All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
There were a few freak tries there and I don’t think Ireland are that far behind. They played to the end and they looked dangerous.
The big difference for me was the ABs looked way more composed and controlled. It's hard to pick a single NZ player who didn't play well overall and there were moments where individual players did something (e.g. Ofa's tackle of Furlong) which lifted the whole team.
Maybe not a new dawn but there was way, way less "headless chicken" stuff we've seen in the past - particularly when under pressure.
The early kicking was shîte. Just handed possession back.
When NZ has fast ruck ball, Aaron Smith is unplayable.
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@Machpants said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
There were a few freak tries there and I don’t think Ireland are that far behind. They played to the end and they looked dangerous.
The big difference for me was the ABs looked way more composed and controlled. It's hard to pick a single NZ player who didn't play well overall and there were moments where individual players did something (e.g. Ofa's tackle of Furlong) which lifted the whole team.
Maybe not a new dawn but there was way, way less "headless chicken" stuff we've seen in the past - particularly when under pressure.
Our tactical kicking game is still very poor, that's what really needs to improve. In a tighter match it will cost us.
Spot on and couldn't agree more and a lot of it seems to be "kick and hope".
It's not BB's strongest point and we should use it more to control territory and not just from the first receiver - something Nonu used to do brilliantly.
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I thought it was an impressive display. First up test match with a very disrupted build up and we have to beat a very good Irish side.
It was pleasing to see the pack step up and offer more physicality with a very good set piece but we still need to keep the intensity high consistently and not be too passive at the breakdown and collision areas. We are not affecting many turnovers which will really allow us to capitalise on broken play.
The AB pack won their battle tonight but I want to see them be able to do that consistently over 3 weeks (much like you have to do in RWC to win it). We haven’t been able to do that for a number of years now and we only do it when we have been embarrassed in the game before. We need to do it after a win and find that cos isn’t your in performance and intensity.
We also got over the gainline well and it makes it a lot easier to counter a rush defence when you do (who knew!?)
Dissapointing to lose the control and momentum of the match when we emptied the bench. Credit to Ireland for playing hard to to the last minute.
Promising start. Looking forward to playing under the roof in Dunedin.
Ireland will throw everything at us again as they know a loss will mean a series win for us. Looking forward to seeing the ABs build on this weeks performance.
Should be a cracking game.
Oh and happy birthday to Nana Cane!
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@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
Yeah sure the Barrett clean out might not reach the red card threshold, but fuck what's the point in what he did? Beyond stupid, like his 3-4 dives over the ruck early in the game for absolutely zero result other than giving us shit ball and the ref a reason to penalise us. Someone needs to sit him down with these clips and ask him why, tell him to pull his head in.
Edit: without that shit it was a top notch locks game.
Red definitely fell into 'old' habits once fatigue set in. In saying that the guy has a huge engine for a big guy.
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@Toddy said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
Yeah sure the Barrett clean out might not reach the red card threshold, but fuck what's the point in what he did? Beyond stupid, like his 3-4 dives over the ruck early in the game for absolutely zero result other than giving us shit ball and the ref a reason to penalise us. Someone needs to sit him down with these clips and ask him why, tell him to pull his head in.
Edit: without that shit it was a top notch locks game.
Red definitely fell into 'old' habits once fatigue set in. In saying that the guy has a huge engine for a big guy.
Needs to work on getting the balance right between pissing off the opposition and pissing off teh ref. Generally, did it pretty we tonight I thought.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@nzzp said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Nepia said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Kirwan said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
If Dalton isn't 100% why is he on the bench given there's 2 x 7s in the starting loose forward trio? Akira injured but are Hoskins and Vaai covid/injured?
He kept mentioning Dalton with Akira when talking about six, so I think the dopey bastard is going to play three sevens at some point.
I'd prefer three 7s to two 7s and a lock named Barrett.
he said he saw Papali'i as a 6 as well (earlier in the season).
It's bizarre. And this is not Cane's fault - he's a solid leader, and a damn good 7. He's just getting competition from different (Ardie) and up and coming (Dalts) players.
For me, it's got to be Ardie to the bench to cover the loosies and rip open the game in the last 20. Pick a specialist 6 and 8 with some height, and play Cane or Dalts if Cane can't play - they are the most similar. The massive compromise comes with having to have both Cane and Ardie there; the balance is borked at that point.
Deep down, though, this isn't the issue. Our tight 5 is the key problem. Taylor Retallick Whitelock are not the physical specimens they used to be. Our props are average in so many facets, or have obvious weaknesses.
All in all, loss insurance on the Irish seems a smart move right now
After reading your post, I’m actually changing my prediction, ABs by 20+
Bump
😎
Pessimist.
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@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
A few lads with humble pie. Starting with me. The props were fine. Then the “Ardie on the bench” and “Paps ahead of Cane” brigade. For this match at least you were wrong.
There were a few freak tries there and I don’t think Ireland are that far behind. They played to the end and they looked dangerous. Their best player was Henshaw.
Handed Ennor off like he was Ronan OGara or Merhts.
Amazing stuff.
Peter O’mahony was a trooper as well.
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@Jailbreak7 the future is Paps at 7, Blackadder at 6, Ardie at 8 and Grace & Jacobson covering on the bench
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@broughie said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@booboo No. Are you happy with the direction the team is going or does 23 points make you sleep better knowing Fozzy Bear is at the wheel?
