All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour
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@derm-mccrum said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
For those vaguely interested, a take on the likely/possible 23 squad members with a couple of other options for the weekend:
1 Andrew Porter/Cian Healy/Dave Kilcoyne
Porter made the move back across the scrum this season and has done well so far. Himself and Furlong can toss the ball around a bit. Healy, who tried out moving in the opposite direction to TH this season, is the likely bench replacement. Kilcoyne has not had enough match time this season, but may get a start against Argentina.
2 Rónan Kelleher/Dan Sheehan/Rob Herring - Kelleher is starting to come good this season and his slightly erratic throwing of last year has improved. His likely bench replacement, Sheehan, may yet overtake him. Kelleher is excellent in the loose and has not been shy in grabbing tries at key moments. Herring is the most experienced of the 3, and Farrell may want him for the bench for the NZ match.
3 Tadhg Furlong - looks like he's enjoying himself and throwing no-look passes to his front row team-mates. When he gets into a gallop upfield a hard man to stop and now offloading too. Bealham, his likely support player, has been playing well for Connacht, but being used on both sides of the scrum, is not the specialist TH Ireland need.
4 Iain Henderson/Tadgh Beirne. Henderson came from the bench last week due to a return from injury. Farrell may choose to start him this week to put more heft in the pack, and put Tadgh Beirne on the bench. Henderson is the primary caller at the line out and will need to be on his toes. Beirne a great breakdown tackler/ball snaffler/penalty extractor.
5 James Ryan/Ryan Baird - Jas Ryan is still getting back up on the horse after his low standard performance last season and being omitted from Lions selection. Seen as a future Irish captain, Farrell would be loath to leave him out. Ryan Baird comes from the same school as James Ryan and has looked promising on his first five tests. Not as bulky but he can shift and even sidestep tackling backs to get tries.
6 Caelan Doris/Tadgh Beirne/Peter O'Mahony. Doris is another Leinster hot prospect who looked to take the 8 shirt at his club and for his country except Jack Conan decided otherwise. Unfortunately injured in opening minutes of his first 6 Nations match, he missed out last season. He's now back to full fitness, and has been a regular part of the backrow at Leinster and could continue doing that with Ireland - although Farrell has a lot of choices at his disposal. Doris might move to the bench if he wants to start Beirne, or give the wise head of Munster captain, O'Mahony a chance who's also a great line out option.
7 Josh Van der Flier/O'Mahony. VdF got a lot of feedback from his club and country coaches during last season and at the break on the work-ons he needed to do. He's lost a bit of weight, gets around faster, improved his link-up play and keep Dan Leavy out of contention since this return from a long-time injury. O'Mahony is the other possibility to start or to replace him after the break.
8 Jack Conan - a restored player who came into his own last season and made it impossible for Gatland to not just select him for the Lions tour, but to start him in each of the 3 tests. May not have all the bulk, but a pretty good link player, and fast on his feet for making runs up the middle.
9 Conor Murray/Gibson-Park. Farrell will have liked what he saw from JGP last week against Japan. The question is whether he'll still use a similar gameplay against a much tougher and street smart New Zealand. It might come down to who he'll be opposing. JGP nippy and fast passer, with good follow-up play vs old head Murray, a great reader of the game, good box-kicker, and still knows where the try-line is.
10 Johnny Sexton/Joey Carbery - of course Sexton's gonna play, of course he's gonna start. Enough said. Carbery is the one needing game-time and experience. Coming off the back of a long-term injury, the jury is still out in my mind if he's the right replacement for Sexton.
11 With Stockdale out injured, James Lowe got another chance to prove his credentials at test level. He had a quiet season with Leinster last year, and Farrell & Co gave him some homework to chew on, including losing weight and improving his aerial/spatial awareness. Likely to be targeted by NZ. Jordan Larmour is the other option but don't think he has it for this match.
12 Robbie Henshaw/Bundee Aki These two former club mates might be interchangeable. Of the two, Henshaw has been playing the better, but has been out with a foot injury until last couple of weeks. He's training with the squad this week, and has a good record of coming back on the spot. Farrell may still decide to leave him out, or possibly move him to 13. Aki is enjoying the freer style being pushed by Mike Catt, but still good at gaining yards in heavy traffic. No doubt, he'll be up for playing in this match with his usual infectious enthusiasm, but can be a bit of a penalty magnet with his tackling technique.
13 Garry Ringrose/Henshaw - another left out of the Lions squad and who didn't have a great season last year to warrant selection. Has set out to prove his detractors wrong and is doing pretty well so far. An elusive enough runner who is good at popping up in the right places to score or assist on a try.
14 Andrew Conway/Keith Earls/Zebo - you'd assume that hat-trick Conway might get another start, but Farrell might want to change his back-three slightly for the task ahead. Earls has plenty of experience and Zebo, back at Munster from France, still has that bit of pzazz to light up a game.
15 Hugo Keenan - the player who had everyone saying Rob who? as soon he got the 15 shirt off Larmour. Classy player, solid in the air, great link-up player, joining the line, and keeping attacks going. Must be one of Farrell's first picks at this early stage of his career.What’s happened to Will Connors?
