14 in a row!
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@Unco said in 15 in a row ...:
You reckon Ireland will be a bigger threat in the US than at home?
Ireland will be up for it and give an honest account of themselves.
I'm more worried about our preparation for a non-traditional test. Bigger sponsorship and media commitments, unusual venue, a lot of stuff going on in the city and the players will want to do a lot of sight seeing. Unlike last time they just can't turn up and win.
We were always pretty flat in Hong Kong and Tokyo, that weird Bledisloe in 2011 where the test week was broken up by the RWC selection.
Lack of focus for a test like this is an easy mistake a youngish team could make.
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@rotated said in 15 in a row ...:
@Unco said in 15 in a row ...:
You reckon Ireland will be a bigger threat in the US than at home?
Ireland will be up for it and give an honest account of themselves.
I'm more worried about our preparation for a non-traditional test. Bigger sponsorship and media commitments, unusual venue, a lot of stuff going on in the city and the players will want to do a lot of sight seeing. Unlike last time they just can't turn up and win.
We were always pretty flat in Hong Kong and Tokyo, that weird Bledisloe in 2011 where the test week was broken up by the RWC selection.
Lack of focus for a test like this is an easy mistake a youngish team could make.
I guess but I think a lot of that will apply for the Irish too.
Also worth remembering that for us, it's only two weeks after the third Bledisloe, whereas for the Irish it's the first test of the season.
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Argentina aren't going to be a challenge, given their injury list. The Boks aren't much chop right now but will be stronger at home. Will probably do us in Pretoria with penalty goals and whatever.
I just look at this AB team, the minutes I've seen at least, when there is a "flat" period it is competitive. Like, maybe 10 or 20 minutes. In total, per game.
Otherwise, there just isn't anyone at the moment who can hang with that. The preparation and competition within the squad and NZ Rugby in general is too great.
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@Unco said in 15 in a row ...:
@rotated said in 15 in a row ...:
@Unco said in 15 in a row ...:
You reckon Ireland will be a bigger threat in the US than at home?
Ireland will be up for it and give an honest account of themselves.
I'm more worried about our preparation for a non-traditional test. Bigger sponsorship and media commitments, unusual venue, a lot of stuff going on in the city and the players will want to do a lot of sight seeing. Unlike last time they just can't turn up and win.
We were always pretty flat in Hong Kong and Tokyo, that weird Bledisloe in 2011 where the test week was broken up by the RWC selection.
Lack of focus for a test like this is an easy mistake a youngish team could make.
I guess but I think a lot of that will apply for the Irish too.
Also worth remembering that for us, it's only two weeks after the third Bledisloe, whereas for the Irish it's the first test of the season.
That last bit is the most important. Ireland will certainly be up for it, but they'll be cold in comparison to NZ. And so far, only Ulster contingent are the only ones looking on form at the beginning of the season for the potential Autumn squad. Can't see Joe Schmidt being able to do enough in the first test bar possibly keeping the margin down.
Ireland then play Canada which isn't the best prep for the second NZ test in Dublin, but I hope Ireland can give a better account of themselves in this game.
As I said in another thread, if they can keep the losing margin sub 18, they'll be doing well compared to everyone else this year. I don't see a repeat of 2013 in any shape based on current form.
Last test against Australia which should be interesting. Since 2006/07 season, there's been 7 matches with it all square at 3 wins apiece and a draw.
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I think we might see a little more tinkering with the lineup for the final Bledisloe to keep a few fresh for Ireland.
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@ACT-Crusader said in 15 in a row ...:
I think we might see a little more tinkering with the lineup for the final Bledisloe to keep a few fresh for Ireland.
Completely unnecessary. They should save them for the big matches against Italy and France.....
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@NTA said in 15 in a row ...:
@Virgil not quite surrender. You just have to acknowledge that we're not doing well enough, and have to improve our systems.
....and just realize that for whatever reason there's no Eales, Far Jones, Horans, Larkhams, Gregans, Lynaghs and Roffs running round at the moment.
Or Mortlocks.
Loved that guy.
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More whining from across the Ta$man, it's bullshit like this that makes watching the all blacks treat the wallabies like the wrong side of a truckstop gloryhole all the more satisfying .
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11714832
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I watched Kafe and Mardo last night and couldn't stop laughing. I'm not sure if it was intentional or they were being serious about it , but I do genuinely thank them for the release of endorphins. It was more comedy gold as they littered off the "string of incidents" like they were opposition politicians getting stuck into a government.
I hope we see more and more of it, because that will mean we are still winning and Australia be the worst I have ever seen...
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@ACT-Crusader Martins head injuries have made him a barely functioning moron so I have pretty low expectations that anything that comes out of his mouth will be worth listening to but it's sad seeing Kafer go all Kearns like this.
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@jegga Martin and Kafer are jokes. If they actually channeled their energy into a hard look at Australian systems, set ups, costs etc, and actually took on board constructive criticism instead of kneejerk hate towards people like Sir Ted, they might actually get somewhere.
Claims of cheating and/or arrogance will always be directed at winning teams. And the All Blacks have been at the top of the tree for so long, other countries can't help themselves. But do the NZRU give a shit? Nope. They just keep doing their thing, learning, developing, trying and discarding ideas. That is why they are number one. That is why they won back to back World Cups. That is why they win home and away. That is why they are the best rugby team on the planet.
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@Mokey I think they will get stuck in when the time is right, but at this point in the season they are more entertainers trying to get some ratings rather than trying to provide a hard hitting show. I don't take these guys too seriously with anything they say really. Kafer, when he analyses the play is pretty good. But I agree with jegga that he has felt the need to be more than that.
The barbs and digs at NZ is something that they think will feed this ever perpetuating wheel of claim - counter claim - reaction - outrage - have to watch what they say next week so I can react - etc
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16 ...
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@Hooroo said in 16 in a row ...:
17 this weekend and 18 v Aussie in the third bled and then is it Ireland in Chicago? That's 19. Who else do we play on EOYT? Italy? (20) and then Ireland again to take us to 21 for this year.
What's the record for normal rugby countries?
17 for Tier 1, 22 or so for all Internationals.
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"Normal" being us, SA, Aus, Eng etc etc? 17. Held by NZ and SA.
Think we have to get through to the 2nd Lions test tk get to 24 to beat the Cyprus Mofflons record.
I'll check back earlier in the thread.
