All Blacks vs Ireland
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@Mauss Vaa'i is crucial to the lineout, and with no Taylor or Samisoni you would have to expect the Irish to be targeting us hard there. Aumua has been a bit dicey and Bell was pretty horrible in Super - I really hope we have the brains to keep it simple and avoid the long throws, particularly early in the game (but honestly it would be a surprise if we do - optimism rather than pragmatism seems to be our MO).
Tuipolotu was awesome last week, and has been very good all year. Also provides a bit of scrum power I think. However, I'm of the opinion that Barrett is a pretty mediocre 6 (and captain) and a good lock, so while Pat deserves a start I think it would weaken us more than it helps us.
Which is not to say I'm happy with the loosies - aside obviously from Sititi who should be made captain and call the lineouts... I thought Savea was anonymous last game - he's copped a lot of criticism on here this year, some fair, and some over the top. Cane played okay, but both have been underwhelming for 2 key AB positions. Not many options right now with the squad picked and injury problems unfortunately, and the Irish propensity to use inside runners mean we need good awareness of defensive structure in our forwards.
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@The-Irishman said in All Blacks vs Ireland:
@Jet Whatever way the match goes, enjoy the weekend jet. No whinging at the ref or booing the kickers 😉
Place kicks only though yeah? You can't ask a New Zealander to not boo a drop-kick.
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I think the selectors have made a very sensible decision sticking largely to the same 23 as last week.
Tuipulotu has flattered to deceive in the vast majority of his previous appearances for the All Blacks. He had a very good game in the opening Test of the year but was then back to his usual standards the following weekend. We've seen a few times in the past that he has good games but can't back up. He was immense off the bench last weekend so why not keep him in the role where he excelled and see if he can do it again? The bench has been a massive weakness for the All Blacks in 2024 so if he can shine from the pine while the starters maintain their standards set throughout the rest of the season, then that's a great step forward for the team.
Vaa'i, meanwhile, has been one of the All Blacks' top performers this season and last weekend was his first 'dud' of the year but given his consistency throughout the season, it wouldn't make sense to make a change in the second row just because of one underwhelming performance (I know you're not advocating from dropping Vaa'i, but just throwing in my two cents here).
Similarly, Ratima has also been excellent for the All Blacks this year so there's no point dropping him to the bench just because of one bad performance, while Roigard is still in the early days of his return to play and, as with Tuipulotu above, helped turn a key weakness of the All Blacks this season into a strength. If Ratima plays like he has throughout the rest of the year and Roigard can offer similar impetus as he did against England, then NZ are onto a winning combination - so why mix things up at this stage?
Also @ACT-Crusader and @Landers92, not sure why Stuff were reporting De Groot had a calf injury, but that was never said by the All Blacks.They were pretty emphatic that he'd been stood down for the match for disciplinary reasons (and have openly said he has to play his way back into the team after the performances of Williams and Tu'ungafasi on the weekend).
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@Mauss said in All Blacks vs Ireland:
@Jet said in All Blacks vs Ireland:
Couldn’t you just call Scooter a fluffybunny or something like the rest of us?
Worse things came to mind than fluffybunny when I was watching some of those lineouts on Saturday. But that's only during the heat of the game.
I honestly don't know how you guys do it, watching the game and discussing it at the same time. I'm having enough trouble keeping myself composed during the game as is (with composed being used very loosely here).
It’s easy to do when you pick your scapegoats and narratives before hand 😂
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@The-Irishman said in All Blacks vs Ireland:
@Jet Whatever way the match goes, enjoy the weekend jet. No whinging at the ref or booing the kickers 😉
Won’t be able to hear me booing over all the ABC 1’s Ewan MacKenna does be lampooning on Twitter. I’ll be drowned out by the arrogant swilling of hot toddy’s. I’ll be skulling pints in Kehoes, Mulligans, the grave diggers, Grogans (ham toastie with mustard) and the long hall . The no name bar or le gulleton on fade street for a bop in the evening. Woolshed on Sat for the other AI’s. Interpol in the 3 arena on Sunday, Kasabian and the streets in the 3 arena on Monday and then back to Spain ten days later. Will give any paddy whingers I see plenty of welly in The Shelbourne, particularly Gerry Thornley or that two chinned kunt Ruaidhri O Connor. Those Newstalk pricks will get both barrels too if I see them near digges lane. Insufferable supercilious piston wristed gibbons, especially that snarmy kunt Ger Gilroy.. I’ll then endeavour to meet the AB’s late on the Friday near the marker hotel in grand canal dock. Reminds me of the time I put Kezza and Sam Cane in a taxi outside coppers on harcourt street after Ryan Crotty broke the inbreds hearts in the left hand corner.. I wouldn’t mind but they were only going to the Conrad on Earlsfort Terrace. All that cardio and couldn’t walk 2 Georgian blocks. Lazy Allblacks (I knew the aura was toast) Brekkie in Wuff in Smithfield , cocktails in VCC, and a late drink in the hacienda on Mary’s lane…if Shay lets us in. Haldon gold cup on in Exeter on the Saturday too. The ponies won’t back themselves. Keep an eye on Skelton in the handicaps and Billy Loughnane on the flat. Early pints in Slattery’s, steak in Hawksmoor and then over to the Westbury for some cocktails in the back bar. Hasta la Victoria Siempre.
I’ll be keeping my eye out for Rocky Elsom while I’m there near C.U.S. Heard there is a finders fee.
