RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2)
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@Billy-Tell said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@junior said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@MajorRage said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I'm pretty happy with this team. I would probably have SBW and ALB in the midfield, as I think they are both in good form and offer what it takes to get through that Irish defence, which is arguably best on planet (game vs england this year aside).
I really think Retallick needed the Irish game tho, so I wouldn't say I'm comfortable with that one.
Having said that ... if they Irish beat us, then they deserve it and as in head to head match ups of late, they are the better team. You can't be bitter about being beaten by a better team.
EDIT - Just to add a bit more context. Despite us getting destroyed on the scoreboard vs Aussie this year, I'd still put the Irish victory over us last year as the bigger of the drubbings. We had nothing in that game and they got over our line 3 times.
Agreed with this - despite the eventual scoreline, there were stages in that Aussie match where it looked like we might actually win it (indeed, even after the red, we had a little comeback where it looked like we might be able to pinch it). Also, we played very shit and had one of our players sent off.
Against Ireland last November, we threw absolutely everything at them and that had an answer every time. Also, they made us look Tier 2 at times in the scrum and with their well-worked move for the try. It's honestly the best victory against an AB team since we got beaten by the Boks in 2009, in my view.
I agree. But Read doesn’t knock on and BFA gets there just before O’Mahony and it’s a different game.
Yep, that's a fair call, but then I'd call that either a very lucky victory / draw or expect that Ireland would have again lifted and put themselves in a position to get some more points.
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@MajorRage said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
EDIT - Just to add a bit more context. Despite us getting destroyed on the scoreboard vs Aussie this year, I'd still put the Irish victory over us last year as the bigger of the drubbings. We had nothing in that game and they got over our line 3 times.
Disagree - we left lots of points out there.
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@antipodean said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@MajorRage said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
EDIT - Just to add a bit more context. Despite us getting destroyed on the scoreboard vs Aussie this year, I'd still put the Irish victory over us last year as the bigger of the drubbings. We had nothing in that game and they got over our line 3 times.
Disagree - we left lots of points out there.
In recent times we have botched a lot of scoring opportunities. I believe this is due to the team trying to play the high octane style we see now. It has taken us over a year to finally sort it out. Big step up on Saturday, time to bring out the powder or die
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These stats, if accurate, may shoot down my recent comments/concerns about our reserve props scrummaging, from the 'T2 Rugby' twitter acc.
New Zealand have now increased their record to 125 consecutive scrums since they last lost one on their own put in. An unprecedented run in this era. Over this period since June 2018 whilst their scrum has been 100% opponents against them have been only at 84%.Also over same period New Zealand in matches vs Tier 1 opponents. At lineout NZ steal considerably amount more ball than any other side. Opponent success against them is just 77%, next lowest is England and Argentina at 85%, whilst opponents vs Wales or Scotland by contrast 93%.
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I feel pretty good but I would have been happier with Bender in there, especially as I thought he was good off the bench. I like Goodhue because he goes low and has low red card risk. Ireland are always in with a chance but my base case is we win by more than a score with a meaningful chance that we give them a hiding.
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@antipodean said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@MajorRage said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
EDIT - Just to add a bit more context. Despite us getting destroyed on the scoreboard vs Aussie this year, I'd still put the Irish victory over us last year as the bigger of the drubbings. We had nothing in that game and they got over our line 3 times.
Disagree - we left lots of points out there.
Correct. We disagree.
Only one I can think of is Read's knock on after the charge down.
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@DMX said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I feel pretty good but I would have been happier with Bender in there, especially as I thought he was good off the bench. I like Goodhue because he goes low and has low red card lift. Ireland are always in with a chance but my base case is we win by more than a score with a meaningful chance that we give them a hiding.
Yeah probably a risk they didn't need to take with BFA, what with him having a propensity to spend time off the field in RWC finals games.
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Always thought Ireland would be a great place to host a RWC.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Always thought Ireland would be a great place to host a RWC.
I'm sure the group stages would be great craic, not sure they are capable of hosting games past the QFs though.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Always thought Ireland would be a great place to host a RWC.
Someone said they thought it was a bit small?
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@jegga said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Someone said they thought it was a bit small?
Not too sure, but thought the idea was to share some games with Scotland and Wales. Dublin has 2 big stadiums and Belfast's Windsor Park is also pretty big - and there's quite a few big GAA places in Cork etc.
As Irish rugby is all of Ireland, it would a great way to showcase the country and it's passion for the game. Welcome would be pretty warm, that's for sure.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Always thought Ireland would be a great place to host a RWC.
Yeah, the capital has some fabulous stadiums. Wembley, Emirates and West Ham’s home are all terrific 😉
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@junior said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I didn't realise Cruden played in 2007...?
He rolled out into the final in 2011, under the white heat of pressure and was very good. Despite being the definition of green. The thing is, good players in form are good players in form.
You tend to get experience because you are good, not good because you have experience. Slightly different for the leadership team, naturally, where having seen everything the world throws at you is good, but a few youngsters around the place is also a good thing.
In any event, it's the combination that is relatively untested. McAlister made his AB debut in 2005 and Mils in 2003 - we therefore had "plenty" of experience in our midfield in 2007 by your definition.
Not just my definition. We actually did. It wasn't the lack of experience in the outside backs that lost us that game.
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Cruden had been left out of the RWC squad because of poor performance and his place had been taken by Colin Slade if I recall correctly. He was on or about to go on honeymoon when he got the call. In his short time he played like a guy with a second chance
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@No-Quarter said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@ACT-Crusader said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@No-Quarter said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
It’s only Ireland...
You're gonna have to ban yourself if we lose.
I'm gonna make a fcking emerald green hat out of him if we lose.
You just can't say that shit. Ask Fitzy. @Bones is pushing the limits with comments about the bench. @booboo should be going to bed now, not leaving it until half time like the Namibia match.
Fair to say that I might be a little superstitious and nervous about this.
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@Chester-Draws said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@junior said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I didn't realise Cruden played in 2007...?
He rolled out into the final in 2011, under the white heat of pressure and was very good. Despite being the definition of green. The thing is, good players in form are good players in form.
You tend to get experience because you are good, not good because you have experience. Slightly different for the leadership team, naturally, where having seen everything the world throws at you is good, but a few youngsters around the place is also a good thing.
In any event, it's the combination that is relatively untested. McAlister made his AB debut in 2005 and Mils in 2003 - we therefore had "plenty" of experience in our midfield in 2007 by your definition.
Not just my definition. We actually did. It wasn't the lack of experience in the outside backs that lost us that game.
I think when we have lost in the past , people have looked for reasons , not saying all those things didn’t contribute, But people get desperate to blame something. I remember 2007 , rotation was blamed by some . Still not sure how that lost that game.
Guarantee if we lose sat, similar things will be said, beaudie should’ve been at 10, smith at fb etc etc
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@JC said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Always thought Ireland would be a great place to host a RWC.
Yeah, the capital has some fabulous stadiums. Wembley, Emirates and West Ham’s home are all terrific 😉
Look I was assured Ireland was too small, the stadiums were too old and there’s nothing to do there . There was a whole thread about it. Are you saying Poulsen was full of shit?
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@kiwiinmelb said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I remember 2007 , rotation was blamed by some . Still not sure how that lost that game.
Simples. France adapted better to the Ref than we did.
