RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland
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Nugget 1:
"From a New Zealand perspective though it’s been all too easy, and I have my doubts about how beneficial it’s been for a group that has struggled consistently for form under Ian Foster to a point where they felt the need to parachute Joe Schmidt into the mix to try and bring direction and stability.
I know from experience that Joe instils confidence in players over time, but he hasn’t really had a great deal of that nor is he driving the ship. Ian Foster is still at the helm and from the outside looks keen to reinforce that at every opportunity in the media."
Nugget 2:
"This match is historic in many ways, Ireland the number one team desperate to break their quarter-final glass ceiling, New Zealand desperate to salvage respect at home to an unforgiving fan base that demands success; the winner more than likely to make a World Cup final.
Ireland have grown accustomed to the pressure that has come with being world number. They know they will have to be good, create and execute try scoring opportunities but there is a calmness about their approach.
This has been the most vocal I have seen any New Zealand team, they are worried about what can happen possibly a little bit more than they are confident of what they can do. The All Blacks do not know how to be the underdog. Ireland can exploit that discomfort."
@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
This has been the most vocal I have seen any New Zealand team, they are worried about what can happen possibly a little bit more than they are confident of what they can do. The All Blacks do not know how to be the underdog. Ireland can exploit that discomfort."
Funny how perspectives differ.
That Harry Jones dude I quoted earlier talking to Devlin said he'd never come across the ABs flying so quietly under the radar.
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@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@MiketheSnow Ryan was on the bench against Scotland. Henderson started.
So Ryan out, McCarthy in is the only change.
Strong, settled team. They are battle hardened, but they have also played a fair bit too. Compare the NZ backrow playing minutes to Ireland's:
Image taken from this post on X:
https://x.com/Selfimprove_Man/status/1712014608557338881?s=20
That is very interesting to see just how many minutes the Ireland top team have had. Shows how important their core players are but also shows why they are so well drilled and organised, they play a shitload of minutes together which simply can't be earnt on the training field. I'm surprised Ioane has only played 172 minutes in 4 games compared to 259 for ringrose or 320 for Aki.
@chimoaus TBF, given the higher intensity games they have had to play, they have been forced to largely play thier best team more, whereas we have had 3 opposed traning runs, no requirement to play the top side.
Which adds to the tackle stats shown up there as well, Ireland have been tested on defence by handy attack structures, we havent, well not for a month.
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Herald saying Talea may b out injured, yet Ryan said they have full squad fit, interesting
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Herald saying Talea may b out injured, yet Ryan said they have full squad fit, interesting
@george33 Liam Napier’s latest article looks like a summary of this thread
.I think @george33 suggested Fainga’anuku was a potential surprise starter further up the thread and Napier goes with:
“If Telea is ruled out the All Blacks will turn to Leicester Fainga’anuku’s powerful presence after he impressed from the left wing to claim four tries against Namibia and Uruguay.”
Nobody from the AB camp suggested there was a problem with Telea this week. So did Napier shoe horn the Telea injury (conjecture) on the back of George’s suggestion that Leicester may be selected? Interesting
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@george33 Liam Napier’s latest article looks like a summary of this thread
.I think @george33 suggested Fainga’anuku was a potential surprise starter further up the thread and Napier goes with:
“If Telea is ruled out the All Blacks will turn to Leicester Fainga’anuku’s powerful presence after he impressed from the left wing to claim four tries against Namibia and Uruguay.”
Nobody from the AB camp suggested there was a problem with Telea this week. So did Napier shoe horn the Telea injury (conjecture) on the back of George’s suggestion that Leicester may be selected? Interesting
@stodders hahahaha. From Napier again:
“The main point of contention in the reserves appears at halfback where Finlay Christie could be a surprise inclusion over Cam Roigard.”
Napier’s/Fern’s possible AB team:
Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett
Dane Coles, Ofa Tuʻungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Sam Whitelock, Dalton Papali’i, Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown
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FWIW, I can maybe see some logic in Leicester being the bench option covering several positions at a stretch. But I would be surprised if he makes the 23 given what happened to him last year in the Ireland series and based on hits outs against Uruguay and Namibia.
If Telea is injured and LF is chosen, Clarke has fallen a long way.
