Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown & Dublin Duel
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Both coaches/teams seem to be giving some key players time out.... or is this just coincidental?
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If their crystal ball gazing is proven correct, I'll wipe the egg off my face.
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@Stargazer said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:
It has been Thursday in Chicago for more than 7 and half hours! What are they waiting for?!
The OK from The Fern to stop fucking with everyone and name the team.
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All Blacks team to play Ireland in Chicago on Sunday morning (test caps in brackets):
- Joe Moody (20)
- Dane Coles (46)
- Owen Franks (87)
- Patrick Tuipulotu (10)
- Jerome Kaino (75)
- Liam Squire (6)
- Sam Cane (37)
- Kieran Read (c) (94)
- Aaron Smith (54)
- Beauden Barrett (46)
- Julian Savea (49)
- Ryan Crotty (24)
- George Moala (3)
- Waisake Naholo (8)
- Ben Smith (58)
Reserves:
16. Codie Taylor (11)
17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi (2)
18. Charlie Faumuina (42)
19. Scott Barrett (0)
20. Ardie Savea (9)
21. TJ Perenara (26)
22. Aaron Cruden (43)
23. Malakai Fekitoa (20) -
This is our raw Polynesian power selection.
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@Billy-Tell Well I bet Sopoaga feels left out.
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@Bones said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:
@Billy-Tell Well I bet Sopoaga feels left out.
I don't know. The selectors are usually quite upfront in their plans and will have told Lima when they expect he will play.
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Kaino selection really only matters at scrum time - so providing he isn't too far behind on that it's an admirable and aggressive selection.
Kaino is a better lineout option than many locks in TRC and the extra mobility and physicality gives us an edge over the park.
But if the scrum starts going backwards...
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@Crucial said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:
@Bones said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:
@Billy-Tell Well I bet Sopoaga feels left out.
I don't know. The selectors are usually quite upfront in their plans and will have told Lima when they expect he will play.
Oh of course, but I'm sure he's disappointed in not being as poly as Barrett.
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@Bones said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:
@Crucial said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:
@Bones said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:
@Billy-Tell Well I bet Sopoaga feels left out.
I don't know. The selectors are usually quite upfront in their plans and will have told Lima when they expect he will play.
Oh of course, but I'm sure he's disappointed in not being as poly as Barrett.
Thought I heard something whooshing past my head when I read your post.
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Thats an interesting starting forward pack , collectively mobile and aggressive in contact
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@DMX said in Ireland v NZ - Chicago Showdown:
Sounds like unusually warm weather for Saturday,
We all bought All Blacks onesies as we went to the USA game and it was fucken freezing. Expected to be just below 20 on saturday, so we'll be sweating balls I'd say.
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Any specific reasons...or just vague musings?
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Look I realise as usual the chances of the Irish having a full 80 against us is medium - but they showed in 2013 that that has improved.
Just think we have had the high of taking the record had a few injuries (best locking pair in the world out) a centre pairing that are solid but not creative...
I think the bench will have to save us from a tough time. -
Rettalick and Whitelock are a massive loss but I think we will get real physicality from their replacements, physicality from Cane and powerful running from wings and center. I don't expect this to be banana skin game , would be more cautious about last game of the tour. With weather we can really turn screws in last half an hour.
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Only real surprise is Moala, and IMO a pleasing one. I like his game either at centre or wing. He has some areas to develop when it comes to passing but I like his footwork and he has excellent reactions.
A very good 23. It will be interesting to see how they use the bench.
