All Blacks v Ireland II
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one thing i am excited about is scott barrett's skills. showed very quick hands v italy to set up a try. and given how often we've been trying the short ball off the lock in midfield move over the last couple of seasons, he might be just the man for that job.
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@Tregaskis said in Ireland II:
@Catogrande You just concentrate on maintaining your soon-to-be-world-record winning streak.
Already our record with 25 wins on the trot between March 2002 and March 2004, on account of the loss v France in 2003 was only a B team so it doesn't count.
So fuck Cyprus.
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Underdogs?..
So if New Zealand somehow some way manage to overcome Ireland, the world media will be full of headlines about shock upset, first win for New Zealand in nearly a fortnight....etc, etc
Can't wait.
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@Pot-Hale TBF, it has been a long fortnight, I expect for differing reasons for players and fans of each team
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@taniwharugby said in Ireland II:
@Pot-Hale TBF, it has been a long fortnight, I expect for differing reasons for players and fans of each team
I find the whole circus quite amusing. I've never seen so many articles published on one game - or two even. There was even an article in one NZ paper talking about 5 Irish players to watch out for. That was a first. Normally NZ players say they don't know any of the names of the players. Luke Fitzgerald does his 'controversial' quote by saying the NZ selection for the last game was a bit arrogant, which the media lapped up. Mystique and Aura made an appearance courtesy of Dev Toner. And now Hansen says NZ are underdogs.
I haven't seen such hoopla since 2009.
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@Pot-Hale expect that is more reflective of lazy journalism.
Although I do recall reading something before the Chicago test that had match-ups to watch for, but only really looked at halfback, hooker and centre (which I think was because Payne was playing centre)
I liken this to the tension before the RWC final in 2011.
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@Pot-Hale see, you are blessed. Every year you get the 6N, with all its hatred and passion, you'll generally lose at least one game, and you can have recriminations etc. There is normally a reverse in November, and in June as well. You're used to it. The press are used to it. The team is used to it. There is always someone to talk up, someone to rubbish, someone to heap blame/hope on. You get to live man, to actually live.
We have spent the last few years ritually disemboweling all and sundry. Our closest rivals have fallen in a hole somewhat. We normally waltz through November. We haven't lost a home test since time immemorial. The 4N is usually over with a couple of rounds to go. And our "press" are left with either crowing arrogantly about how great we are, crowing about why we have the 25 best players in the world, and how dare anyone disagree, or trying desperately to stay humble despite wanting to crow about how great we are.
Then we get a shock reverse and they are a bit lost. So they tend to grab the opportunity to live as the other half do. Recrimination! hindsight! talk up the opposition! underdogs! and as it's new ground for them, and they are not that bright, they don't do it well. I would take it all as a compliment.
All Blacks by 25
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@mariner4life you forgot the bleating about how boring the game
is nowwas when the ABs win all the time... -
@taniwharugby said in Ireland II:
@Pot-Hale
I liken this to the tension before the RWC final in 2011.
Really?
Jeez. I'm not going to be able to watch it live unfortunately as it's my son's birthday and go-karting is more interesting to himself and his mates. I'll either want to watch a replay or won't want to depending on the winning margin. :).
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@mariner4life said in Ireland II:
@Pot-Hale see, you are blessed. Every year you get the 6N, with all its hatred and passion, you'll generally lose at least one game, and you can have recriminations etc. There is normally a reverse in November, and in June as well. You're used to it. The press are used to it. The team is used to it. There is always someone to talk up, someone to rubbish, someone to heap blame/hope on. You get to live man, to actually live.
We have spent the last few years ritually disemboweling all and sundry. Our closest rivals have fallen in a hole somewhat. We normally waltz through November. We haven't lost a home test since time immemorial. The 4N is usually over with a couple of rounds to go. And our "press" are left with either crowing arrogantly about how great we are, crowing about why we have the 25 best players in the world, and how dare anyone disagree, or trying desperately to stay humble despite wanting to crow about how great we are.
Then we get a shock reverse and they are a bit lost. So they tend to grab the opportunity to live as the other half do. Recrimination! hindsight! talk up the opposition! underdogs! and as it's new ground for them, and they are not that bright, they don't do it well. I would take it all as a compliment.
All Blacks by 25
Now that is the best comment posted in the last fortnight. 👍
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@Pot-Hale as I said above, it is a game we know we should win if we play well, but a fortnight ago, showed if we are off by even a small margin and the Irish play well again...well, I guess its just lucky I don't see my cousins Irish partner too often
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@taniwharugby said in Ireland II:
@Pot-Hale as I said above, it is a game we know we should win if we play well, but a fortnight ago, showed if we are off by even a small margin and the Irish play well again...well, I guess its just lucky I don't see my cousins Irish partner too often
Yes I could see how that would be annoying. Given the Irish habit of living off one victory for over a hundred years. Or over 800 years if it's against the British obviously....
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@Pot-Hale ha he's not that bad really, actually a good fluffybunny.
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@Pot-Hale said in Ireland II:
Jeez. I'm not going to be able to watch it live unfortunately as it's my son's birthday and go-karting is more interesting to himself and his mates. I'll either want to watch a replay or won't want to depending on the winning margin. :).
Don't worry PH, it's only the All Blacks
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@Billy-Tell I trust you marked today by shooting an apple off your son's head?
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@No-Quarter said in Ireland II:
@Billy-Tell I trust you marked today by shooting an apple off your son's head?
I only have daughters. And in case you were wondering, no I didn't formerly have a son who perished in an unfortunate shooting accident.
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This post is deleted!
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@DMX said in Ireland II:
Aaron Smith owes the team a big one.
As long as he doesn't pull it out when they are in the toilet. Anyway, Smith has to, he has genuine competition now for his starting position..