Well, a 23 point victory is a pretty good result. Can only judge on results
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Good!
That was quite authoritative after the first 20 minutes.
The Irish calibrated and I'd say right now they're good enough to beat us given the chance, but they're not better than us.
A few suggested changes for test 2 - Aidan Ross to the bench for Big Karl; Sami T. to start; Akira to 6 if his foot is fixed and the locks shuffled accordingly - PGS slides out of the 23; Ennor does likewise and replaced by a midfield back.
According to me, this makes us better. Everyone else can go again.
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@booboo you right. The glass is half full, perhaps 3/4 er's based on that result. Could actually be full if SB played lock for BBBR, they were not forced to play Cane because he is the captain but not the best 7, Paps took his place, and if BB could learn how to kick.
Perhaps a little harsh but how did the Aussies look?. Should give us a sterner test.
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Hope they stick with same midfield. Someone has to make way for Jordan if he’s available. Fakatava onto the bench. Would be interesting to know who woujd have been selected if Havili and Goodhue were fit. As much as Havili finished the super season well, he was poor in autumn in the NH. Goodhue is a good player but a better 13 than 12 and too slow for 13.
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@Billy-Tell I'd give Will Jordan another week off, to make sure he's fighting fit when he comes back - and I think Leicester will benefit more from going again.
All going well, I'd now be planning for LF to play all three tests vs Ireland, with Will replacing Sevu for test 3. If all the wings stay fit, LF might not get that much game time later in the season, so use him now while there's good reason to rest the others.
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@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
Hope they stick with same midfield. Someone has to make way for Jordan if he’s available. Fakatava onto the bench. Would be interesting to know who woujd have been selected if Havili and Goodhue were fit. As much as Havili finished the super season well, he was poor in autumn in the NH. Goodhue is a good player but a better 13 than 12 and too slow for 13.
I suspect the only change they will make is Jordan for LF and hopefully LF takes Ennors bench spot.
The 23 I would like
Bower
ST
Ofa
BBBBR
Whitelock
Akira
Cane
Savea
Smith
Jordan
BB
QT
RI
Reece
JBAT
Coles
Harris
SB
Paps
Faka
LF
Mounga -
@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
Good!
That was quite authoritative after the first 20 minutes.
The Irish calibrated and I'd say right now they're good enough to beat us given the chance, but they're not better than us.
A few suggested changes for test 2 - Aidan Ross to the bench for Big Karl; Sami T. to start; Akira to 6 if his foot is fixed and the locks shuffled accordingly - PGS slides out of the 23; Ennor does likewise and replaced by a midfield back.
According to me, this makes us better. Everyone else can go again.
What if our plague ridden contingent is available. At least one first choice pick in that lot.
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@broughie said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@booboo you right. The glass is half full, perhaps 3/4 er's based on that result. Could actually be full if SB played lock for BBBR, they were not forced to play Cane because he is the captain but not the best 7, Paps took his place, and if BB could learn how to kick.
Perhaps a little harsh but how did the Aussies look?. Should give us a sterner test.
I share some reservations about Fozzie.
This is a good result.
But we've seen good results and upward trends reverse in both the last two seasons.
May happen again.
Hopefully not. I'm just happy we produced a good performance.
As people have pointed out: team wins, it's the players, team loses, it's Foster.
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Quick day after match report.
The sun's shining again, but really we haven't learned a lot. I'm keen to watch the replay, as the game felt a bit low key for a 20+ point victory.
We won, and won well, but I don't think we've learned a massive amount about either side we didn't know.
Modern rugby has a huge issue with complaints to the ref. Need to just leave them to do their job and get on with playing. The captain talking to the ref has got out of hand (not just Ireland here), and the appealing of players gets very old. It's smart rugby if you can get away with it, but i don't think it's good for the sport.
Ref was good - no major howlers that were visible to any of us in the crowd, Irish or Kiwi alike.
Irish struggled if they weren't winning breakdown penalties. AB defence was equal parts excellent and average - conceding three (and could be 4-5) tries wasn't flash.
Aaron's pass is the best in teh business. Was just nonchalantly firing it our 3-4 channels, right on the chest. Superb. Rieko had one of his best games organising the defence - he's clearly our locked on centre. Our kicking wasn't fantastic; others have done BB to death for it, but we need to get better in this area.
Mo'unga showed when he came on that the time and space at Test level is significantly down. Ennor was a donkey. PGS scored a good try, but no idea what the Irish defenders were doing.
Locks went OK - did their core role. We're praying we get one more year out of Sam, and that BBBR comes back strongly from his injury and sabbatical.
ScoBa needs some serious update to his cleanout technique. He's running some massive risks getting in shoulder first, and it'll catch him again soon - for what, the 3rd Red in the last couple of years? Good cynical munter though (like all forwards)
Christie looked sharp when he came on, but his pass is a big step backwards.
JGP took some poor options; hasn't improved massively since his Blues days.
On a different night, with a different ref, the Irish are right in there. They missed Sexton big time after he went off. If we're off our game slightly, the Irish don't drop quite so much ball and win some penalties - then it'd be hard to separate them. But today, it's a 20 point win, and looking for next week. Dunedin should be fun with the indoor stadium.
So a good night out again, looking forward to more good rugby to come this season.
