All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test

@chimoaus said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@chimoaus said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

The question is do we see Havs as our 12 come WC, clearly the Fern does not think so. QT, ALB, RTS, Goodhue are better options and should be getting the time there. I am slightly more concerned about 13 at the moment as RI is turning into Aaron Smith in that there is daylight between him and the next player. They missed a trick not bringing Sullivan into the squad IMO.

They’ve got Goodhue in the squad as a midfield option.

Ioane is still only 25 so has years of rugby ahead of him. The more game time the better in my view. The odd rest here or there, but if we get 103 tests out of him like Nugget, then that is a very good thing for AB rugby.

I may not have expressed my concern properly, I am very happy with RI but what happens if he gets injured. My concern is his backup. Remember the 2003 WC when Tana got injured, didn't they use Panadol or someone else and it was a bit of a disaster?

I guess they do have ALB that I am forgetting is a good 13.

They definitely used the wrong fullback at centre in that 2003 semi-final. They should’ve played Mils there who had at least played there during the 2003 super season. Rangi had not.

Anyway, I think we will be okay there if the unthinkable happens. Halfback is still a massive work in progress.

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

My point about both Havili and Mo'unga is that they don't handle the physical teams well, and come RWC time most teams gameplan against us is to try and bash us into submission. Those two starting would be cannon fodder. Players like Beauden, Goodhue, Tupaea and RTS are much better equipped to deal with that.

Let’s not forget QT got badly exposed against the French last year in that first half. Several others didn’t play well and QT was amongst them. Still very much a work in progress as is Havili.

Havili has played one full season with the ABs after just a handful of opportunities in 2017, so I’d say there is opportunity for growth there.

@Victor-Meldrew Common sense says QT should start again. Should be BB QT RI until someone shits the bed or injury strikes. Only 17 tests to go before the World Cup! JG, and DH are the next cabs off the rank if needed and ALB to come in as well.

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Victor-Meldrew Common sense says QT should start again. Should be BB QT RI until someone shits the bed or injury strikes. Only 17 tests to go before the World Cup! JG, and DH are the next cabs off the rank if needed and ALB to come in as well.

ALB could become the forgotten man! I'd like to see RTS and TUJ thrown into the mix to see how something a little bit different goes in the lead up to RWC, but if the midfield keeps growing from Saturday's game, why not stick with that.

We really need to protect Rieko though, so would be good to see if JG can still cut it at centre.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

Halfback is still a massive work in progress.

Given that it is home ground, that he regularly subs Aaron Smith there, and he is probably going to be a lot better than Christie, I hope Fakatava gets the bench spot.

When is the team announced?

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

When is the team announced?

11.30am today

@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Crucial How is that meant to be read? Is 2018 saying he played 8 games as a sub, 8 as a centre then one on the wing?

I guess I only remember him from 2019. I had a quick look and saw he came on at fullback in the 2018 final then gave up.

It's from that NZRugby private stats site where someone has compiled figures from almanacs.
Where there isn't a team mentioned it is the province.

In this instance it shows that in 2017 Canterbury put him in the side and used him on the wing. However he was a centre for the U20s.
In 2018 he subbed on for the Saders but they don't have the details of what position. Where he started for Canterbury it was at centre (bar one game).

So yes he has been moved around between the two positions but was originally a centre (age grade/school stuff) and has eventually settled there in other teams.

His stats seem to indicate more scoring when at wing but that's what wings are for.

@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

I'd like to see RTS and TUJ thrown into the mix to see how something a little bit different goes in the lead up to RWC,

Not just to see something different, but give these guys some experience.

If we win on Saturday, I hope RTS is in the 23 for the 3rd Test. Give him a run and see how he goes with minimal pressure and a chance to express himself..

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

Wrong, RTS is to the manor born, and come the RWC he'll be a lock at 12 partnering Rieko

They'll only go into the second row if they put on loads of weight and get too slow for the midfield

Someone needs to tell Bundee Ali that. Crikey, he looked about 120 clicks !

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

When is the team announced?

Thursday

I’m hearing Bower, Taylor, Scott Barrett, Mo’unga, Fainga’anuku, Havili, Goodhue, Reece, Jordan are all in

Whitelock out with head knock issues

Moody and Blackadder not considered because of injury

Bridge and Ennor not considered

The rest I sort of tuned out….

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

I’m hearing Bower, Taylor, Scott Barrett, Mo’unga, Fainga’anuku, Havili, Goodhue, Reece, Jordan are all in

Whitelock out with head knock issues

Moody and Blackadder not considered because of injury

Bridge and Ennor not considered

The rest I sort of tuned out….

did i miss Bridge being brought into the squad?

