All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test

[TheMojoman]

@Frank said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Kirwan said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

Barrett at 6 and Ennor at 23.

This coaching group are soft as butter.

S Barrett is top three as a lock, but way down the list as a six. Akira, Dalton, PGS, Cane even Savea would be better picks there - and that's just in the current squad.

Picking PGS on the bench instead of a Akira is also a joke (assuming AI isn't one of the Covid cases).

Hooker is also around the wrong way.

LF, QT are also pretty average picks - probably forced with the current injuries/illnesses.

At least they picked the right ten.

Akira must have Covid, or Foster has turned into Steve Hansen.

Strange that Barrett is at 6 to begin with. Has that ever been successful? PGS on the bench as well instead of Akira. If it's tight would you want a debutant on the field?

[TheMojoman]

@MN5 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

All those backs have fallen over and Tuivasa-Sheck still doesn’t get a go in the 23.

I think it's because all those backs have fallen over is why RTS is not in the 23. Puts undue pressure on him especially if as expected the game is tight. Ennor has a couple of seasons in the AB's under his belt.

[Duluth]

@MN5 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

All those backs have fallen over and Tuivasa-Sheck still doesn’t get a go in the 23.

Not too worried about that call. I would've been surprised to see RTS before Test 3 (if at all in this series)

If QT gets injured JB will probably move to 12. So they needed a 13/wing more than a specialist 12 on the bench

[Kiwiwomble]

@TheMojoman said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@MN5 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

All those backs have fallen over and Tuivasa-Sheck still doesn’t get a go in the 23.

I think it's because all those backs have fallen over is why RTS is not in the 23. Puts undue pressure on him especially if as expected the game is tight. Ennor has a couple of seasons in the AB's under his belt.

personally i feel having BB inside and RI outside would have off set quite a bit of that

[ACT Crusader]

Like the team. ABs by 15+

[Tim]

Scrum coach Greg Feek is the latest to contract Covid-19. Former ABs scrum guru Mike Cron will link up with the side tomorrow. As for head coach Ian Foster, all going well, he'll be out of isolation and at the game on Saturday night.

[Bovidae]

@Duluth said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@MN5 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

All those backs have fallen over and Tuivasa-Sheck still doesn’t get a go in the 23.

Not too worried about that call. I would've been surprised to see RTS before Test 3 (if at all in this series)

If QT gets injured JB will probably move to 12. So they needed a 13/wing more than a specialist 12 on the bench

That's exactly it. A specialist 12 or winger wouldn't provide the cover needed based on who is starting.

[Tim]

Another update out of the All Blacks: Hurricanes prop Tyrel Lomax has joined the squad as injury cover for Nepo Laulala (sore neck).

[taniwharugby]

@Tim concerning thing about that, is I expect he has been working with the players this week (as I doubt he and Fozzie were rooming together at any point for them to be 'household contacts' and therefore he had already been isolating?) meaning there are likely to be other changes before k/o....

[akan004]

@Tim said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

Another update out of the All Blacks: Hurricanes prop Tyrel Lomax has joined the squad as injury cover for Nepo Laulala (sore neck).

Those clowns never fail to disappoint. Lomax lol.

[Bovidae]

@akan004 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Tim said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

Another update out of the All Blacks: Hurricanes prop Tyrel Lomax has joined the squad as injury cover for Nepo Laulala (sore neck).

Those clowns never fail to disappoint. Lomax lol.

Hopefully all he does is hold a tackle bag.

[Stargazer]

@akan004 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Tim said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

Another update out of the All Blacks: Hurricanes prop Tyrel Lomax has joined the squad as injury cover for Nepo Laulala (sore neck).

Those clowns never fail to disappoint. Lomax lol.

Who else is there with test experience? Owen Franks and ...?

[akan004]

@Stargazer said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@akan004 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Tim said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

Another update out of the All Blacks: Hurricanes prop Tyrel Lomax has joined the squad as injury cover for Nepo Laulala (sore neck).

Those clowns never fail to disappoint. Lomax lol.

Who else is there with test experience? Owen Franks and ...?

Experience counts for nothing when the player is shit. Take a punt and select someone new. Jager and Newell are much better TH props.

[Stargazer]

@akan004 Yeah, you're right. It's only as injury cover and just to bring Newell in the environment to learn, would already be a great thing.

[Stargazer]

https://twitter.com/AllBlacks/status/1542304442724192256

[Grooter]

@Stargazer Ainsley has Test experience

[ACT Crusader]

There’s a good core of experience in there - Taylor, Ofa, 2 locks, 3 Barrett’s, Cane, Ardie, Smith, Rieko - and I would say a fair amount of hunger to avenge for last years loss - in this starting lineup.

No doubt some forced changes, but what a test for LF and PGS to make a debut in! Congrats to them and I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do.

@Duluth mentioned that 2012 Ireland tour and the names that made their debut in those tests - eg Retallick, Smith, etc - and they are still here and have had amazing careers. You never know eh.

[Old Samurai Jack]

Ofa, Scott at 6 , LF, QT, the bench.... Have they revealed a game plan of trying to go through the Irish?
If that is the idea, wouldn't Vaai at 6 seem a better option?

[Old Samurai Jack]

@FakatavaAllBlack For the dark side.

[Stargazer]

@FakatavaAllBlack 3 caps in 2018 for another country.