All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour
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@bovidae said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@act-crusader said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@sparky said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
- Ofa T
I’m not sure he should even be in the 23 let alone starting. Laulala would’ve been rested for the purpose of starting against Ireland
Ofa still looks so passive taking the ball into contract. I agree that there is no way he starts, but he might be favoured ahead of Lomax on experience.
TBF Nepo is the master of the Owen Franks one step-step forward and flop.
Ofa didn't screw up this time, was energetic, and used his bulk sensibly so I give him a pass. -
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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:
@act-crusader it means that he needs to be starting and pushed. Blackadder has a good motor but I don’t see him as being dominant like AI. We have a couple of years to get potentially one dominant back 3 forward in our group. Somehow we have to build some starch on our forwards and not rely on work rate alone.
I don’t think it’s an all or nothing proposition there.
Ioane has been starting and I reckon he’s gone okay. But he can be pushed in other ways just as past players who eventually became either permanent starters or world class.
The way I see Ioane and Blackadder is they are both 26 years old and there is massive up side with both players. It’s not unusual for the ABs to have two quite different players competing for the one position.
Ioane has been on the radar for a few years now and whilst I don’t buy into whatever has made him a divisive player, he is starting to hit his straps but still has work ons (which isn’t unusual).
Blackadder has been a bit of a surprise for me with how he’s looked in his first test season, but clearly has some things to improve on. But the foundation is there.
I like this. I'd add they are such different players perhaps they would best complement rather than compete with each other.
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@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
The All Black's side I think Foster will select for this weekend:
Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Ethan Blackadder, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, Jordie Barrett.
Samisoni Taukei’aho, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, Tupou Vaa’i, Akira Ioane, Brad Weber, Richie Mo’unga, David Havili.
I think that will be close. Not sure if Havili will be on the bench or starting though.
Also not sure if he will select Beauden to start over Richie. -
The All Black's side I think Foster will select for this weekend:
Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Ethan Blackadder, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, Jordie Barrett.
Samisoni Taukei’aho, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, Tupou Vaa’i, Akira Ioane, Brad Weber, Richie Mo’unga, David Havili.
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I should add that I'm a big fan of Taylor (being a Crusaders supporter myself..) but Coles and Taukei'aho are clearly the form hookers right now. Codie is great in open play, but he simply doesn't bring enough physicality to the pack against NH teams, which Coles & Taukei'aho should both contribute in spades. They're also quite a bit more powerful scrummagers than Taylor.
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@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
The All Black's side I think Foster will select for this weekend:
Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Ethan Blackadder, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, Jordie Barrett.
Samisoni Taukei’aho, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, Tupou Vaa’i, Akira Ioane, Brad Weber, Richie Mo’unga, David Havili.
I think he'll stick with Havili at 12 and there'll be minimal changes from Boks II. Seems to me Foster is trying to get a settled top 23 and is averse to making big changes. Akira is a strange one in that he has drifted a bit in his last couple of outings but he's still the best option at 6 for me, though I' be happy for EB to start.
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I think that Akira Ioane must start against Ireland as the Irish love to make relentless drives with their forwards. He is able to set them on the backfoot with his offensive tackles. Blackadder has a huge workrate but is not as efficient as Akira Ioane in this respect.
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@cgrant said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
Taukei'aho
Assuming Reece injured and Weber fit, the only change I see to the 23 is Taukei'aho in for Coles on bench. Ofa added quite a lot when he arrived, but still looked to me a bit rusty, so bench again.
For me Akira's physical presence merits the start, and he was also good in the tight in SA2. Blackadder on bench gives a wide range of tactical options in second half, which I also like.
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This might be a good match.
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@derm-mccrum said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
This might be a good match.
Out on a limb there Derm…
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@derm-mccrum said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
This might be a good match.
Hopefully it is as awesome as this one
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I managed to catch the IRE JPN match yesterday. I know Japan's not exactly Tier 1 but Ireland looked like they will be hard to put away. Their halfback is better than anybody we are going to field and their front row looks really well drilled. We will need to be on song.
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Well as you know I like to nail my colours to the mast before the week is out and I’ve put my money with the bookies. (Chicago paid me €625.)
Waiting to see the lineups on this. The only first pick team player Farrell is missing really is Henshaw. Interesting to see if he goes with a strong Leinster contingent again or brings back some of the - err - old reliables to start eg O’Mahony, Murray, Earls, Henderson.
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All Blacks' difficult selection calls ahead of season-defining tests
Tension rises, minds sharpen, as the business end of the All Blacks season arrives.
Brad Weber has presented symptom free after sustaining a broken nose and failing his HIA against Italy but he must satisfy the newly-introduced independent concussion process to be available, which may pave the way for TJ Perenara to rekindle his halves partnership with Beauden Barrett from Cardiff.
Sevu Reece's bone bruising from the Italian match is the only other minor injury concern. That Sam Cane and possibly Coles, despite impressing with two tries against Italy, could miss the cut in Dublin typifies the difficult selection calls facing Ian Foster.
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I hope they mix it around a bit for the last two matches - rewarding all those in the frame with a start in one of the two matches. They must be getting quite jaded - and might be knocked over through fatigue v France.
So - select your best 23 v Ireland without using the starters from Italy to start again in my view. I think Barrett and Perenara will pair up. Maybe A Ioane starts. Leave Coles, Weber and Reece to start v France.
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I really hope not.
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@booboo said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@chris-b said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@sparky Even without Weber's head knock, I reckon TJ was likely penciled in to start.
I think Laulala is almost certain to start and most likely Blackadder.
Coles vs Samisoni could go either way.
I wonder if they're thinking about a bench spot for Sam Cane?
Not sure Tupaea covers enough positions for this team. But, if Reece isn't available, good options are a bit thin.
Was going to like your post until I got to there.
Yoouuge Cane fan, but he is not yet back up to it.
Dalts, Ardie, Aoane (Blackadder) for me.
Remember how - when he was an experienced player - they used to bring McCaw straight back into the starting XV after an injury break. I can remember Hansen saying "Rich can handle it."
Sam's had three runs now, so he shouldn't be in cotton wool. And if they don't pick him this week, there's not much logic to picking him next week.
Wouldn't surprise me at all if he's on the bench this week - with a view to starting next week.
Wouldn't surprise me either if they give him the 7 jersey this week.
