All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour
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@stargazer said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@victor-meldrew Akira and Havili in the same boat. Good early in the season, but the last few games a bit off.
I think (and the poll seems to agree) that Akira has had more peaks.
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@nostrildamus The poll haha.
I wasn't saying anything about how many peaks, or how high their peaks, early in the season were. Just that both were better earlier in the season than in the last few games.
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Looks like the Ireland 23 will be unchanged for this week's match with one change seeing Iain Henderson start instead of Tadgh Beirne who moves to the bench.
Keenan, Conway, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe, Sexton, Gibson-Park
Conan, van der Flier, Doris, Henderson, Ryan, Furlong, Kelleher, Porter -
@stodders said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@gt12 said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@sparky said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Team named. Disappointed that they are not starting Akira and no Ofa T. The rest looks fine. Go Black!
You do wonder if there's something not quite right with Akira as he seems to have slipped a bit in the last few games he's played - hopefully not and it's just the coaches giving Bladder more time at 6.
Interesting choice in midfield but Havili has been a bit hit and miss so makes sense. Pretty clear the strategy is centred around ALB which is a solid place to start.
I think they are going back to the 2015 model by trying to finish teams in the last 20 with playmakers who can make a difference. Personally speaking, I'd start Akira, but at this stage in his career, he might be able to show his value more off the bench, so I'm not worried by it. The midfield combo is the one we should have seen much more of, IMO.
Apart from that, I think it's form/fitness except for TJP, but I always expected him to start.
Ioane brings a bit of size, pace and power to the midfield. I think ALB is a better 12. He offers the ability to truck it up if required, but can also use his footwork if required. Is ALB the backline defence co-ordinator? Like Conrad Smith used to be?
This should’ve been their top midfield for the 2nd Bok test in Rugby Championship. Havili hasn’t shown the running game to trouble the big teams. Distributes and kicks well, like ALB makes good decisions but just lacks the strong carrying game. ALB reminds me a lot of Crotty, very cerebral player, plays equally well at 12 or 13 and makes others look good. ALB/Reiko combo frees up a spot for Reece who has shown to be a dynamic winger, good under high ball, high work rate and dangerous with ball in hand.
A great backline but will mean little if we can’t gain ascendency over the Irish pack or deal with the Irish rush defence.
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@stargazer said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@victor-meldrew Akira and Havili in the same boat. Good early in the season, but the last few games a bit off.
Yup. It’s like they hit a wall at the first Bok test in Rugby Championship.
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@sparky said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Three Kiwis in the Irish team
Yes, but what about all the South Sea Island poaches in the NZ team
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@billy-tell Every single one of them NZ players is from an island in the Southern Sea.
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Very interesting loosie combo, 2 x 6.5s and a 7.
I think the best balance currently, without a fit Cane, is AI, LJ, AS slightly ahead of AI, LJ and DP.
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Havilli on the bench to come on and add SFA.
Akira to come on and power his way in the last 20-30 mins after Blackadder has done all the graft and hard work. I like that.
we will be 5 points down with 30 to go and Christie will come on with Mounga and ignite the backs!
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@hooroo said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
we will be 5 points down with 30 to go and Christie will come on with Mounga and ignite the backs!
Or we will be two points ahead Jordie Barret will slap the ball down to stop an Irish attack, give away a penalty and Ireland will win by one point.
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@hooroo said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Havilli on the bench to come on and add SFA.
Akira to come on and power his way in the last 20-30 mins after Blackadder has done all the graft and hard work. I like that.
we will be 5 points down with 30 to go and Christie will come on with Mounga and ignite the backs!
I agree a bit Horoo, like the team, and I personally think RMo will be best against a tiring defence, as I not convinced he handles rush defence well. In saying that am fairly comfortable with whichever one starts at 10
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So three O'kiwis starting for the Emerald Isle and not one of them had a shit show of making the ABs.
Right timing and maybe, just maybe Aki might have made black but it would have been dependent on injuries and availability of others. He wouldn't have been likely to have a chance of growing into the role as he has had over there.
Equal number of Chiefs in either 23.
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@crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
So three O'kiwis starting for the Emerald Isle and not one of them had a shit show of making the ABs.
Right timing and maybe, just maybe Aki might have made black but it would have been dependent on injuries and availability of others. He wouldn't have been likely to have a chance of growing into the role as he has had over there.
Equal number of Chiefs in either 23.
Fuck, I’d have taken James Lowe over George Bridge any day of the week ending in Y but maybe that’s just me.
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That's the best centre pairing IMO, so pleased to see that. Also good to see them reward BB with the ten jersey, as I said last week now that the goalkicking is handled by JB they can just pick the best ten on form. Right now that's comfortably BB, and the backs outside of him will enjoy the extra space.
It was also interesting to see them previously trying RM at fullback too.
I'd swap the halfbacks on form as well, but perhaps TJ's lack of composure recently counts against him being the bench player.
As for the forwards, if you pick Coles IMO you need to start him, ST has provided real impact from the bench and would have kept that.
For all the talk from Plummer about wanting to dominate in the forwards, we are picking a mobile pack over a ball running, physical pack, starting at eight. And obviously, I think Akira and Blackadder should be switched but if they give Akira a good 30mins we can get the impact we'll need from his defence.
So I worry out plan is to go wide too early still, we look a better side when we flood the breakdown and do a few pick and goes before using the pace out wide. We've not picked the team to play that way though.
Really pleased to see Reece start too.
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@mn5 said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
So three O'kiwis starting for the Emerald Isle and not one of them had a shit show of making the ABs.
Right timing and maybe, just maybe Aki might have made black but it would have been dependent on injuries and availability of others. He wouldn't have been likely to have a chance of growing into the role as he has had over there.
Equal number of Chiefs in either 23.
Fuck, I’d have taken James Lowe over George Bridge any day of the week ending in Y but maybe that’s just me.
Agree, but somehow Bridge was being creamed over and talked up yet Lowe was put down as flakey (and he can be).
Point is that Lowe got nowhere near selection. -
@crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@mn5 said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
So three O'kiwis starting for the Emerald Isle and not one of them had a shit show of making the ABs.
Right timing and maybe, just maybe Aki might have made black but it would have been dependent on injuries and availability of others. He wouldn't have been likely to have a chance of growing into the role as he has had over there.
Equal number of Chiefs in either 23.
Fuck, I’d have taken James Lowe over George Bridge any day of the week ending in Y but maybe that’s just me.
Agree, but somehow Bridge was being creamed over and talked up yet Lowe was put down as flakey (and he can be).
Point is that Lowe got nowhere near selection.Ok, as long as you agree because talking up Bridge is a bit frowned up in these here parts.
