RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland
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@junior New hybrid defensive system? Would be surprised, but against Boks at Mount Smart I seem to recall NZ used outside defensive shooters (like Boks do with Faf de Klerk). So far in the world cup, they have used their passive defence system.
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Some random thoughts.
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This is Ireland’s match to lose. Nobody, I mean nobody, is expecting the ABs to win. If Eddie was coaching maate pressure would be chasing Andy Farrell down the street maate.
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The ABs are not as bad as so many people are making out.
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Ireland are not as good as so many people are making out.
I acknowledge they are the undisputed number 1 best team in the world at the moment. Their whole is way way more than the sum of their parts. But seriously, who amongst their XV, or even XXIII, is realistically in the conversation for a greatest all time team? I see some idiot was trying to crowbar Sexton into contention ... but DC, Wilkinson ...
Sexton is in the convo with Lynagh, Mehrts, Naas, Fox etc in that next level.
I think about the respect I had for England in '03, and how I reluctantly acknowledged that they were easily number 1, and really deserved their RWC because they dominated and had so many players in the conversation for the best ever: Johnson, Dallaglio, Hill, Wilkinson...
I maintain, this Irish mob have ... ummm ... who?
But again I'll acknowledge they are greater than the sum of their parts.
But is that whole really good enough?
... Back to us ...
- How pissed off will I be if we lose?
Funnily enough I don't expect us to win. In 36 years of World Cups I have never said that. In probably 45 years of following the ABs I've likely said that twice, maybe three times (and we won ... ).
So us losing will not be 1991-2007 level devastation, or even 2019 type disappointment. Expectation is just not there. A win will be a delightful surprise.
Is this how the rest of the world watches rugby? Without expectation? How much fun is that?
Anyway Ireland, enjoy hate watching for everything that could go wrong under the crushing weight of expectation...
- One last thought. If perchance we lose, then thank fuck we are spared continual FDS from this weekend on.
Personally I really hope we get Foster fat jokes for another two weeks. But if we don't at least there's a silver lining.
More random thoughts as they occur...
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@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Billy-Webb what's your tipping form been like so far in the competition Billy? Just wondering if it merits a hedge
It's actually been pretty good results wise (not points difference though).
Hedge away
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@booboo said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Some random thoughts...
2. The ABs are not as bad and so many people are making out.Yup, that was random!
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The start in this game will be so important. If one side gets an early lead the doubts will set in. This is the first RWC ever where NZ are clear underdogs. No one really gives us a chance.
I trust the game is not decided by red cards.
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@KiwiMurph said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Keep the scoreboard ticking over.
See, it’s with cliches like this that we are destined to win.
We will only keep the scoreboard ticking over if we play what’s in front of us…
😎
I'm pretty disgusted you've ignored my earlier effort.
Still going with "choose life" I reckon.
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@Billy-Tell said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
The start in this game will be so important. If one side gets an early lead the doubts will set in.
Until halftime when... you got it!
It's nil all guys.
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@pakman said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Irish injury list: Hansen, Henshaw, Lowe, Earls, Ryan. All quite doubtful, according to Irish media.
Update just provided from Ireland team manager, Mick Kearney:
“James Ryan is seeing a specialist and we are hoping for better news than originally anticipated,” said Mick Kearney. “Mack Hansen took a bang to his calf but is improving. Both him and James are making good strides. Keith Earls and Robbie Henshaw are both in contention and apart from that just the usual bumps and bruises.
“No call ups,” said the Irish manager. “No one has been added to the squad and at this stage no one is ruled out for the match against New Zealand on Saturday night."Slightly better news than expected but the team selection will tell the up to date story.
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@Billy-Tell said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
The start in this game will be so important. If one side gets an early lead the doubts will set in. This is the first RWC ever where NZ are clear underdogs. No one really gives us a chance.
This is very funny. There are plenty who do. And not just in NZ.
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
I wouldn’t pick one Irish player in a combined NZ/Ireland Father Ted’s XV….
TBF you wouldn’t pick anyone outside of Canterbury at any time 😁
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@Billy-Tell I'm putting money on there being one yellow at least. Remember the test after Soldier Field.
Thinking back to the Irish series:
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ABs cleaned up in test 1 after Ireland started fast.
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AB indiscipline was horrendous in the first half of test 2 with 2 yellow cards and a red for Ta'avao. It was 10-7 at half time. Playing a full 40 mins at this level a man down is not easy. Was similar in some ways to what happened in the second Lions test when SBW got his red (albeit ABs in Lions test 2 were more impressive playing off 9) and from then on the Irish had momentum.
