@Kruse said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Unite said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
When are the refereeing teams for these games announced?
Fucked up indictment of the state of the game - that this probably isn't a riff on the Fern running-gag... but is actually a genuine question, with genuine interest/weight to it.
Answer is obviously Jeudi, by the way.
No, it was a genuine question...I did Google but can't find anything...
@george33 said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
This is the side I'm picking
Beauden,Talea,Reiko,JB, Jordan, Ritchie,Smith, Ardie,Cane, Frizzell,Retallack,S.Barrett,Nepo,Codie,Ofa
Bench De Groot,Lomax(Williams), Whitelock, Papalili, Christie,ALB , McKenzie
They'll have Coles on the bench, as well. 
If Lomax can't play, they'll pick Newell at tighthead- but, I wouldn't mind if you're right. I think Fletch needed to play Super rugby this year to be test-ready.
Only question-marks are how they deploy the props, and I think they'll go the way you suggest - except Newell for Williams on the bench, if Lomax can't play.
I like Williams already, he's strong at the scrum, gets around the field, and offers a bit on attack. I would play him. He and Lomax has a nice feel to it.
Other side is an issue. De Groot and Ofa have form issues but should be a solid pairing. Laulala and Ofa starting does feel like reverting to last year. And not in a good way.
It's really unfair to have Lomax emerge this well only to lose him when it matters.
Williams hasn't been used as a TH so there is no way he and de Groot are on the bench together.
@mariner4life Yeah - I'd be inclined pick Williams ahead of Newell on the tighthead side, but I can't see it happening.
I'm prepared to trust that Ryan and Feek know what they're doing.
Really hope Lomax can play!!!!!!!! He's our best prop.
@Bovidae said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Williams hasn't been used as a TH so there is no way he and de Groot are on the bench together.
fuck so i am not going mental. i thought he was a LH but just figured "okay dumbass, you were probably playing on your phone typing bullshit in to the match thread and missed it"
@Chris-B said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@mariner4life Yeah - I'd be inclined pick Williams ahead of Newell on the tighthead side, but I can't see it happening.
I'm prepared to trust that Ryan and Feek know what they're doing.
Really hope Lomax can play!!!!!!!! He's our best prop.
if he's "fit" then you have to start him. He's our best prop, but also if he breaks it's better if he's not already been subbed on.
@george33 said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Got a feeling on the bench they will go for Christie over Roigard as well , experience needed
Then we really are fucked
@george33 said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Got a feeling on the bench they will go for Christie over Roigard as well , experience needed
you may be right, but that would be an enormous mistake
i know i am all about support this week, but if the bench is Blackadder, Christie, Havili and LF i reserve the right of a 30 minute melt down
@mariner4life said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@george33 said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Got a feeling on the bench they will go for Christie over Roigard as well , experience needed
you may be right, but that would be an enormous mistake
i know i am all about support this week, but if the bench is Blackadder, Christie, Havili and LF i reserve the right of a 30 minute melt down
The Mako have transcended the NPC!
@george33 said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Got a feeling on the bench they will go for Christie over Roigard as well , experience needed
Jesus, this better not be the only time one of your predictions comes true.
@mariner4life said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@george33 said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Got a feeling on the bench they will go for Christie over Roigard as well , experience needed
you may be right, but that would be an enormous mistake
i know i am all about support this week, but if the bench is Blackadder, Christie, Havili and LF i reserve the right of a 30 minute melt down
I can't see Foster reverting to Christie. After giving Cam all the reps in the last couple of games it makes no sense.... oh shit, George is right 
@Chris-B said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@mariner4life said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@george33 said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Got a feeling on the bench they will go for Christie over Roigard as well , experience needed
you may be right, but that would be an enormous mistake
i know i am all about support this week, but if the bench is Blackadder, Christie, Havili and LF i reserve the right of a 30 minute melt down
The Mako have transcended the NPC!
are they all yours? is this your fault?
Christies experience, at what, playing headless aimless rugby?
If the game is in the balance at 50/60mins, I dont expect he will get gametime anyway.
