@ShaquilleOatmeal said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@frugby said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Parker an interesting one. They clearly feel they need the archetype, but don't feel he is ready to go just yet. I wouldn't be surprised if he is again unused this week - but to me it makes it highly likely they want to get Frizell back involved.

The loose forwards remain the area I'm least sure about and they also seem to be the area the coaches are least sure about. What's the best combination? Are all the jobs being covered? Who plays where? How will a smaller trio fare against South Africa? And if Jacobson is out, we'll see yet another combination this weekend. That could give Parker an opportunity, either as a starter or off the bench.

Loose forwards and centre is the main points for me.
Weseem well stocked with form players elsewhere...maybe a little bare after roigard as well come to think about it

Tuipulotu and Jacobson should be available. Might be some outside back injuries.

Likely team?

@kidcalder said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Loose forwards and centre is the main points for me.
Weseem well stocked with form players elsewhere...maybe a little bare after roigard as well come to think about it

The lack of a backup 9 concerns me a lot. They have tried a number of people but we are no closer to knowing who the true backup is. I think Roigard is one of the fittest in the team so he can play a lot of minutes but ideally it would be great to have a 9 that can take some of the pressure off Cam.

@chimoaus said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@kidcalder said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Loose forwards and centre is the main points for me.
Weseem well stocked with form players elsewhere...maybe a little bare after roigard as well come to think about it

The lack of a backup 9 concerns me a lot. They have tried a number of people but we are no closer to knowing who the true backup is. I think Roigard is one of the fittest in the team so he can play a lot of minutes but ideally it would be great to have a 9 that can take some of the pressure off Cam.

Hopefully Pledger makes a full and speedy recovery.

@chimoaus said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@kidcalder said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Loose forwards and centre is the main points for me.
Weseem well stocked with form players elsewhere...maybe a little bare after roigard as well come to think about it

The lack of a backup 9 concerns me a lot. They have tried a number of people but we are no closer to knowing who the true backup is. I think Roigard is one of the fittest in the team so he can play a lot of minutes but ideally it would be great to have a 9 that can take some of the pressure off Cam.

With 4 midweek games and 4 tests, they will take 4 halfbacks on tour, so someone else will get an opportunity. Hopefully Hotham who has some improvement but does offer a running game.

For this match I think they will go with Preston.

@ACT-Crusader said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@chimoaus said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@kidcalder said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Loose forwards and centre is the main points for me.
Weseem well stocked with form players elsewhere...maybe a little bare after roigard as well come to think about it

The lack of a backup 9 concerns me a lot. They have tried a number of people but we are no closer to knowing who the true backup is. I think Roigard is one of the fittest in the team so he can play a lot of minutes but ideally it would be great to have a 9 that can take some of the pressure off Cam.

With 4 midweek games and 4 tests, they will take 4 halfbacks on tour, so someone else will get an opportunity. Hopefully Hotham who has some improvement but does offer a running game.

For this match I think they will go with Preston.

I think one of the bigger issues is Roigard is very much in the Dupont mold, he runs the show with his running game, tactical awareness and just overall rugby IQ. Ratima is more in the Smith mold where its about the speed of pass etc. I am just not sure you can have one of each in the side as the structure and style of play is different. I think the SA tour will be a great test of our depth for sure.

@chimoaus said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@ACT-Crusader said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@chimoaus said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@kidcalder said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Loose forwards and centre is the main points for me.
Weseem well stocked with form players elsewhere...maybe a little bare after roigard as well come to think about it

The lack of a backup 9 concerns me a lot. They have tried a number of people but we are no closer to knowing who the true backup is. I think Roigard is one of the fittest in the team so he can play a lot of minutes but ideally it would be great to have a 9 that can take some of the pressure off Cam.

With 4 midweek games and 4 tests, they will take 4 halfbacks on tour, so someone else will get an opportunity. Hopefully Hotham who has some improvement but does offer a running game.

For this match I think they will go with Preston.

I think one of the bigger issues is Roigard is very much in the Dupont mold, he runs the show with his running game, tactical awareness and just overall rugby IQ. Ratima is more in the Smith mold where its about the speed of pass etc. I am just not sure you can have one of each in the side as the structure and style of play is different. I think the SA tour will be a great test of our depth for sure.

I think that will be tempered somewhat as Love gains in experience and confidence at Test level. As long as Cortez keeps a running threat to his game, sniping to keep ruck defences honest, Love will be good enough to thrive with the speed of delivery.

Ultimately, it's a moot point if we can't get dominance (or at least parity) at the gainline.

@Bovidae said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

I'd like to see the ABs to really attack the Irish scrum. Their lineout has misfired at times too so let's contest the Irish set piece.

I'd like to see one of those ding dong battles like the chiefs under Rennie Vs the crusaders (or was it blues)?.

Retallick, Messam, etc would niggle the fuck out of them and completely put them off their game.

Some early oil to start your week.

Moorby is starting.

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Some early oil to start your week.

Moorby is starting.

After Italy he deserves a shot

@gt12

if we step it up from the first two games we'll be ok
if not . . . it's a perfect ambush game

We have no reason to feel comfortable in the build-up against Ireland. They are still a quality side and we have been far from convincing over the last two games, especially in the forwards where I assume they will try to target us

J Barrett and Ioane will have more inside knowledge of the Leinster Irish players now.

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Some early oil to start your week.

Moorby is starting.

Assuming he's on the wing, with McKenzie or, God forbid, Barrett at fullback.

@canefan I'd take any mix of our tight five over Ireland's "famed" forwards.

Rieko against Ireland would be a good idea

@akan004 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Just rewatched the Italy test. Is it just me or are our props suddenly carrying the ball a lot better? Guys like DeGroot and Lomax appear to be more explosive with their carries and their post contact metres are higher than what they normally bring. Noticed this with Darry too.

Barnes did say that he wanted our forwards to carry more effectively, and I think that's happening.

Yeah, it looked like Lomax in particular was really trying to get his leg drive going through the tackle instead of going to ground too quickly, so although he wasn't hitting the line at a lot of pace he was difficult to bring down and made good metres as a result. Was great to see.

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Some early oil to start your week.

Moorby is starting.

i would love this, some confidence in form and belief a 28 year old professional rugby player can lift to the occation

@Kiwiwomble said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Some early oil to start your week.

Moorby is starting.

i would love this, some confidence in form and belief a 28 year old professional rugby player can lift to the occation

Come on man, he's been selected in the squad as a debutante, I think it's a given they are confident and have belief.

@Bones and im happy about it, just highlighting the potential difference between bench against italy and starting against Ireland and i would enjoy seeing his form rewarded like that