RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland
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@antipodean said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@His-Bobness said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@MajorRage Fair enough. You have a different view. I think the Irish started getting up the noses of a lot of people when they started playing well and winning. I suspect the two things are connected.
I've no doubt there's a considerable element of truth in that statement. I've witnessed it ad nauseum in sports when teams start winning regularly. And to be fair, a lot of people acknowledged how well Ireland played over the last few years and how well they've set up their systems.
Any team that starts winning tends to attract bandwagon supporters and national teams magnify that. The issue is the attracted occasional fan tends not to understand the subtleties, nor the culture. Hence you get an increasing percentage of mouthy piston wristed gibbons that irritate all concerned.
But for all that, I can only think of two Irish players that came in for any opprobrium. One that mouthed off to our captain and was near invisible in Ireland's biggest game, and one who is near universally derided for his character.
And I think Test rugby is in a better place with a stronger Ireland.
Yeah this. It's dumb to say someone is the target of hate just because they're good. Nick White is universally despised here, not because he's awesome, but because he's a ridiculous looking, whinging knobjockey.
Me thinks that alot of this is projection. Perfect example, Ritchie McCaw. The guy who barely opens his mouth is transformed into gobby because he's so farking good.
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So apparently they were shit at kicking, the breakdown, scrums, lineouts and in the air and were out-thought by NZ. But they were actually the better team who only lost because they didn't bring their A-game.
Also sounds a bit suspiciously like the BS spouted by some Kiwi commentators when Ireland won the series last year.
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I'm quite sick of this BS that Ireland deserved more. Phuck that. They deserved to be No.1 because they won all them games. They deserved the favourites tag because of recent form and they deserved a QF because they won their pool games but by phuck did Sexton deserve to win the RWC because he didn't win the right to another week. If we get dealt to by Argentina this week, no one will be saying we "deserved" more.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
So apparently they were shit at kicking, the breakdown, scrums, lineouts and in the air and were out-thought by NZ. But they were actually the better team who only lost because they didn't bring their A-game.
Also sounds a bit suspiciously like the BS spouted by some Kiwi commentators when Ireland won the series last year.
I just can't wait for that smug bitch face look Goldie will sport if we go on at do the unthinkable.
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@Chris-B said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@nostrildamus Not really.
The ABs formed a guard for the Irish to come off the field.
Doesn't hurt us to do as well.
I'm sorry, wasn't a serious comment.
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Wouldn't the French be hurting just as much if not more?
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@pakman said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
At the risk of upsetting one or two Ferners, perhaps the selection of a Christie on bench would be a sign of confidence?
Ireland is pretty limited tactically, so if we nail exits and deny them chance to play multiple phases in our half it’s hard to see them scoring tries.
On the other hand we have the outside backs to score from 40m out in theirs.
ABs ought to be looking to be 10 up at halftime. And maybe 15 by 60.
In which case, bench doesn’t so much need impact to catch up, but composure and accuracy to keep Irish in their half trying to play catch up rugby.
Their bench represents a step down across the board.
QED?
This post has aged well.
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@gt12 said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Bones said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@gt12 I feel like someone has nicked Chris' account.
I think we should insult Ta$man, just to check.
Cough Ta$man
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@scribe said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Frank said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
They backed their "cut and paste" attack to pry open the ABs defence.
That was quite the telling comment from Foz.
As if, in actual fact, they have fuck all variation, and once you figure it out, you can defend it all day.
I noticed this in my drunken haze at the ground. It was all very methodical.
Boks guy was commenting on same at pub last night, and how slow Sexton was. Perhaps after the 30th phase a pop kick might have been worth a shot? Definition of insanity and all?