@mariner4life said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Chris-B said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@mariner4life Yeah - I'd be inclined pick Williams ahead of Newell on the tighthead side, but I can't see it happening.
I'm prepared to trust that Ryan and Feek know what they're doing.
Really hope Lomax can play!!!!!!!! He's our best prop.
if he's "fit" then you have to start him. He's our best prop, but also if he breaks it's better if he's not already been subbed on.
If your reserve prop gets injured, aren't you allowed to bring your starter back without any penalty?
If so -you could play Nepo for 40 minutes + 10 - then if Tyrel craps out after 10 minutes you could bring Nepo (actually Ofa - since he's not a statue) back for the last 20, having had a 10 minute rest.
Can't fucking remember what the rules are. @Stargazer ???
Ryan wantewd Williams to be a tighthead at the Crusaders and he's only been switched due to injuries. He's better round the track than Newell IMO.
@mariner4life said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Chris-B said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@mariner4life said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@george33 said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Got a feeling on the bench they will go for Christie over Roigard as well , experience needed
you may be right, but that would be an enormous mistake
i know i am all about support this week, but if the bench is Blackadder, Christie, Havili and LF i reserve the right of a 30 minute melt down
The Mako have transcended the NPC!
are they all yours? is this your fault?
They are, you BoP fucker!
As are Lomax, Frizell and Jordan.
Don't worry -we'll win it for you if Fozzie picks enough of us!
@Chris-B said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
They are, you BoP fucker!
as an aside, looking at that BOP team sheet, we're as cheque book as you these days, and thus i care so very little
@taniwharugby said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Christies experience, at what, playing headless aimless rugby?
If the game is in the balance at 50/60mins, I dont expect he will get gametime anyway.
Everyone keeps expecting Foster to not sub Smith in big games if they are in the balance, and he keeps subbing him. He doesn't pull people if they have shockers. He doesn't sub the worst performing loosie, or the worst performing outside back. His subs are pretty much by rote.
They have to have impact and unpredictability off the bench, if BB at 15 (despite the stats, despite their eyes, and I prefer DM at 10 actually) then DM on the bench along with Roigard. Gotta bully the Irish forwards and test their lineout. Sam W on at end to steady the ship. Shame they didn't keep Finau btw I thought he might add a bit of unpredictable danger. Just know Foster will pick Cane and Shannon with Ardie and have Paps ride the pine. I don't think they will do anything really risky, for them the height of risk would be putting LF on the bench but they'll probably keep ALB. Still suspect Foster is always prone to pick the least riskiest option but then tell them to express themselves on the field.
@mariner4life said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Chris-B said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
They are, you BoP fucker!
as an aside, looking at that BOP team sheet, we're as cheque book as you these days, and thus i care so very little
As I've repeatedly made the point - when we won the NPC we were not a chequebook team - Keane and Leon were just excellent selectors and team builders.
However, I saw a report in recent times, that we've become relatively wealthy compared to the rest of you fuckwits - who can't organize a piss-up in a brewery - and we're using this wealth to dominate the ABs and direct things toward success.
To date, we've just been hindered by the swamp Islanders who keep appointing their fucking coaches.
I hope our fabulous players can transcend this fuckery!
@reprobate said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@taniwharugby said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Christies experience, at what, playing headless aimless rugby?
If the game is in the balance at 50/60mins, I dont expect he will get gametime anyway.
Everyone keeps expecting Foster to not sub Smith in big games if they are in the balance, and he keeps subbing him. He doesn't pull people if they have shockers. He doesn't sub the worst performing loosie, or the worst performing outside back. His subs are pretty much by rote.
Aaron does fade these days - you can't play him for 80 minutes. Several game this year where it's been obvious he's fading.
Pretty sure Roigard will be on the bench. Seems pretty obvious he's the best option.
@reprobate fair call, i guess the other issue is, you also need your bench player to be able to play extended minutes too in case something happens, and it scares me thinking Christie is that guy
@Chris-B said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@mariner4life said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Chris-B said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@mariner4life Yeah - I'd be inclined pick Williams ahead of Newell on the tighthead side, but I can't see it happening.
