Not sure why there’s confusion around Taylor starting.

We have kept our spine in tact for all 3 tests - 2,8,9,10,15 - for me that’s a positive.

EdG picks himself. The only question was whether they thought Lomax was back in top shape.

The AB scrum to close last weeks game was a little iffy from my perspective. I like our bench FR to address that.

Welcome back Patty T. Good to have him fit. He must be champing/chomping at the bit to get the start. I like it.

Vaa’i to blindside - my only concern is his speed off the scrum. Everything else that we need from a loosie is there. LJ and Ardie pick themselves.

Backs return to France lineup with an opportunity for Moorby. Again a positive.

Agree with the Moorby selection just would have put him at 15 with DMac on the bench where he has more impact. Also best thing about this team, no Beauden Barrett

I like it, Rennie continues to pick shit hot backlines which is such a huge positive this year, means we are going to be dangerous in every test. I would have started Clarke but Moorby is in hot form and Clarke can offer quite a bit of punch from the bench. Segner and Lakai could offer some serious impact from the bench as well if we want to speed things up in the 2nd 40.

I would have started Sami. Otherwise I like it. Giving Vaai a shot at 6 is a good move.
So glad Rennie is trying stuff out. Bringing Segner and Lakai on in the 2nd half would be a top move.
Moorby is a Snakey reincarnation. Always good value.

It would be nice to start better, we have conceded points very early in both games, sure we won and that's all that matters ultimately, but it aint ideal.

Little bit of oil.

We're going to try and score more points than Ireland, while attempting to keep them to less points than us. Hence the selections.

@Bones said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Little bit of oil.

We're going to try and score more points than Ireland, while attempting to keep them to less points than us. Hence the selections.

It’s like having Graham Henry and the Ghost of Fred Allen amongst us. Amazing stuff !

@MN5 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Bones said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Little bit of oil.

We're going to try and score more points than Ireland, while attempting to keep them to less points than us. Hence the selections.

It’s like having Graham Henry and the Ghost of Fred Allen amongst us. Amazing stuff !

I've seen it on paper.

@Bones said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@MN5 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Bones said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Little bit of oil.

We're going to try and score more points than Ireland, while attempting to keep them to less points than us. Hence the selections.

It’s like having Graham Henry and the Ghost of Fred Allen amongst us. Amazing stuff !

I've seen it on paper.

You'll be seeing it on the Myth in no time.

Let it be known @dan54 does read the oil posts.

Is Sam Darry injured?

If not, leaving him out is weird.

@taniwharugby said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

but it aint ideal.

better than last year
start well and finish shite

Thank goodness for this game. For 80 minutes in a game football is actually very boring

@Nepia said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

I don't think leaving out Darry is as big an issue as being made out. All our locks are of a decent standard, which isn't to say Darry hasn't performed best so far, but I remember even during the team naming some posters not being on board with him.

I think lock is the one position in the current ABs I don't mind us mixing up so much.

Not a huge fan of Vai'i at 6 though but maybe Rennie can make it work.

Our locks haven’t made the transition to No. 6 well including Vai’i last time. New coaches so they can have a crack and see how it goes. He has a good work rate, is physical around breakdown, not sure how he rates for dominant tackles?

Would like to see Samisoni at 2 and Taylor on the bench. On form Darry should be there but perhaps its a bit of rest/rotation and trying to get PT some game time. Boks rotate their form players so don't have an issue with it, but would like to see Darry start in 2nd row against Boks in game 1 when we need our best players out there.

@Bovidae said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@akan004 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Would have preferred Tosi over Newell and what's this obsession with Taylor?

Ryan obviously has plenty of say in the front row selections. I hope we see changes by the end of the SA tour.

ABs want to attack Irish scrum. It's weakest aspect of Sami's game.

I think the other thing with PT starting, with injuries, it kind of makes sense rather than him coming off bench. If he comes off bench and injury flares up, you already used your lock reserves, this way, it flares up Vai'i will move in one. Almost guarantee that is how it will end up just after halftime anyway.

Not selecting Darry is a war crime.

said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@antipodean said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

For the loose forwards, ideally Jacobson is fit and has the game he did against the French, Lakai also plays a blinder and Savea plays the way he did in the second half against the Italians (inability to take a winger to ground notwithstanding). Segner on the bench.

Moorby stays in the 23 - starting if neither Fehi nor Clarke are 100% fit).

With Darry having a blinder the last two weeks, I'd pair him with Lord and keep Vaa'i on the bench.

If they stick with Taylor starting, then Aumua must surely get a chance.

Props pick themselves.

Proctor (despite regularly getting done on the outside) should start again. I think we'll just score more often than the Irish can.

Vaai at 6 maybe?

Called it.

@Jet I’m ok with it. The future captain World Rugby POTY needs a rest.