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@Jet said in All Blacks vs Ireland:
@The-Irishman said in All Blacks vs Ireland:
@Jet Whatever way the match goes, enjoy the weekend jet. No whinging at the ref or booing the kickers 😉
Won’t be able to hear me booing over all the ABC 1’s Ewan MacKenna does be lampooning on Twitter. I’ll be drowned out by the arrogant swilling of hot toddy’s. I’ll be skulling pints in Kehoes, Mulligans, the grave diggers, Grogans (ham toastie with mustard) and the long hall . The no name bar or le gulleton on fade street for a bop in the evening. Woolshed on Sat for the other AI’s. Interpol in the 3 arena on Sunday, Kasabian and the streets in the 3 arena on Monday and then back to Spain ten days later. Will give any paddy whingers I see plenty of welly in The Shelbourne, particularly Gerry Thornley or that two chinned kunt Ruaidhri O Connor. Those Newstalk pricks will get both barrels too if I see them near digges lane. Insufferable supercilious piston wristed gibbons, especially that snarmy kunt Ger Gilroy.. I’ll then endeavour to meet the AB’s late on the Friday near the marker hotel in grand canal dock. Reminds me of the time I put Kezza and Sam Cane in a taxi outside coppers on harcourt street after Ryan Crotty broke the inbreds hearts in the left hand corner.. I wouldn’t mind but they were only going to the Conrad on Earlsfort Terrace. All that cardio and couldn’t walk 2 Georgian blocks. Lazy Allblacks (I knew the aura was toast) Brekkie in Wuff in Smithfield , cocktails in VCC, and a late drink in the hacienda on Mary’s lane…if Shay lets us in. Haldon gold cup on in Exeter on the Saturday too. The ponies won’t back themselves. Keep an eye on Skelton in the handicaps and Billy Loughnane on the flat. Early pints in Slattery’s, steak in Hawksmoor and then over to the Westbury for some cocktails in the back bar. Hasta la Victoria Siempre.
I’ll be keeping my eye out for Rocky Elsom while I’m there near C.U.S. Heard there is a finders fee.
Ross O Carroll Kelly can fuck off too.
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Commentator Grant Nisbett to call 350th All Blacks Test
He's now called over half of the All Blacks' 648 Tests.
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I like PT off the bench. Seems to play with a bit more energy and vigour. And this is going back several years too.
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havent been a huge fan of PT in Black...but cannot argue with his impact so happy for him to build on it
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@mariner4life it’s fair to say that Scooter hasn’t been in the form he was from late 2022-23RWC where he was our best performing lock. Whether it’s the weight of being captain or not having one of two AB legends right there, but he is well down on the level of impact.
Still does the tight stuff very well but he was doing that plus more last year.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Ireland:
Whether it’s the weight of being captain or not having one of two AB legends right there, but he is well down on the level of impact.
I’d say it a bit of both. He's had that his whole career at the Crusaders too but I think he should come right. Would be quite the adjustment when you’re used to S.Whitelock by your side almost every game.
In terms of captaincy, Razor is comfortable with him so that should give him the confidence he needs, I just hope he’s grows into the role. It doesn’t exactly came across as natural to him in my opinion and could be having a bit of an impact on his overall game. In saying that though, he is still class.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Ireland:
@mariner4life it’s fair to say that Scooter hasn’t been in the form he was from late 2022-23RWC where he was our best performing lock. Whether it’s the weight of being captain or not having one of two AB legends right there, but he is well down on the level of impact.
Still does the right stuff very well but he was doing that plus more last year.
he's solidly grafting away in the tough stuff, but you are right, it's the bigger impacts that we're not seeing. I do wonder if he is no longer playing on the edge because of the "c" beside his name.
I don't think he is working as captain at the moment.
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@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks vs Ireland:
I think the selectors have made a very sensible decision sticking largely to the same 23 as last week.
Tuipulotu has flattered to deceive in the vast majority of his previous appearances for the All Blacks. He had a very good game in the opening Test of the year but was then back to his usual standards the following weekend. We've seen a few times in the past that he has good games but can't back up. He was immense off the bench last weekend so why not keep him in the role where he excelled and see if he can do it again? The bench has been a massive weakness for the All Blacks in 2024 so if he can shine from the pine while the starters maintain their standards set throughout the rest of the season, then that's a great step forward for the team.
Vaa'i, meanwhile, has been one of the All Blacks' top performers this season and last weekend was his first 'dud' of the year but given his consistency throughout the season, it wouldn't make sense to make a change in the second row just because of one underwhelming performance (I know you're not advocating from dropping Vaa'i, but just throwing in my two cents here).
Similarly, Ratima has also been excellent for the All Blacks this year so there's no point dropping him to the bench just because of one bad performance, while Roigard is still in the early days of his return to play and, as with Tuipulotu above, helped turn a key weakness of the All Blacks this season into a strength. If Ratima plays like he has throughout the rest of the year and Roigard can offer similar impetus as he did against England, then NZ are onto a winning combination - so why mix things up at this stage?
Also @ACT-Crusader and @Landers92, not sure why Stuff were reporting De Groot had a calf injury, but that was never said by the All Blacks.They were pretty emphatic that he'd been stood down for the match for disciplinary reasons (and have openly said he has to play his way back into the team after the performances of Williams and Tu'ungafasi on the weekend).
Tuipulotu was good in all England tests.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Ireland:
I like PT off the bench. Seems to play with a bit more energy and vigour. And this is going back several years too.
It's always been his best spot at test level..