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@broughie said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@ploughboy the problem is not Aaron Smith not being there. The problem is that the focus has not been dominating In the forwards and winning that battle comprehensibly. If we win that battle up front we will be fine.
I’m pretty sure the team’s focus is where it should be, what the media focus on is pretty irrelevant.
I’m not sure we have the pack right now to dominate in the forwards comprehensively, so what happens between 9 and 10 does become a little more important.
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@act-crusader said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@broughie said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@ploughboy the problem is not Aaron Smith not being there. The problem is that the focus has not been dominating In the forwards and winning that battle comprehensibly. If we win that battle up front we will be fine.
I’m pretty sure the team’s focus is where it should be, what the media focus on is pretty irrelevant.
I’m not sure we have the pack right now to dominate in the forwards comprehensively, so what happens between 9 and 10 does become a little more important.
I hope so. The. Pack is the most important. I thinks we agree
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@pakman said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@derm-mccrum said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
For those vaguely interested, a take on the likely/possible 23 squad members with a couple of other options for the weekend.....
What’s happened to Will Connors?
Bad knee injury with Leinster in late May. Not back in the fold yet.
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@jc said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
When do they name the team?
Today - Thursday lunchtime - Irish time.
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@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
i am currently having a ...discussion...off the fern with bloke who thinks sending over smith was madness....doesnt think he brings anything that we dont already have with TJ and christie "they all have strengths in different areas"...and thinks we would have been fine with two halfbacks....but if we did have to have a third he would have flown over someone else, someone new...a bolter like lord
i tried explaining there is a huge difference between taking a bolter that trains with the team for weeks before playing, someone you can plan around blooding...and flying someone in who may have to play with very few training sessions
its really a bizarre conversation
Fun
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They like Lomax.
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@sparky said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Team named. Disappointed that they are not starting Akira and no Ofa T. The rest looks fine. Go Black!
You do wonder if there's something not quite right with Akira as he seems to have slipped a bit in the last few games he's played - hopefully not and it's just the coaches giving Bladder more time at 6.
Interesting choice in midfield but Havili has been a bit hit and miss so makes sense. Pretty clear the strategy is centred around ALB which is a solid place to start.
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@yeetyaah said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
No idea why TJ is starting when Christie played really well last week.
Experience I suppose. Been impressed with Christie as he's really stepped up but could be exposed against a top tier side.
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@victor-meldrew Akira and Havili in the same boat. Good early in the season, but the last few games a bit off.
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@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@sparky said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Team named. Disappointed that they are not starting Akira and no Ofa T. The rest looks fine. Go Black!
You do wonder if there's something not quite right with Akira as he seems to have slipped a bit in the last few games he's played - hopefully not and it's just the coaches giving Bladder more time at 6.
Interesting choice in midfield but Havili has been a bit hit and miss so makes sense. Pretty clear the strategy is centred around ALB which is a solid place to start.
I think they are going back to the 2015 model by trying to finish teams in the last 20 with playmakers who can make a difference. Personally speaking, I'd start Akira, but at this stage in his career, he might be able to show his value more off the bench, so I'm not worried by it. The midfield combo is the one we should have seen much more of, IMO.
Apart from that, I think it's form/fitness except for TJP, but I always expected him to start.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
The midfield combo is the one we should have seen much more of, IMO.
We need to stick with it for a few games at least - something Foster hopefully seems to be aware of.
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@kiwimurph said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
One of the better benches they've picked this season - some real impact there on paper. Proof will be in the pudding.
I’m liking the bench too.
Quite pleased they selected Lomax who I think offers something in terms of ball carrying and workrate.
Only risk for me is if it’s close I hope Vaa’i doesn’t come on because I reckon he’s a late lockable penalty just waiting to happen…
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@gt12 said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@sparky said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Team named. Disappointed that they are not starting Akira and no Ofa T. The rest looks fine. Go Black!
You do wonder if there's something not quite right with Akira as he seems to have slipped a bit in the last few games he's played - hopefully not and it's just the coaches giving Bladder more time at 6.
Interesting choice in midfield but Havili has been a bit hit and miss so makes sense. Pretty clear the strategy is centred around ALB which is a solid place to start.
I think they are going back to the 2015 model by trying to finish teams in the last 20 with playmakers who can make a difference. Personally speaking, I'd start Akira, but at this stage in his career, he might be able to show his value more off the bench, so I'm not worried by it. The midfield combo is the one we should have seen much more of, IMO.
Apart from that, I think it's form/fitness except for TJP, but I always expected him to start.
Ioane brings a bit of size, pace and power to the midfield. I think ALB is a better 12. He offers the ability to truck it up if required, but can also use his footwork if required. Is ALB the backline defence co-ordinator? Like Conrad Smith used to be?
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Not surprised by the halves. TJP starting over Christie makes sense, considering the difference in experience. If TJP starts, BB starts.
If Smith gets the start next week, then Mo'unga might get the start, too. IMO, that has been the best combo thus far, this year.
