All Blacks v Ireland II
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Slightly nervous about Moody starting - if he has another game full of indiscipline, there will be Qs for Joe & Steve to answer.
Disappointed Kaino injured, but Squire is probably the best option. Squire has been a major mover this year, from Highlanders bench to core AB23 player.
No problem with the backs - I suppose I should follow the herd and criticise Savea and bemoan Naholo not starting...but I won't because I agree with the selection.
On the bench, I agree too. PT has been a major disappointment in his 2 recent games - didn't think he was that impressive against Italy either...he needs a big Super 18 season, and hoping the ABs continue with a lock on the bench.
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@Billy-Tell no coments thus far that Naholo should start over Savea?
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when Kaino is unavailable , it hits home how handy Messam was
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@KiwiMurph not since the team naming though??
all you said above was
Julian Savea needs a much better performance than the rubbish he served up in Chicago.
I was more pointintg to the comment by Willy
No problem with the backs - I suppose I should follow the herd and criticise Savea and bemoan Naholo not starting...but I won't because I agree with the selection.
I think Savea deserves most of the shit he has copped, but Naholo isnt doing enough to dsiplace him at the moment, which is saying somethign IMO.
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Fair point. I'm saying it now. He should. I don't see Savea and Naholo being held to the same standard if i'm honest. Savea produced some terrible mistakes in Chicago, meanwhile Naholo was dangerous against Italy and his mistake rate has come way down this year in tests.
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@KiwiMurph I agree to an extent, I think Naholo has more of an upside when on his game, but I think both are quite a way off thier game.
Although I think that running the ball dead a fortnight ago was very, very poor.
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In a perfect world I would read 11. Piutua...but the world is not perfect so I'll take "1 try a match" savea. The whole team was rubbish in Chicago including savea but I don't think Hansen should drop 15 players not should savea be singled out.
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How the fuck does JSavea earn so much redemption? Exactly what has he done to show Shag and co he has upped his game? And when does Sops get a start?
Fuck if it is shitty weather and comes down to goal-kicking I hope bloody Barrett and Cruds have their kicking boots..
It almost may have been better for a 6-2 split as you can guarantee Ireland will mauk all night -
@Crash said in Ireland II:
How the fuck does JSavea earn so much redemption? Exactly what has he done to show Shag and co he has upped his game? And when does Sops get a start?
Fuck if it is shitty weather and comes down to goal-kicking I hope bloody Barrett and Cruds have their kicking boots..
It almost may have been better for a 6-2 split as you can guarantee Ireland will mauk all night@Bones I'll leave this one for you to handle
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@Tim said in Ireland II:
@Donsteppa Same applies to every other forward who started that game. Very selective to focus on him.
Moody could have been dropped off a selectorial cliff for all it would have bothered me, but then the squad wasn't big enough to cope with all my knee-jerk droppings in fury at Chicago. In PT's case though he's not in the best three locks on recent form and the selection is a good one. So in one paragraph I've now incurred the wrath of the Canerbry of the North and of the South.
The case could be made for more changes, but PT's is fine.
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@Donsteppa Barrett seems to be playing better than PT, so I'm fine with him getting selected ahead.
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@Crash said in Ireland II:
How the fuck does JSavea earn so much redemption? Exactly what has he done to show Shag and co he has upped his game? And when does Sops get a start?
Fuck if it is shitty weather and comes down to goal-kicking I hope bloody Barrett and Cruds have their kicking boots..
It almost may have been better for a 6-2 split as you can guarantee Ireland will mauk all nightI see no justification for giving sopoaga his first start of the season in a must-win test. Don't think Barrett and Cruden have been that poor...
Would love him to start in Paris though.
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@Crash said in Ireland II:
How the fuck does JSavea earn so much redemption? Exactly what has he done to show Shag and co he has upped his game? And when does Sops get a start?
Fuck if it is shitty weather and comes down to goal-kicking I hope bloody Barrett and Cruds have their kicking boots..
It almost may have been better for a 6-2 split as you can guarantee Ireland will mauk all nightWe have very little depth in that position atm. Having said that, I would personally have taken the risk and picked Reiko Ioane over an out of sorts Savea.
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@Crash said in Ireland II:
How the fuck does JSavea earn so much redemption? Exactly what has he done to show Shag and co he has upped his game? And when does Sops get a start?
Julian earns redemption because of his try scoring rate.
Sopoaga might get to come off the bench against France. Clearly, he's not good enough to start given the alternatives. Or he would be.
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@Hooroo said in Ireland II:
@Donsteppa now you've done it, you have upset the Canerbry of Auckland rugby!
That's just not fair!
A very different side to the Chicago shitshow, two proper locks, two actual midfielders and Israel Dagg mean the world.
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So with Smith and Dagg in the back three, the Irish kickers will be targetting Savea's wing. Jules better be ready.
The lineout and KO receptions should also be much more secure with Whitelock and Retallick back.
Peyper as the ref should be an advantage too.
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Fuck. What does Aura think of this?
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Never one to shy away from mind games, Hansen even suggested the back-to-back world champions would be underdogs in the Irish capital.
"We know the challenge we face from Ireland will again be massive and we are going into the game as the underdogs," he said.
"They'll be full of confidence and committed to delivering on their home patch."
Despite his comments, bookies in both New Zealand and Ireland have the All Blacks as short-priced favourites to prevent a well-drilled Ireland repeating their Windy City heroics.
All Blacks taking underdog tag in Dublin
