RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland
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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. -
@Mr-Fish a lot to agree with in there.
On the flip side, sport is a funny thing, especially in one off games/events.
Nobody gave France a chance in 2007. Ireland were a shoe in for their QFs in 2007 and 2015 too, but ended up out of the competition.
Liverpool should never have been near to beating one of the all time great Milan teams in the champions league final in 2005.
Soderling should never have been able to beat Nadal in the French open semi.
Patriots should never have beaten the Rams in Superbowl.
Buster Douglas should never have beaten Tyson in Tokyo.
Sport, hey!
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Another good read from Nick Bishop. Agree with him on cohesion, something the Irish have in spades given the number of Leinster players in the squad.
Why Ireland are in the best possible position to pip the All Blacks in Paris
Against Scotland, Ireland gave some strong clues as to why they are such a resourceful and cohesive bunch.
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@Mr-Fish said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
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?
Here's the thing though. Overall it's very average - but that's because it's a mix of sublime and appalling from game to the next.
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@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Mr-Fish a lot to agree with in there.
On the flip side, sport is a funny thing, especially in one off games/events.
Nobody gave France a chance in 2007. Ireland were a shoe in for their QFs in 2007 and 2015 too, but ended up out of the competition.
...
Sport, hey!
I fully agree that sports throws out random results all the time - but all the evidence points in one direction and while a random result in entirely possible, that doesn't mean the All Blacks are being underrated!
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Mr-Fish said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
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?
Here's the thing though. Overall it's very average - but that's because it's a mix of sublime and appalling from game to the next.
What sublime games have we seen from the All Blacks? I'd say they were good in parts against the Springboks in Auckland this year (but still let them back into the match in the second half) and then they've destroyed some tier-two (or borderline tier-two) sides. But against decent to strong opposition they've been found wanting.
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I think we are saying the same thing. Brilliant one moment, rat-shit the next
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Dipolar?
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@Mr-Fish Nobody has put 35 points on the Boks this year. Nobody has put 35 points on the Boks at home at Ellis Park in a long time. There is the sublime.
The Boks have never beaten the ABs by a bigger margin than 35-7 at Twickenham (red card mitigation accepted). There is the ridiculous.
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4 things to consider:
- Ireland have never got past qtr final stage
- only 2 teams have ever recorded 18 wins in a row in the history of rugby.
- Ireland have never beaten NZ at a World Cup before
- Their former coach is now an AB coach plotting against them.
1 of those things would be tough for the Irish to overcome but 4 of them?
Surely the rugby gods will not let them overcome all 4? 😉
Quite simply Nz have nothing to lose and will be written off by pretty much everyone.
I get the sense that this AB outfit will be a desperate side on Saturday and will turn up with a performance to blitz Ireland as we did against SA.
As far as I can see (hope!) we took the RC seriously then entered a long S&C programme to get ourselves in the best shape possible for the qtr finals (look at tamati Williams as proof of this) so we can play the high octane rugby and gameplan that we have seen glimpses of this year.
We all know Ireland are a highly cohesive side and have well established patterns - if we play like Scotland, then we will be easily contained by their defensive aystem but I think we are a far more dynamic side and will test them more than they have been tested for some time.
There is no doubt that Schmidt will be working overtime to undo them with some changes to our attack and bring something they haven’t seen from us.
If not and we lose, then fuck off Foz and hello razor!
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This game is doing my head in ,
All the logic points to Ireland, but blind faith keeps me hanging in there with some belief.
What’s the scenario with their injuries ? allegedly 3 or 4 to wingers .
Looks like they didn’t select enough .
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Here you go
Ireland reveal full extent of injuries ahead of New Zealand showdown
Lock James Ryan will see a specialist about his wrist injury.
None ruled out at this stage but Ryan and Hansen probably look the least likely
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@rustycruiser said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Come on New Zealand. If SA can get past the French, would love to see an all SH final
And another of the OG returns
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@DaGrubster said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Here you go
Ireland reveal full extent of injuries ahead of New Zealand showdown
Lock James Ryan will see a specialist about his wrist injury.
None ruled out at this stage but Ryan and Hansen probably look the least likely
They can get the fuck out with this shit. Getting their excuses in early, trying to steal our underdog status.
We’ve sacrificed a great deal for the underdog tag, be damned if they’re taking it off us now.
