RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland

[stodders]

@Darren All Blacks have a no dickheads policy. Except for the head coach, who looks like a dick head for not selecting the best form winger in the squad that the opposition probably fear most.

Anyway, I hope Leicester smashes it out of the park on Saturday now

[Bones]

@Darren said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:

I think it’s a myth his defense is better

Yeah agreed. I think he made one really good tackle a few games ago and is riding a high on that. I'd be interested in more evidence as to just how he has a defensive edge.

[BerniesCorner]

Calm people, go with it.

[Bones]

If Smith goes down early on Saturday, Screwfix better be fucken open so I can pop down and grab a vice to put my nuts in, instead of watching the rest of the game.

[BerniesCorner]

No smiling PO'M

[Joans Town Jones]

The good news is, the RWC jersey will soon be on Lovell Rugby's knocked out discount sale.

[Bones]

@Joans-Town-Jones so you can get a nice snail trail reminder of Robinson and Fozzie

[scribe]

@Billy-Tell said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:

Is telea out for being a naughty boy? Irish website saying discipline breach.

I heard he backed one out on Foster’s favourite petits fours, chocolat stylee. Just jokes, but don’t f*** with a man’s food.

[BerniesCorner]

Just waiting for Frank

[Bones]

@scribe probably asked if he could have a piece of chicken, even though he didn't order any because he didn't want more than one.

That'd do it for me too.

[Stargazer]

Hasn't Telea had discipline issues at the Blues, too? Or just being a d*ck?

It's a pity he couldn't blame Christie for whatever he did ...

[Bones]

I admit it would be pretty funny if the discipline issue was he leaked the team on Monday.

[pakman]

Fozzie's mind games. Telea will be available for next week's match: https://www.the42.ie/mark-telea-all-blacks-6194941-Oct2023/?utm_source=shortlink

[Stargazer]

Powerhouse wing Leicester Fainga’anuku has been handed the start on the left wing to face Ireland in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal, with the All Blacks confirming he replaces incumbent No 11 Mark Telea because of a breach in team protocol.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster said Telea’s breach had been of a “minor” nature, but nonethless had resulted in him being left out of the selection picture this week.

”Discipline,” explained Foster of Telea’s omisison. “It’s nothing major but enough to keep him out of selection this week. We still love him, he’s trained well, but it’s happened.”

It’s understood Telea had breached a team curfew, but Foster was not keen to expand on the reasons for his elusive wing’s omission.

“It is what it is,” added the coach. “For us it’s clear-cut. We don’t want to talk about it any more – we’ve moved on.”

The other eyebrow-raiser in an otherwise predictable 23 is the selection of Blues and Ta$man halfback Fin Christie on the bench to back up veteran Aaron Smith at No 9. He gets the nod ahead of rising young Hurricanes standout Cam Roigard who appears to have the greater upside as an attacking force off the pine.

Foster said it was a “horses for courses” selection, and talked about the defensive prowess Christie brings in that backup role.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby-world-cup-2023/300988303/rugby-world-cup-leicester-faingaanuku-gets-start-against-ireland-after-mark-teleas-protocol-breach

[Bones]

@pakman not creating an account. Does he actually say that?

[Bones]

@Stargazer it's getting ridiculous now how NZ rugby journos are just summarising fern threads. Lazy bastards.

[scribe]

Well it just proves that despite his form, Telea is not in fact, The Messiah. He’s just a very naughty boy.

[Stargazer]

@Bones Some may even be copying and pasting their own posts!

[Bones]

@Stargazer alright Marc, if you say so.

[Victor Meldrew]

Re Telea. Aren't things like breaching protocol decided by the entire management group and not just the coaching staff?