RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2)
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Last time I saw this much confidence here was just before the Aussies smashed us to bits.
Ireland are a good side, who lack depth at 10. We seem to think they're shit now because they were beaten by Japan and thumped by England before the WC. But both games no Sexton. You can't play 10 man rugby without a 10.
They whipped Scotland and looked good against Samoa - they're not a spent force and they've beaten us 2 out of last 3. The Dublin game was one which we targeted to get payback for the first loss, and we scored 9 points and were well beaten.
Now I see Coles in the Herald saying 'we haven't talked about what happened last time'. Sounds a bit too much like Cheika not worrying about the opposition to me.As for us, our best forward is underdone, and our reserve scrummaging has looked a bit shaky. I don't think Cane is back to his best, and we lack the grunt to bend set defensive lines. We have beaten South Africa, and had a couple of pretty meaningless cakewalks vs minnows, that's all. There's obviously a lot of potential in the Mounga Barrett axis, but I don't consider it proven under pressure just yet, and we have inexperienced wings who we know will be targeted in the air. Our centre has been out injured and the 12-13 combo lacks match time together.
Underdogs, clearly.Glad we have Owens compared to some other options, but he's been below his usual high standards this cup, letting too much go at the breakdown and offside line which will suit the Irish. He is however the least likely to give a panicky dodgy shit red card.
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@reprobate said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Last time I saw this much confidence here was just before the Aussies smashed us to bits.
Ireland are a good side, who lack depth at 10. We seem to think they're shit now because they were beaten by Japan and thumped by England before the WC. But both games no Sexton. You can't play 10 man rugby without a 10.
They whipped Scotland and looked good against Samoa - they're not a spent force and they've beaten us 2 out of last 3. The Dublin game was one which we targeted to get payback for the first loss, and we scored 9 points and were well beaten.
Now I see Coles in the Herald saying 'we haven't talked about what happened last time'. Sounds a bit too much like Cheika not worrying about the opposition to me.As for us, our best forward is underdone, and our reserve scrummaging has looked a bit shaky. I don't think Cane is back to his best, and we lack the grunt to bend set defensive lines. We have beaten South Africa, and had a couple of pretty meaningless cakewalks vs minnows, that's all. There's obviously a lot of potential in the Mounga Barrett axis, but I don't consider it proven under pressure just yet, and we have inexperienced wings who we know will be targeted in the air. Our centre has been out injured and the 12-13 combo lacks match time together.
Underdogs, clearly.Glad we have Owens compared to some other options, but he's been below his usual high standards this cup, letting too much go at the breakdown and offside line which will suit the Irish. He is however the least likely to give a panicky dodgy shit red card.
I agree with this, am nowhere near as confident as some. The betting markets are a bit silly. I emotionally hedged by backing Ireland @ $5.70. And yes, I hate myself.
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@reprobate said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Ireland are a good side, who lack depth at 10. We seem to think they're shit now because they were beaten by Japan and thumped by England before the WC. But both games no Sexton. You can't play 10 man rugby without a 10.
They lost to England and Wales this year in the 6N with Sexton, both significant losses on the scoreboard too. If you look at both games they were full strength or thereabouts yet were bullied.
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@mofitzy_ said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@reprobate said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Ireland are a good side, who lack depth at 10. We seem to think they're shit now because they were beaten by Japan and thumped by England before the WC. But both games no Sexton. You can't play 10 man rugby without a 10.
They lost to England and Wales this year in the 6N with Sexton, both significant losses on the scoreboard too. If you look at both games they were full strength or thereabouts yet were bullied.
Yep, is our form so much better? That Welsh game is why the Irish hate Gardner incidentally, 1 try each but Anscombe kicked 6 penalties.
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@reprobate out of interest, what does the RM/BB axis have to do to be proven?
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I am feeling more nervous than most about this game.
We have had a pretty crap year, got hammered by Aus, drew with the Boks, beat Argentina by just 4.
Beaten by Ireland last 2out of 3 times we played.
I think people have very short memories. Was only a few months ago that it was all doom and gloom. Now we beat the Boks, and a couple tier 2 nations and we are favorites again?If we can score some quick points we should be ok, but a grinding close game, has to be advantage Ireland.
And now you get a red card for just making eye contact with someone....
I'm excited for this game, but just not as confident as most people I guess. -
@Darren said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I am feeling more nervous than most about this game.
We have had a pretty crap year, got hammered by Aus, drew with the Boks, beat Argentina by just 4.
Beaten by Ireland last 2out of 3 times we played.
I think people have very short memories. Was only a few months ago that it was all doom and gloom. Now we beat the Boks, and a couple tier 2 nations and we are favorites again?If we can score some quick points we should be ok, but a grinding close game, has to be advantage Ireland.
