@Crucial Sami seems like one of those rare hookers who’s only ever truly upright when he’s throwing in. His body position when carrying, hitting rucks or scrumming is always impressively low. And obviously huge explosive power. Taylor has to have a huge game this weekend to justify his place. He was the 4the best hooker on the field in the second test, by some margin.
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
That team. Lots of fullback options, not many wings. Looks like they expect high attrition in the forwards.
I'm an Akira fan (sometimes) but I'd like to see Grace at some stage in the ABs this year.
Yep I wondering if Grace has put forward a case with his performance for MABs, where he seemed to carry quite strongly.
I’m hoping someone has got in the ear of the officials about that ridiculous penalty for going too far beyond the breakdown at the clean out. I don’t understand that penalty at all, especially when Ireland weren’t penalised for the same thing, or coming in from the side to clean out either. Ireland were clearing their ball at speed, and slowing ours down very effectively. We hardly fired a shot there and I’m sure that was at least partly because we toned down the aggression after that penalty.
@Dan54 Big Grace fan (as you can see from previous posts) and I think Sotutu and Grace should be in the ABs as specialist No.8s competing for the position against each other. But you'd think Sotutu would get a go first and foremost if they were taking this line of thought? His SR form was great (he had a big improvement in physicality), his No.8 skills off the back of the scrum are exceptional... and yet he hasn't been sighted.
@Old-Samurai-Jack is it just him, Perofeta and Goodhue that havent been used?
@mariner4life have you not seen social media this week, everyone is mean.
@taniwharugby Vaa'i?
@mariner4life said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
you should get down to club rugby and stand on sidelines in rain etc, gives you appreciation of what rugby is in real world.
lol fuck off
no nerve touched, i just wonder why people like you even come here?
so I'm not the oldest Ferner!
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Dan54 Big Grace fan (as you can see from previous posts) and I think Sotutu and Grace should be in the ABs as specialist No.8s competing for the position against each other. But you'd think Sotutu would get a go first and foremost if they were taking this line of thought? His SR form was great (he had a big improvement in physicality), his No.8 skills off the back of the scrum are exceptional... and yet he hasn't been sighted.
Yep and Grace didn't really come on until end of season, so Sotutu got the jump. Think perhaps also PGS also had a big impact earlier in Super than Grace. Regardless I really think at this stage Ardie is just about our best player and he is (whether some like it or not) 8 too. I was on Grace bandwagon big time a couple of years back, and he seemed to of not really come on until second late in super rugby, and think somehow that Super final may just be his breakout performance that will set him up, though I suspect could be after WC that he really cements spot.
@JC said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Seriously guys, who is our centre cover? Surely not Jordie…
Reece?
He’s actually not that bad at it in a poor man’s Snakey sort of mould.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@JC said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Seriously guys, who is our centre cover? Surely not Jordie…
Reece?
He’s actually not that bad at it in a poor man’s Snakey sort of mould.
Allgood we can just pop Ardie in there if needed. Imagine a midfield of RTS and ASav, that would be out the gate.
In the short term, Farrell will know that his side will face a ferocious response from the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday. Not only is the series on the line, but there is also tremendous pressure on his counterpart Ian Foster, and many of the players who will be desperate to play in the World Cup next year.
Foster has come in for a lot of criticism following the defeat on Saturday, the sixth of 23 Tests in charge. The All Blacks have also dropped to fourth in the world rankings, and when the public opinion turns, it usually happens very quickly; as it did to previous head coaches John Hart and John Mitchell following respective semi-final defeats in the 1999 and 2003 World Cups.
I think there has been an impact on New Zealand rugby now that the South African teams are playing their rugby in Europe. New Zealand sides have definitely missed the combative nature of rugby against the South Africans.
But New Zealand rugby traditionally has been brilliant at adapting really quickly and the All Blacks are renowned for their reaction in the face of adversity. Ireland know what is coming.
A series win would ensure Farrell's men go into the World Cup next year as serious contenders. But it will be even more critical for the All Blacks. Another defeat and the clamour for change may be hard to ignore.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@JC said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Seriously guys, who is our centre cover? Surely not Jordie…
Reece?
He’s actually not that bad at it in a poor man’s Snakey sort of mould.
Allgood we can just pop Ardie in there if needed. Imagine a midfield of RTS and ASav, that would be out the gate.
That’s an origin pair of backs right there…
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@JC said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Seriously guys, who is our centre cover? Surely not Jordie…
Reece?
He’s actually not that bad at it in a poor man’s Snakey sort of mould.
Allgood we can just pop Ardie in there if needed. Imagine a midfield of RTS and ASav, that would be out the gate.