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Herald saying Talea may b out injured, yet Ryan said they have full squad fit, interesting
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With Irelands kicking game, BB best station himself behind LF, as that is where they will be kicking it all day.
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@stodders hahahaha. From Napier again:
“The main point of contention in the reserves appears at halfback where Finlay Christie could be a surprise inclusion over Cam Roigard.”
Napier’s/Fern’s possible AB team:
Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett
Dane Coles, Ofa Tuʻungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Sam Whitelock, Dalton Papali’i, Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown
@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@stodders hahahaha. From Napier again:
“The main point of contention in the reserves appears at halfback where Finlay Christie could be a surprise inclusion over Cam Roigard.”
Napier’s/Fern’s possible AB team:
Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett
Dane Coles, Ofa Tuʻungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Sam Whitelock, Dalton Papali’i, Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown
Sadly it wouldn’t be a surprise inclusion really. Just a disappointing one.
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Telea has been excellent in his appearances. Would be a bad loss. I’m not seeing a lot of Internet talk about this though. Just Liam aka George.
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Napier's reporting is usually rock solid but this feels like predictions rather than his usual inside oil.
@KiwiMurph I can’t imagine they’d be leaking from inside the camp…
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@george33 Liam Napier’s latest article looks like a summary of this thread
.I think @george33 suggested Fainga’anuku was a potential surprise starter further up the thread and Napier goes with:
“If Telea is ruled out the All Blacks will turn to Leicester Fainga’anuku’s powerful presence after he impressed from the left wing to claim four tries against Namibia and Uruguay.”
Nobody from the AB camp suggested there was a problem with Telea this week. So did Napier shoe horn the Telea injury (conjecture) on the back of George’s suggestion that Leicester may be selected? Interesting
@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@george33 Liam Napier’s latest article looks like a summary of this thread
.I think @george33 suggested Fainga’anuku was a potential surprise starter further up the thread and Napier goes with:
“If Telea is ruled out the All Blacks will turn to Leicester Fainga’anuku’s powerful presence after he impressed from the left wing to claim four tries against Namibia and Uruguay.”
Nobody from the AB camp suggested there was a problem with Telea this week. So did Napier shoe horn the Telea injury (conjecture) on the back of George’s suggestion that Leicester may be selected? Interesting
I think it was me , George said no he isn’t in the 23, from memory,
I heard yesterday morning telea has a niggle .
And Christie would be on the bench .
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@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@george33 Liam Napier’s latest article looks like a summary of this thread
.I think @george33 suggested Fainga’anuku was a potential surprise starter further up the thread and Napier goes with:
“If Telea is ruled out the All Blacks will turn to Leicester Fainga’anuku’s powerful presence after he impressed from the left wing to claim four tries against Namibia and Uruguay.”
Nobody from the AB camp suggested there was a problem with Telea this week. So did Napier shoe horn the Telea injury (conjecture) on the back of George’s suggestion that Leicester may be selected? Interesting
I think it was me , George said no he isn’t in the 23, from memory,
I heard yesterday morning telea has a niggle .
And Christie would be on the bench .
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Only 1 I herd a rumour about last Monday was Christie was looking very likely on bench and rest was pretty settled with Talea on wing
@george33 not sure which is the more disappointing news for AB fans. Potentially losing your premier attacking winger, or the coaches potentially selecting the no 9 in the match day squad nobody is that enamoured with over the young tyro who has made every post a winner so far. Must be part of the master plan I guess
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@george33 not sure which is the more disappointing news for AB fans. Potentially losing your premier attacking winger, or the coaches potentially selecting the no 9 in the match day squad nobody is that enamoured with over the young tyro who has made every post a winner so far. Must be part of the master plan I guess
@stodders well we will find out, only thing must be experience on Finlay's side mite get him over the line ,as for Talea if he's out that's huge loss , Leister is quality but makes alot of errors and I worry about his pace and slowness to turn and chase at test level big matches, If I'm correct he played Ireland last season then basically disappeared after that series, and the other bench rumour Newell over Nepo just can't see it ,both De Groot and Lomax haven't played significant minutes for a while now, must b temptation to start Ofa,Nepo with De Groot,Lomax on bench,still think Newell is a way off yet at test level big matches, ok to look good against minnows ,Ireland different beast