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Test 3 was closer than many remember. This after Ireland led 22-3 at half time. ABs brought it back to 25-22 whilst Porter had his yellow card and had all the momentum. Porter got away with what would now be a clear red. It isn't that much of a stretch to say that if was a red the ABs would probably have prevailed.
Since the test series, Ireland have grown as a team, have a settled coaching team and have an offensive patterns and defensive solidity that are to be admired. The ABs have sacked their assistants and have been trying to find their playing identity, especially up front.
This weekend promises to be a clash of styles in some ways, but in one it will be the same. The forwards will determine who will win, with the backs deciding by how much
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@Billy-Tell said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@pakman said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Any chance of Fozzie getting Covid before weekend?
Not sure if you’re saying Covid or covered or covert? When I read online the NZ accent can be hard to understand.
Worked well in Ireland 1 last year!
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@Derm-McCrum
Johnny Sexpot didn't come down with a mysterious ailment yet?It was supposed to kick in today!
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SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Here comes THE NORTHERN POWERHOUSE in the quarters
SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: For the first time in World Cup history, northern hemisphere teams topped all the pools, setting up four intriguing quarter-finals.
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I get 2007 vibes about this game. Nobody gave France a chance against NZ in that game. They needn't have bothered turning up.
"Ireland are playing on a different level to every other team at this World Cup and the only side close to them is France. I can’t see New Zealand beating Ireland if Andy Farrell’s side reproduce the sort of performance they delivered against Scotland. What a job Farrell has done. He is clearly a wonderful coach but has also put a great team around him in Paul O’Connell, Simon Easterby and Mike Catt.
Everything Ireland did against Scotland was world class. Often, their rugby looks so simple and that is the highest compliment I can pay them. Johnny Sexton is playing the best rugby of his life at 38 and Ireland’s back three is so dangerous. They have it all — the only concern for them is injuries, and Farrell will hope Mack Hansen, James Ryan and James Lowe can recover to face the All Blacks.
Ireland's Johnny Sexton is playing the best rugby of his life at 38, part of them having it all
I can’t see New Zealand winning if Andy Farrell’s side replicate their showing against Scotland
This Ireland side reminds me of England in 2003 because they went to New Zealand and won ahead of the tournament and are also world No 1 and Six Nations Grand Slam champions. Bundee Aki against Jordie Barrett will be an amazing contest in midfield but I think Ireland will have too much.
One of the most impressive aspects of their game is how fast they start, which will be crucial against New Zealand — they’ll want to get double digits on the board in the first 20 minutes."
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Seeing a lot of comments that suggest NZ are underrated, aren't as bad as everyone is making out etc... I'd love to see some of the reasoning behind that?
The All Blacks are a slightly better team than when they last played Ireland, thanks primarily to the additions of Tyrel Lomax and Jordie Barrett, but they've still flattered to deceive in the past two years.
Since losing that Ireland series, the All Blacks have played 19 games.
Of those 19 games, the only tough opposition they've faced has been South Africa (four times) and France (once). They won two of those matches against the Boks, one game in Auckland and one game at Ellis Park. They lost the other two, in Mbombela and on neutral turf at Twickenham. They lost to France.
The rest of the games they played were against bang average sides. They almost lost to a poor Japan side, who are a shadow of the team that did so well at the 2019 World Cup, and probably would have lost to Scotland if the weight of history hadn't been such a massive chip on the Scots' shoulders.
They drew with England despite having a massive lead and also suffered a historic loss against Argentina in NZ. Argentina are only going through to the quarter-finals of the WC thanks to being in the easiest group and would not have progressed had they been placed in Pools A or B. Throw in the wins against arguably the worst Wallabies and Wales teams of all time, and there's not a whole lot to crow about.
This team is very average and at the moment it feels like people are saying the All Blacks are underrated purely based on irrelevant history. I'd love to know what some posters here think is being overlooked?
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I think the result will depend on headspace more than game plan or tactics. It's improving and we're capable of outstanding stuff, but we are still flaky as hell - particularly when chasing a game.
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We keep our cool, discipline and focus as we did at Mt Smart or Ellis Park on '22 - esp. in the forwards and the kicking game - we'll win.
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Play like we did for long periods in the opener and the last 20 against England and we'll lose.
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Play like the forwards did against SA at Twickenham and it'll look ugly.
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F__kin amped for this.
Biggest game in years.
All Blacks ...
Come on you f__kers
Shut TF up for the haka.
