All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider
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Scott Barrett is thought to be in serious doubt for the All Blacks' deciding third test against Ireland in Wellington on Saturday.
Barrett may yet play through the pain but, if he is ruled out, Blues loose forward Akira Ioane would be promoted to start at blindside and Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa'i, who returned from Covid this week, is expected to come onto the bench to provide cover for Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick.
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@Tim said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Scott Barrett is thought to be in serious doubt for the All Blacks' deciding third test against Ireland in Wellington on Saturday.
Barrett may yet play through the pain but, if he is ruled out, Blues loose forward Akira Ioane would be promoted to start at blindside and Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa'i, who returned from Covid this week, is expected to come onto the bench to provide cover for Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick.
That sounds sensible.
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NH newspapers: After beating the All Blacks in Dunedin, Ireland are now the lineal champions of men’s Test rugby union
Boks: hold my ref.
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@mariner4life yeah, nah. Lots of practice and it’s just a different kind of infuriating.
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Hopefully the ABs remain calm while handing out a lesson. Basically keep cool till after school…
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Hopefully Ireland don't score too many tries tomorrow....
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@Derm-McCrum said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Hopefully Ireland don't score too many tries tomorrow....
I've read that they won't but we just might not score as many.
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My gut feeling is this will be one hell of a test match and will boil down to who can handle the pressure best. AB's certainly have the better individual players in majority of the team bar, imo, Porter over Bower, POM over SB and Henshaw over Ioane (controversial I know). Sexton and Barrett are tied and can both turn a game completely.
AB's are playing on their turf and will be hurting big time, POM comments to Cane adding fuel to an already big fire. In Irelands favour, they don't have anything to lose. Losing a test series 2-1 in New Zealand is nothing to be ashamed of. So AB's have more pressure on their shoulders....but I think they will embrace it. They will try to get off the block quicker than Ireland this time and first 15-20min are crucial for both teams.
Barnes is a good ref but I feel he will suit AB's better and not ping them as much as previous two tests.
I'm sure it will be a great test match, best of the series and touring games on this weekend in fact. AB's to win it by individual brilliance and a tightening up of simple errors that's plagued them. To win by 15+ points after a tight game for 60min.
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@The-Irishman If I was choosing a combined team Sexton would walk into my side. BB has flashes of brilliance but Sexton's kicking and intelligence are second to none.
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@chimoaus said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Probably the most sense I have heard from Marshall in a long time. Plus, the Irish female host is bloody hot.
Basically, Marshall is not happy with Foster and the gameplan. Mentions that BB struggles under pressure and going backwards.
Foster has a game plan? I suppose rely on your player's individual brilliance and hope for a win is a sort of plan
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Watched the 2015 World Cup final last night on you tube ( with American commentary which was amusing )
What a team that was ,watching it really hits home how far we have slipped .
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@chimoaus said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Probably the most sense I have heard from Marshall in a long time. Plus, the Irish female host is bloody hot.
Basically, Marshall is not happy with Foster and the gameplan. Mentions that BB struggles under pressure and going backwards.
That has always been the case with BB and with RM.
I still think that is a big part of the coaches struggling to find gameplans that work against teams that can pressure usEdit: I think Marshall is talking shit when he says that getting rid of Foster would mean having to get rid of everyone from assistants to physios. Assistants, yes. A new coach would want to get his own, but they managers, physios, S&C etc would be able to stay. Some would move or get swapped out over time but practically there would be no harm in leaving them there for a bit.
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@Bones said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Are you thooooough?
Cane is bloody tall! He should be playing lock.
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Exclusive: All Blacks star ruled out for decider
One key All Black is thought to be in serious doubt for today's test.
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@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Watched the 2015 World Cup final last night on you tube ( with American commentary which was amusing )
What a team that was ,watching it really hits home how far we have slipped .
It was only Australia…..
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@Crucial the role that I think a new head coach would want to have a big say on is the S&C coach. Because that is integral to how the team will play and must be aligned with the philosophies of the coach. S&C coaches have their own philosophies too and so there isn’t always a natural fit.