@Kiwiwomble whoosh...

this is @ACT-Crusader MO of naming Crusader-Blacks

@Duluth 3 7s....we knew it was gonna happen.

Good to see Ross & Fakatava getting a shot!

Really pleased to see the same backline given a go.

Will be fascinating to see how Dalton goes at 6.

Really excited to see Ross and Fakatava hopefully debut.

Some real firepower off of the bench under the roof!

Same starting lineup other than the one forced change and positional movement. I like it.

Also glad they bought in Papalii to start.

Congrats to Ross and Fakatava.

Happy to see some continuity in the starting XV (injuries aside). Looking forward to Ross and Fakatava taking the field.

No midfielder on the bench

Jordie covers 12 and starts at 15
LF covers 13 and starts at 11

Would've preferred Goodhue on the bench

@Duluth Tupaea also covers 13

When 2 7s are not enough! I mean I hope it works, it does mathmatically 6+7+8 = 7+7+7!

Outside that I am glad they stuck, rather than changed up. Good to see the bench is better with the inclusion of Ross, Folau & Jordan

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Duluth Tupaea also covers 13

And Jordan provides the fullback cover if JB moves into the midfield.

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Duluth Tupaea also covers 13

True and better than LF

Still I would prefer cover on the bench for the midfield rather than move starters.

pretty happy with that within what Fozzie was ever likely to actually do

So, injury aside and with slight improvements on the bench, the same as last week. Lets see if they improve or having the coaches back on board actually makes it a worse performance

Does Akira Ioane still have a sore foot ?

Good to see the consistency and the reward for last weeks efforts. I actually prefer this lineup than last week except for Whitelock out of course. Getting excited already.

@MN5 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

Does Akira Ioane still have a sore foot ?

Yep, Akira and Clarke mentioned with issues still. And the Covid 3 were not pushed to play, it maybe Havili and Goodhue still not a hundy, Cane mentioned they don’t want to risk long covid by hitting the exercise too early

well look, a pleasant surprise, how nice.

My only minor quibble is the lineout could be a little shakey, so we'll need to be quick and smart. But other than that, alright

@Machpants said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@MN5 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

Does Akira Ioane still have a sore foot ?

Yep, Akira and Clarke mentioned with issues still. And the Covid 3 were not pushed to play, it maybe Havili and Goodhue still not a hundy, Cane mentioned they don’t want to risk long covid by hitting the exercise too early

Thanks fella. It took three minutes but someone got back to me eventually

@Machpants said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

And the Covid 3 were not pushed to play, it maybe Havili and Goodhue still not a hundy, Cane mentioned they don’t want to risk long covid by hitting the exercise too early

Ok that explains the lack of midfielders on the bench. Those two still not ready and Ennor played his way out of the 23

@Duluth said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Machpants said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

And the Covid 3 were not pushed to play, it maybe Havili and Goodhue still not a hundy, Cane mentioned they don’t want to risk long covid by hitting the exercise too early

Ok that explains the lack of midfielders on the bench. Those two still not ready and Ennor played his way out of the 23

I hope RTS is getting lots of experience carrying the water bottles around.

@chimoaus

I'm not expecting to see RTS until an Argentina test.

When the squad was named Foster explained they wanted him around the squad but they want him to add a kicking option to his game

The coaches doing some coaching. That seems to make sense for now

So freakin' excited to see Folau Fakatava's name in that 23!! Really hope he'll go well!

@Duluth

@Duluth said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@chimoaus

I'm not expecting to see RTS until an Argentina test.

When the squad was named Foster explained they wanted him around the squad but they want him to add a kicking option to his game

The coaches doing some coaching. That seems to make sense for now

I just hope he gets plenty of minutes for Auckland in the NPC as he needs to be playing just as much as training IMO.

2 x on debut
3 x Barrett’s
3 x 7’s
4 x start with the letter A
5 x have an apostrophe in their surname
5 x who have captained the ABs
6 x played 50+ tests
6 x words in one name - Leicester Ofa Ki Wales Twickenham Fainga'anuku
8 x that have not played a test at Dunedin
10 x that have played less than 20 tests

@ACT-Crusader you missed 7 Crusaders

@mariner4life said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

well look, a pleasant surprise, how nice.

My only minor quibble is the lineout could be a little shakey, so we'll need to be quick and smart. But other than that, alright

Haven’t you seen our 6’8’’ forward from Wellington at number 8. He’s Lebron James in a rugby jersey