I'm prepared to trust that Ryan and Feek know what they're doing.
Really hope Lomax can play!!!!!!!! He's our best prop.
if he's "fit" then you have to start him. He's our best prop, but also if he breaks it's better if he's not already been subbed on.
If your reserve prop gets injured, aren't you allowed to bring your starter back without any penalty?
If so -you could play Nepo for 40 minutes + 10 - then if Tyrel craps out after 10 minutes you could bring Nepo (actually Ofa - since he's not a statue) back for the last 20, having had a 10 minute rest.
Can't fucking remember what the rules are. @Stargazer ???
Ryan wantewd Williams to be a tighthead at the Crusaders and he's only been switched due to injuries. He's better round the track than Newell IMO.
Law 3 allows what you're suggesting (3.19 and 3.20 are not relevant here):
@Crazy-Horse said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
I almost want Christie to be on the bench. The meltdown will make great reading.
Such a shame Havili is injured too.
George Bridge might be in France on standby though ?
@Crazy-Horse then he plays the game if his life scoring a 60m solo try to win it!
@george33 said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
De Groot worries me big time ,not sure if he is as great as sum think , scrum time he's hit and miss , around the park ok,
Literally our best scrummaging loosehead, so if you think he is fine round the park, he is your man.
@Crazy-Horse said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
I almost want Christie to be on the bench. The meltdown will make great reading.
There are just some things you shouldn't say.
@frugby said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@george33 said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
De Groot worries me big time ,not sure if he is as great as sum think , scrum time he's hit and miss , around the park ok,
Literally our best scrummaging loosehead, so if you think he is fine round the park, he is your man.
I read a former loosehead prop saying De Groot was our most destructive loosehead in quite some time, so if he knows what he is talking about, that'll do me.
@Crazy-Horse said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
I almost want Christie to be on the bench. The meltdown will make great reading.
There will only be a meltdown if the ABs lose, draw, or win.
@nostrildamus we need OG Redbeard to make a guest appearance to answer all things prop related
@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@nostrildamus we need OG Redbeard to make a guest appearance to answer all things prop related
He was one of my favourite posters
@mariner4life said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
looking back to the last time we played Ireland, we are so much better than we were then
Fullback: J Barrett was okay, B Barrett is frustrating us all. Lets call it even
Wings: Reece/Jordan v Jordan/Telea. This Jordan is better than the 2022 version that was feeling his way back in. Telea is better than Reece. 2023 wins
Centre: Ioane/Ioane even
2nd 5: Havili v JBarrett. A nothing player against a big lump who will get us on the front foot and can throw a dinky little pass. Huge upgrade for 2023
1st 5: BBarrett v Mo'unga. This was the death throws of BB at 10, and while RM is hardly a world beater, he's significantly better than 2022 BB
9: Smith/Smith even
Loose Forwards. Cane/Savea/A Ioane v Cane/Savea/Frizzell 2023 wins this by virtue of Frizzell's current form and the way he plays making the others, particularly Savea, better.
Locks: Retallick/Whitelock v SBarrett/Retallic (assumed) 2023. Retallick wasn't in great form, SBarrett has grown and grown and now plays with the aggression and accuracy we need
Props: Bower/Laulala v actually we don't know yet. This could be even though you could argue that Laulala has improved. If Lomax can play then 2023 is ahead
Hooker: Taylor/Coles v Taylor/ST I give this to 2023 just, as Taylor is playing better, but ST has dropped away a little. It wouldn't shock me to see Coles in the 16 shirt this weekendBench: This is telling
Coles, Karl T, Ofa, Vaa'i Paps, Fakatava, Mo'unga, RTS v
Coles/ST, Props, Whitelock, Paps, Roigard, Dmac, ALB
This is a huge improvement. There is genuine impact and experience there. That 2022 bench is so ordinary.Ireland have the same players playing the same way. We lost that game by 10 points, and this AB side is more than 10 points better than June 2022.
Nice work Mariner.
Two minor comments:
2022 Ioane < 2023 Ioane
2022 Smith > 2023 Smith
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Tom Foley (RFU)
