RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy
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@DaGrubster said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
One advantage we have is that Ireland effectively have 2 knockout matches before the qtr final.
The ABs have one against Italy.
Ireland going into a 3rd knock out match at the stage they have never got past before, May pray on their minds and mean they are a little off perhaps?
Ireland have the most hurdles to overcome out of all the teams, even France who have at least got to finals before.
There is a reason why the top nations win and almost monopolise world cups. In football, it’s Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina that have the mentality to do it even when they haven’t done it for 20 years.
In rugby it’s NZ, SA and Oz and once by England.
In netball it’s Oz and NZ.
It just seems that certain nations are supposed to win World cups. Whether it is IP, being the best side, expectation, holding their nerve, or something else.
It’s common across lots of sports - it will be incredibly hard for Ireland or France to win this World Cup for the first time.
Because Wales are going to win it 😉
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When is the team really named?
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@Billy-Tell said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
We are in the weird position of being on no-one's radar. Here is an excerpt from the Guardian...usually we are the team under pressure of expectation. This time it's mainly France and Ireland IMO.
"No one, to be clear, is remotely counting out the defending champions South Africa or the flying Fijians but there is a chance that France, Ireland, Wales and England could all make the last four."
Instead of aura, we now wear a cloak of irrelevancy
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
When is the team really named?
11.30pm NZ time today, 12.30 CET in official channels..generally 24 hours early though it is known
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It's the Italy match thread and we're talking about Ireland. FWIW I recall Ireland were number one in the world (briefly) just over four years ago entering the RWC. They lost to Japan and then got flogged in the quarter-final by us.
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@antipodean said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
It's the Italy match thread and we're talking about Ireland. FWIW I recall Ireland were number one in the world (briefly) just over four years ago entering the RWC. They lost to Japan and then got flogged in the quarter-final by us.
They certainly weren't coming in on the back of a 16 game streak tho
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@Yeahtheboys said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Damian is our man. If fozzie moves Damian to 15 we become World Cup favourites
Lol
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@Machpants I read in that streak they have conceded on average 13.8 points per game...only really 3 scoring chances.
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@DaGrubster said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
I don’t think it is a conscious thing, it is just something that happens through playing together winning together and finding ways to win together when perhaps they shouldn’t have.
It’s an intangible thing, much like the All Black aura. But Ireland certainly have this now.
Like many great AB sides have before them.
The current one doesn’t. That doesn’t mean they can’t win though.
I think we should utilize some of the more outgoing passionate characters in the AB side.
DMac, LF, Blackadder and Samisoni spring to mind.
I fear we may fire a blank squib. -
i might have missed it but what makes guys like LF and Blackadder "outgoing passionate characters"?
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@Kiwiwomble said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
i might have missed it but what makes guys like LF and Blackadder "outgoing passionate characters"?
Leicester's father: "After listening to a Johnny Cash song, I knew if I called him Leicester he'd have to get tough or die"
Ethan's father: "I wish I thought of that, I just wrote down the swear word his mum uttered on the birthing table when those shoulders came out..." -
Muliaina is suggesting that Whitelock should be on the bench, and I agree, but for different reasons. To make the most of the three locks I would obviously play SB for the full 80 mins. Tell BBBR to smash some bodies and empty the tank for 50-60 mins, and then bring on Whitelock to finish the game.
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@Bovidae said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
.. and then bring on Whitelock to finish the game.
Plus ensure some leadership, hopefully!
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@nostrildamus said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Bovidae said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
.. and then bring on Whitelock to finish the game.
Plus ensure some leadership, hopefully!
In theory.
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I can see the ABs have really been following an exact science in diet and preparation:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby-world-cup-2023/300978351/rugby-world-cup-less-is-best-for-tamaiti-williams-ahead-of-pivotal-all-blacks-clash"there’s been a few less Big Macs and a few more smoothies"
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@nostrildamus said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
I can see the ABs have really been following an exact science in diet and preparation:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby-world-cup-2023/300978351/rugby-world-cup-less-is-best-for-tamaiti-williams-ahead-of-pivotal-all-blacks-clash"there’s been a few less Big Macs and a few more smoothies"
( MN5 forces his hand away from the keyboard so as not to make predictable Fozzie fat joke…..)
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@taniwharugby said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@canefan they need to be able to play whats in front of them and react to something they see, but look at the Irish, they are so disiplined in what they do, particularly on defence, they are all in, this then pressures the opposition creating opportunities and giving the freedom to attack, which is also because they have the trust in thier defensive system if it doesnt come off, but also, more often than not, they get the fuck out of thier 22, properly, as do several other top sides.
With the stats re kicking about at present and playing in the opposition half, it makes you wonder what either Foster is seeing to have plans for these short kicks, or, what the players think they are seeing over and over when the short kick is just putting more pressure on themselves.
I love the way England's George Ford took that Argie must-win game for them by the scruff of the neck and said "I'm going to won this game for us". He saw the opportunity was there and did what no-one expected them to do. Popped over the droppies at random which is very hard to counter. Kicked long for touch from the 22 as well. I would love just one of our 10s to take that sort of responsibility.
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
When is the team really named?
About now....
Tuúngafasi
Taylor
Laulala
Retallick
SBarrett
Frizell
Cane
Savea
Smith
Mo'unga
Telea
JBarrett
Ioane
Jordan
BBarrettTaukei'aho
Williams
Lomax
Whitelock
Blackadder
Roigard
McKenzie
ALBActually, I'm not that confident about a few of these.
Lomax may well start. Coles is something of a possibility on the bench. Blackadder vs Paps is a toss-up. Big Leicester may take DMac's slot - or, if Fozzie really gets adventurous, maybe Telea's - but, nah... Christie may hold onto the 21 jersey.
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McLeod confirmed all four previously injured players, in skipper Sam Cane, second five Jordie Barrett, No 6 Shannon Frizell and prop Tyrel Lomax, were fit and “selectable” after a quality Monday training hitout.
So only Groot not available, really got to play those guys as they need time in the saddle
