RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland
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I can't really see us winning unless Ireland fold to the occasion - as ironically they've done every time in the past. Still Fozzie loves breaking those records...
As it stands they'll be 3 ex-pats in the Irish backline all deemed "not good enough" to make the AB's yet Ireland have consistently beaten us over the years.
Why is this?
Well they have a better forward pack, a better kicking game and are more disciplined
Our forward pack has improved but not enough to boss the likes of Ireland, SA or even France. Our backs used to be good enough that even if we just had parity in the forwards they could pull something out of the fire and score points - I fear those days are past.
Our kicking game is among the worst of all the top nations in the world, we don't have the length of kick to get us out of tricky situations, our short kicking game to contest the ball and get it back is dire.
I just don't rate this team to win the forward battle nor the tactical kicking game and without either of those winning is very difficult.
Our best chance lies in Ireland bottling it and the game getting unstructured, funny things can happen under pressure and I can only hope that come the end of 80 minutes I'm the one laughing (with joy - not bitter irony).
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Not many disappointed that Taukei'aho missed out then. I know his form has slipped a bit, but do you think he missed out because he’s the weaker line out thrower?
I’m still surprised he didn’t make the bench at least.
I think it was expected he wouldn’t make it.
Especially when Dane Cole’s did a pressed at the start of the week.
He had suffered through lack of minutes this year while they have pushed Taylor. Taylor has player pretty well this year and they invested a lot of time in him to get his form back to the detriment of ST.
Maybe it’s the crusaders connection with Ryan. But when ST arrived on the scene he was the one bright spark when our tight 5 was very poor.
He should have been backed to be the starting hooker for the RWC and developed into one of the top hookers in the world by now.
Instead we have old Father Time on the bench and I am not sure that Coles can really worry another team as good as Ireland
Same thing happened with Aumua and I know this is not so straitforward, but he should have been developed to be a mainstay of the ABs by now.
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@BerniesCorner said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Where's Razor.
Probably not in the stands watching
@Darren out drinking with Telea?
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@antipodean Lomax better be 100% because the Boks match illustrated Newell isn't ready to play 60 minutes at this level.
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The young reserve props selections are interesting. I think the Irish pack is very mobile and they are trying to counter this. Williams is making every post a winner so selection justified and Nepo misses out vs the Irish but would he have played against the Boks or France? I think so. Just hope the young fellas can play out of their skins at set piece.
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Tim said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Retallick plays 80, and Scott Barrett shifts to six?
Whitelock to replace Frizzel
Papali’i to replace CaneThere's flexibility there to mix and match too
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@ACT-Crusader said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Tim said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Retallick plays 80, and Scott Barrett shifts to six?
Whitelock to replace Frizzel
Papali’i to replace CaneThere's flexibility there to mix and match too
Not really. We are in a bit of trouble if Ardie goes down early.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@ACT-Crusader said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Tim said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Retallick plays 80, and Scott Barrett shifts to six?
Whitelock to replace Frizzel
Papali’i to replace CaneThere's flexibility there to mix and match too
Not really. We are in a bit of trouble if Ardie goes down early.
I was thinking more about replacement, I guess.
Frizzle or maybe Cane would move to 8?
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I hope the "Shit Ritchie McCaw" has a rocket up his arse this weekend. He has seemed off the pace for a long time. I hope he throws egg all over my face this weekend.
@Old-Samurai-Jack well that would be the ultimate sledge after 78 mins if we have the game, Cane standing over POM after winning a t/o "I might be a poor mans McCaw, but you will never get past the 1/4 finals!"
But we know he would never do that.
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At least the end of two decades of suffering from Foster's inconsistent coaching marches ever closer....
@Donsteppa said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
At least the end of two decades of suffering from Foster's inconsistent coaching marches ever closer....
Knowing our luck the BOP RU will pick him up as head coach...
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Like:
Predictable starting side with one glaring exception
Young props
Coles for the lols when he's winding up the paddies late on (if it's close or we're in front how often do you reckon he'll bring up QF demons?)
DMac forcing his way to the benchDislikes
The realisation of no ST for real punch
Picking the worst AB halfback in recent memory off the bench
Dropping Telea for a fucking tugboat on the wing. The Irish are too experienced and too smart to not make hay thereWhy must we constantly be disappointed by these fucking selectors?
@mariner4life Fozzie must have shares in the ISP that the Fern runs off because traffic has never been higher after he picks the team
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I was thinking more about replacement, I guess.
Frizzle or maybe Cane would move to 8?
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
I was thinking more about replacement, I guess.
Frizzle or maybe Cane would move to 8?
Wouldn't Papali'i cover 8? Not sure if it would be him or Frizzel, but think he's played a few games there? Or might just be my imagination. Anyone would be a step down anyway.
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@mariner4life Fozzie must have shares in the ISP that the Fern runs off because traffic has never been higher after he picks the team
@ACT-Crusader said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@mariner4life Fozzie must have shares in the ISP that the Fern runs off because traffic has never been higher after he picks the team
Case after evry team naming regardless ACT, you have to remember the ones who know the most ,post, and those that don't just do it!
Well if you believe what you read on forums.
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
can i just say...i love the fact this post has been up for 6hrs and not a single person has upvoted it :cat_face_with_tears_of_joy:
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
can i just say...i love the fact this post has been up for 6hrs and not a single person has upvoted it :cat_face_with_tears_of_joy:
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So our best winger gets the same AB punishment for missing a curfew as the Tongan got for assaulting two people. That makes as much sense as the Ginga's selection in the RWC squad let alone the bench for this match.
I've got nothing more to add that others haven't already said, I hope the Tugboat and the Ginga have the game of their lives this weekend.