And now you get a red card for just making eye contact with someone....
I'm excited for this game, but just not as confident as most people I guess.For whom?
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@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@Darren said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I am feeling more nervous than most about this game.
We have had a pretty crap year, got hammered by Aus, drew with the Boks, beat Argentina by just 4.
Beaten by Ireland last 2out of 3 times we played.
I think people have very short memories. Was only a few months ago that it was all doom and gloom. Now we beat the Boks, and a couple tier 2 nations and we are favorites again?If we can score some quick points we should be ok, but a grinding close game, has to be advantage Ireland.
And now you get a red card for just making eye contact with someone....
I'm excited for this game, but just not as confident as most people I guess.For whom?
You don't remember after we lost to Aus? I'm sure you could go back and read what people were saying.
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@Darren said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@Darren said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I am feeling more nervous than most about this game.
We have had a pretty crap year, got hammered by Aus, drew with the Boks, beat Argentina by just 4.
Beaten by Ireland last 2out of 3 times we played.
I think people have very short memories. Was only a few months ago that it was all doom and gloom. Now we beat the Boks, and a couple tier 2 nations and we are favorites again?If we can score some quick points we should be ok, but a grinding close game, has to be advantage Ireland.
And now you get a red card for just making eye contact with someone....
I'm excited for this game, but just not as confident as most people I guess.For whom?
You don't remember after we lost to Aus? I'm sure you could go back and read what people were saying.
Well it wasn't for me.
It's simply this - we're going to get beaten sometimes. Probably particularly more likely in the year or so leading up to the RWC, when the coaches/selectors are looking at various things they wouldn't necessarily be in the years before that. But if as an AB fan you can't be decently confident of success, after what we've seen the last ten years and looking at what/how the team has been building this year - when can you be?
We might lose, but I'll be surprised if we do.
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@canefan said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@rotated said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@canefan said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@sparky said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
We avoid Barnes and Garces.
No complaints with Nigel Owens officiating of the All Blacks to date.
Wasn't Owens in charge against SA in SA when they bypassed protocol on a try decision when it screened at the ground?
That was Clancy.
Owens had the Wellington test last year and one of the tests with Donald at 10 in 2009. Maybe one more Bledisloe loss in there somewhere?
Clancy, the Irishman with the French name? Figures
Jesus Christ
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@Frye said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@canefan said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@rotated said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@canefan said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@sparky said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
We avoid Barnes and Garces.
No complaints with Nigel Owens officiating of the All Blacks to date.
Wasn't Owens in charge against SA in SA when they bypassed protocol on a try decision when it screened at the ground?
That was Clancy.
Owens had the Wellington test last year and one of the tests with Donald at 10 in 2009. Maybe one more Bledisloe loss in there somewhere?
Clancy, the Irishman with the French name? Figures
Jesus Christ
They probably all look the same to him.
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@reprobate said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@mofitzy_ said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@reprobate said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Ireland are a good side, who lack depth at 10. We seem to think they're shit now because they were beaten by Japan and thumped by England before the WC. But both games no Sexton. You can't play 10 man rugby without a 10.
They lost to England and Wales this year in the 6N with Sexton, both significant losses on the scoreboard too. If you look at both games they were full strength or thereabouts yet were bullied.
Yep, is our form so much better? That Welsh game is why the Irish hate Gardner incidentally, 1 try each but Anscombe kicked 6 penalties.
When was the last time we lost 4 games in a calendar year? Agree that our form isn't brilliant but going on recent results they are in a worse position.
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@reprobate Our reserve props concern me. Ofa at tighthead is fine but not sure he's good enough on the other side. Angus as a scrummager is average. Ofa at TH and Big Karl would have been better bench options imo.
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@akan004 I agree, Iv'e thought this since the team was named. I would feel a lot safer with them coming on to close out a game, or even one of them with Owen Franks, especially against the likes of England.
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The teams from the 2018 test to compare with this weeks teams when they are named. The AB's could have as many as 8 personal and 2 positional changes in the starting xv from that game.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@akan004 I agree, Iv'e thought this since the team was named. I would feel a lot safer with them coming on to close out a game, or even one of them with Owen Franks, especially against the likes of England.
So you rate Marler and Genge that highly?
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@Bones Its more my worries about Ofa's inexperience at loosehead and Ta'avao's history of inconsistent scrummaging (they are both very tall for props 194 and 195) being targeted by experienced props getting under them and causing us problems and risking penalties. England seem to be aiming to start with Marler and Sinckler and then finish with Vunipola and Coles? Hopefully they prove me wrong and Angus scores the winning try in the final!
