All Blacks v Ireland II

[Jimmy Jimmy]

Just referring to the ABs as a team I used to play for is enough for me to agree with the passport withdrawal.

[taniwharugby]

@Jimmy-Jimmy given our medias reputation for missing a lot of facts in their articles, they probably failed to advise he burnt half his AB jersies after selling the rest on eBay or that he had already revoked his NZ Passport in favour of an Irish one.

[mariner4life]

@taniwharugby that bastard!

[cgrant]

@RoninWC said in Ireland II:

My own $0.02 worth on the team selection:

1. W. Crockett
2. D. Coles
3. O. Franks
4. B. Retallick
5. S. Whitelock
6. J. Kaino
7. S. Cane
8. K Read
9. A. Smith
10. B. Barrett
11. J. Savea
12. A. Lienart-Brown
13. M. Fekitoa
14. I. Dagg
15. B. Smith

Reserves
16. C. Taylor
17. J. Moody
18. C. Faumuina
19. L. Squire
20. A. Savea
21. T. Perenara
22. L. Sopoaga

Personally this is my team. I think Smith and Barrett need to start as they are our clear No. 1's in their respective positions.
I would rather see Sopoaga on the bench as I think he brings a steady hand whereas I don't think Cruden really offers anything off the bench.

And yes, I've gone for speed off the bench with both Squire and Ardie.

Crockett staying 70 minutes on the field against Itaty makes me guess that Moody will start.
The Chicago game pointed out that the AB need a specialist lock on the bench.

[antipodean]

@cgrant said in Ireland II:

Crockett staying 70 minutes on the field against Itaty makes me guess that Moody will start.
The Chicago game pointed out that the AB need a specialist lock on the bench.

And fewer injuries during the game. Also, a full complement on the field at all times might help the cause.

[MajorPom]

@cgrant said in Ireland II:

@RoninWC said in Ireland II:

My own $0.02 worth on the team selection:

1. W. Crockett
2. D. Coles
3. O. Franks
4. B. Retallick
5. S. Whitelock
6. J. Kaino
7. S. Cane
8. K Read
9. A. Smith
10. B. Barrett
11. J. Savea
12. A. Lienart-Brown
13. M. Fekitoa
14. I. Dagg
15. B. Smith

Reserves
16. C. Taylor
17. J. Moody
18. C. Faumuina
19. L. Squire
20. A. Savea
21. T. Perenara
22. L. Sopoaga

Personally this is my team. I think Smith and Barrett need to start as they are our clear No. 1's in their respective positions.
I would rather see Sopoaga on the bench as I think he brings a steady hand whereas I don't think Cruden really offers anything off the bench.

And yes, I've gone for speed off the bench with both Squire and Ardie.

Crockett staying 70 minutes on the field against Itaty makes me guess that Moody will start.
The Chicago game pointed out that the AB need a specialist lock on the bench.

I'll up that and say it pointed out that we needed a specialist lock starting.

[nostrildamus]

@MajorRage and what is Sam Whitelock's win loss as an AB ratio? Must be not too shabby.

[Jimmy Jimmy]

Taniwha, if he has done those things then that is good. I always felt uneasy about the possibility that the top AB tryscorer may have been someone who permed his hair.

We will have to leave the number of tries at 49 but leave the name blank like Lance Armstrong had his name excised from the record books.

A good day's work boys.

[booboo]

@Stargazer said in Ireland II:

I don't see what's wrong with Howlett having "mixed emotions" about that win. Can't he be happy for his Irish friends, only because they beat his old team? To me, it seems the media are just making this into something it's not.

@Stargazer you are waaay too serious

[Billy Tell]

Dare I ask what we do if we lose....

Would need a big rethink of selection and tactics IMO.

I think we'll win - for starters we are not going to gift (I hope) Ireland territory and possession again by having no functioning lineout and charity levels of indiscipline. If Ireland have to work for their points rather than being handed them on a platter, it should be much more interesting. At the end of the day, we played like rubbish and still got 29 points, and I don't see Ireland putting 40 points past us again (and if they do, then we have big problems).

[pakman]

I should add that the chances of Ireland getting away with only four penalties against them in a game are extremely slim!

[Crucial]

@pakman said in Ireland II:

I should add that the chances of Ireland getting away with only four penalties against them in a game are extremely slim!

Yeah, I don't know how 'clean' Ireland really were against us but the ref was a green one and we have the far more 'confident' Peyper this time. I don't think Peyper has ever been one to swallow the whistle.

[mooshld]

The areas I think we need to sharpen are aerial defense. Bringing Dagg back will help in this. A bit of steel in the rucks, improved midfield defense, and a bit of street smarts. Getting choke tackled is just lazy get your body position right and that should never happen. Not like its a new tactic for the Irish we just were lazy and played into it.

[kiwiinmelb]

@Billy-Tell said in Ireland II:

Dare I ask what we do if we lose....

Would need a big rethink of selection and tactics IMO.

I think we'll win - for starters we are not going to gift (I hope) Ireland territory and possession again by having no functioning lineout and charity levels of indiscipline. If Ireland have to work for their points rather than being handed them on a platter, it should be much more interesting. At the end of the day, we played like rubbish and still got 29 points, and I don't see Ireland putting 40 points past us again (and if they do, then we have big problems).

I think that is the thing , to beat this current Allblacks team you are going to have to score a shit load of points . Because we usually score plenty . The days of Nh teams thinking they can take us through slotting penalties and defending are over and I think they all know it now. They put 40 on us last time ,
Have they got that in them again ?

[taniwharugby]

Looking more likely Whitelock is ok for this week, or Romano too I guess, as Fifita has been sent back to NZ (apologies if already mentioned)

[Derm McCrum]

In a surprise move, Schmidt may start a good few of Match Squad 2 (for Canada game) for the test against New Zealand to widen the test experience of the entire series squad. Match Squad 1 will then play against Australia who are banking on facing a NZ-battered Ireland team to continue their hopes of achieving a clean sweep in their November tour.

[Billy Tell]

@Pot-Hale said in Ireland II:

In a surprise move, Schmidt may start a good few of Match Squad 2 (for Canada game) for the test against New Zealand to widen the test experience of the entire series squad. Match Squad 1 will then play against Australia who are banking on facing a NZ-battered Ireland team to continue their hopes of achieving a clean sweep in their November tour.

I'd be surprised. Doubt the Irish fans would be too happy about a less than full strength side being sent out to face NZ. From the Canada game you can make starting arguments for bealham, Healy, dillane, obrien, omahony. None of the backs strike me as first XV material with the possible exception of Earls.

I think Australia will rotate against France anyway.

[dogmeat]

Having a full width field will alter the dynamics of the game.

Still gotta give Ireland a starters chance though with the monkey off their back.

(AB's by >30 )

[Hooroo]

I swear, if the AB's are paying anything over $1:50 head to head, I will smack it. I just can't see us losing this at all

[kiwiinmelb]

Ireland are a very good side,

But if they win or push us to the limit in this one , they are even better than I thought ,

Not intended as arrogance but no one has pushed us for a while once we are in that backs to the wall situation ,

Cant wait