RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2)
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@No-Quarter said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@ACT-Crusader said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@No-Quarter said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Happy with it overall but I really would rather Pat T coming off the bench. He's come of age this year and I think we are missing a trick not using him in the final 20.
It’s only Ireland...
You're gonna have to ban yourself if we lose.
Bring on
the banIreland -
@Chester-Draws said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@junior Beauden is not playing out of position. He started at fullback for the ABs, and he's often fallen back there when replaced. Lots of people have maintained for a very long time that it's his best position.
Meanwhile the "inexperienced" midfield has nothing -- nothing -- compared to the first-fives at the last but one world cup. ALB is a veteran compared to Aaron Cruden.
I didn't realise Cruden played in 2007...?
In any event, it's the combination that is relatively untested. McAlister made his AB debut in 2005 and Mils in 2003 - we therefore had "plenty" of experience in our midfield in 2007 by your definition.
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@MajorRage said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I'm pretty happy with this team. I would probably have SBW and ALB in the midfield, as I think they are both in good form and offer what it takes to get through that Irish defence, which is arguably best on planet (game vs england this year aside).
I really think Retallick needed the Irish game tho, so I wouldn't say I'm comfortable with that one.
Having said that ... if they Irish beat us, then they deserve it and as in head to head match ups of late, they are the better team. You can't be bitter about being beaten by a better team.
EDIT - Just to add a bit more context. Despite us getting destroyed on the scoreboard vs Aussie this year, I'd still put the Irish victory over us last year as the bigger of the drubbings. We had nothing in that game and they got over our line 3 times.
Agreed with this - despite the eventual scoreline, there were stages in that Aussie match where it looked like we might actually win it (indeed, even after the red, we had a little comeback where it looked like we might be able to pinch it). Also, we played very shit and had one of our players sent off.
Against Ireland last November, we threw absolutely everything at them and that had an answer every time. Also, they made us look Tier 2 at times in the scrum and with their well-worked move for the try. It's honestly the best victory against an AB team since we got beaten by the Boks in 2009, in my view.
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@junior said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@MajorRage said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I'm pretty happy with this team. I would probably have SBW and ALB in the midfield, as I think they are both in good form and offer what it takes to get through that Irish defence, which is arguably best on planet (game vs england this year aside).
I really think Retallick needed the Irish game tho, so I wouldn't say I'm comfortable with that one.
Having said that ... if they Irish beat us, then they deserve it and as in head to head match ups of late, they are the better team. You can't be bitter about being beaten by a better team.
EDIT - Just to add a bit more context. Despite us getting destroyed on the scoreboard vs Aussie this year, I'd still put the Irish victory over us last year as the bigger of the drubbings. We had nothing in that game and they got over our line 3 times.
Agreed with this - despite the eventual scoreline, there were stages in that Aussie match where it looked like we might actually win it (indeed, even after the red, we had a little comeback where it looked like we might be able to pinch it). Also, we played very shit and had one of our players sent off.
Against Ireland last November, we threw absolutely everything at them and that had an answer every time. Also, they made us look Tier 2 at times in the scrum and with their well-worked move for the try. It's honestly the best victory against an AB team since we got beaten by the Boks in 2009, in my view.
I agree. But Read doesn’t knock on and BFA gets there just before O’Mahony and it’s a different game.
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@Billy-Tell said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@junior said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@MajorRage said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I'm pretty happy with this team. I would probably have SBW and ALB in the midfield, as I think they are both in good form and offer what it takes to get through that Irish defence, which is arguably best on planet (game vs england this year aside).
I really think Retallick needed the Irish game tho, so I wouldn't say I'm comfortable with that one.
Having said that ... if they Irish beat us, then they deserve it and as in head to head match ups of late, they are the better team. You can't be bitter about being beaten by a better team.
EDIT - Just to add a bit more context. Despite us getting destroyed on the scoreboard vs Aussie this year, I'd still put the Irish victory over us last year as the bigger of the drubbings. We had nothing in that game and they got over our line 3 times.
Agreed with this - despite the eventual scoreline, there were stages in that Aussie match where it looked like we might actually win it (indeed, even after the red, we had a little comeback where it looked like we might be able to pinch it). Also, we played very shit and had one of our players sent off.
Against Ireland last November, we threw absolutely everything at them and that had an answer every time. Also, they made us look Tier 2 at times in the scrum and with their well-worked move for the try. It's honestly the best victory against an AB team since we got beaten by the Boks in 2009, in my view.
