or so but I just find that team so underwhelming.
I guess I'm just still living in 2015.....
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@nepia said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Aki's rep has gotten better the longer he's been away from NZ. I never thought he was AB material when he was with the Chiefs.
Strange isn't it? Aki was never even a regular starter for the Chiefs.
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@bovidae I see him as still a limited player who does his core role well for Ireland.