I agree. But Read doesn’t knock on and BFA gets there just before O’Mahony and it’s a different game.
Yep, that's a fair call, but then I'd call that either a very lucky victory / draw or expect that Ireland would have again lifted and put themselves in a position to get some more points.
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@MajorRage said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
EDIT - Just to add a bit more context. Despite us getting destroyed on the scoreboard vs Aussie this year, I'd still put the Irish victory over us last year as the bigger of the drubbings. We had nothing in that game and they got over our line 3 times.
Disagree - we left lots of points out there.
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@antipodean said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@MajorRage said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
EDIT - Just to add a bit more context. Despite us getting destroyed on the scoreboard vs Aussie this year, I'd still put the Irish victory over us last year as the bigger of the drubbings. We had nothing in that game and they got over our line 3 times.
Disagree - we left lots of points out there.
In recent times we have botched a lot of scoring opportunities. I believe this is due to the team trying to play the high octane style we see now. It has taken us over a year to finally sort it out. Big step up on Saturday, time to bring out the powder or die
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These stats, if accurate, may shoot down my recent comments/concerns about our reserve props scrummaging, from the 'T2 Rugby' twitter acc.
New Zealand have now increased their record to 125 consecutive scrums since they last lost one on their own put in. An unprecedented run in this era. Over this period since June 2018 whilst their scrum has been 100% opponents against them have been only at 84%.Also over same period New Zealand in matches vs Tier 1 opponents. At lineout NZ steal considerably amount more ball than any other side. Opponent success against them is just 77%, next lowest is England and Argentina at 85%, whilst opponents vs Wales or Scotland by contrast 93%.
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I feel pretty good but I would have been happier with Bender in there, especially as I thought he was good off the bench. I like Goodhue because he goes low and has low red card risk. Ireland are always in with a chance but my base case is we win by more than a score with a meaningful chance that we give them a hiding.
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@antipodean said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@MajorRage said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
EDIT - Just to add a bit more context. Despite us getting destroyed on the scoreboard vs Aussie this year, I'd still put the Irish victory over us last year as the bigger of the drubbings. We had nothing in that game and they got over our line 3 times.
Disagree - we left lots of points out there.
Correct. We disagree.
Only one I can think of is Read's knock on after the charge down.
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@DMX said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I feel pretty good but I would have been happier with Bender in there, especially as I thought he was good off the bench. I like Goodhue because he goes low and has low red card lift. Ireland are always in with a chance but my base case is we win by more than a score with a meaningful chance that we give them a hiding.
Yeah probably a risk they didn't need to take with BFA, what with him having a propensity to spend time off the field in RWC finals games.
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Always thought Ireland would be a great place to host a RWC.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Always thought Ireland would be a great place to host a RWC.
I'm sure the group stages would be great craic, not sure they are capable of hosting games past the QFs though.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Always thought Ireland would be a great place to host a RWC.
Someone said they thought it was a bit small?
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@jegga said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Someone said they thought it was a bit small?
Not too sure, but thought the idea was to share some games with Scotland and Wales. Dublin has 2 big stadiums and Belfast's Windsor Park is also pretty big - and there's quite a few big GAA places in Cork etc.
As Irish rugby is all of Ireland, it would a great way to showcase the country and it's passion for the game. Welcome would be pretty warm, that's for sure.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Always thought Ireland would be a great place to host a RWC.
Yeah, the capital has some fabulous stadiums. Wembley, Emirates and West Ham’s home are all terrific 😉
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@junior said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I didn't realise Cruden played in 2007...?
He rolled out into the final in 2011, under the white heat of pressure and was very good. Despite being the definition of green. The thing is, good players in form are good players in form.
You tend to get experience because you are good, not good because you have experience. Slightly different for the leadership team, naturally, where having seen everything the world throws at you is good, but a few youngsters around the place is also a good thing.
In any event, it's the combination that is relatively untested. McAlister made his AB debut in 2005 and Mils in 2003 - we therefore had "plenty" of experience in our midfield in 2007 by your definition.
Not just my definition. We actually did. It wasn't the lack of experience in the outside backs that lost us that game.
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Cruden had been left out of the RWC squad because of poor performance and his place had been taken by Colin Slade if I recall correctly. He was on or about to go on honeymoon when he got the call. In his short time he played like a guy with a second chance