That’s an origin pair of backs right there…
Ardie Capewell with the crucial try
@mariner4life said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@JC said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Seriously guys, who is our centre cover? Surely not Jordie…
Reece?
He’s actually not that bad at it in a poor man’s Snakey sort of mould.
Allgood we can just pop Ardie in there if needed. Imagine a midfield of RTS and ASav, that would be out the gate.
That’s an origin pair of backs right there…
Ardie Capewell with the crucial try
I’ve already got Dane Gagai, I mean Coles to score the final try
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@JC said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Seriously guys, who is our centre cover? Surely not Jordie…
Reece?
He’s actually not that bad at it in a poor man’s Snakey sort of mould.
Allgood we can just pop Ardie in there if needed. Imagine a midfield of RTS and ASav, that would be out the gate.
That’s an origin pair of backs right there…
Ardie Capewell with the crucial try
I’ve already got Dane Gagai, I mean Coles to score the final try
queeNZlander!!!!!!!!
so didnt get through whole thing, but about 6.20 mark he says he wanted to play all three hookers through his series and he thought CT was playing really well..
so looks like ST dropped..anyone get through the whole interview before the fern (including myself) loses it?
@bayimports said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
so didnt get through whole thing, but about 6.20 mark he says he wanted to play all three hookers through his series and he thought CT was playing really well..
so looks like ST dropped..anyone get through the whole interview before the fern (including myself) loses it?
THAT FAT MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!
by far the worst selection decision of the series
defies belief.
Cody Taylor sucks at rugby.
@bayimports we picked 3 hookers and wanted to give each a run, we also picked 1 specialist 8, but decided not to give him a run..
That press conference really annoys me.
Not one person asked about Hoskins.
Sick work nz journos.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
That press conference really annoys me.
Not one person asked about Hoskins.
Sick work nz journos.
It's so frustrating. Most of the questions are about feelings.. you can tell the stories are pre-written and they are just after a quote that matches the tone
It's not just a question about Sotutu. Are there any injuries in the squad? How far away is Clarke? Who is covering 13? etc
@Crucial said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@ARHS said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Dan54. Irish pretty much at full strength bar Ringrose. But Aki might me a bigger handful for Havili and RTS. Henshaw good enough for either Jersey.
Bundee will be off his game. I had a quick chat to him in the stands the other night and reminded him (gently) of his CM and Chiefs roots.
I hope you also gave him a massive KFC voucher.
He isn't getting any sleeker.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@JC said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Seriously guys, who is our centre cover? Surely not Jordie…
Reece?
He’s actually not that bad at it in a poor man’s Snakey sort of mould.
Jordie is ok at 13 you mean? Sure. I just think they shouldn't juggle him around too many positions. FB, wing, 12, 10 cover, now 13 cover?
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
That press conference really annoys me.
Not one person asked about Hoskins.
Sick work nz journos.
Unless these have changed often the journos just ask generic questions in the open press conference but save other questions for their one-on-one to get a scoop. But based on some articles I've read just regurgitating quotes usually proves how lazy/useless they are.
If ST was dumped for Taylor I will not know what to say.
Taylor is missing impact, passes, tackles... seems to have slipped mightily since a few years ago.
I'm not so upset about Hoskins, a fine 8 in the making but it is getting to the stage where I worry this ABs setup will give him some bad habits...
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
If we lose , is it possible to move out of the top 4 rankings ?
Can you imagine that ? an allblack team not in the top 4 teams in the world .
Haven't read through all the responses yet, but... short answer is YES.
If Ireland thump us, and England thump Australia - we drop to 5th, England to 4th.
I can't remember the points difference defining a "thumping"... more than 15 points?
@Kruse said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
If we lose , is it possible to move out of the top 4 rankings ?
Can you imagine that ? an allblack team not in the top 4 teams in the world .
Haven't read through all the responses yet, but... short answer is YES.
If Ireland thump us, and England thump Australia - we drop to 5th, England to 4th.
I can't remember the points difference defining a "thumping"... more than 15 points?
I put in 12-30 loses of Oz and NZ
1 (↑2) Ireland 90.65 (+1.86)
2 (↓1) France 89.41
3 (-0) South Africa 88.61
4 (↑5) England 86.81 (+1.67)
5 (↓4) New Zealand 86.31 (-1.86)
6 (↑7) Scotland 82.99
7 (↓6) Australia 81.61 (-1.67)
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Duluth probably have questions vetted prior, I mean did anyone mention Ireland have never won a series in NZ, I mean some only found out they'd never won here before, so ideally they shouldn't need the obvious pointing out, but...
Really. Didn't know that.
Shucks, I thought it was all about the jersey and the mana.
If we lose this game, if we lose this series, I can't see how Foster can continue as AB coach. He will have zero credibility with the players and fans. His job is on the line this weekend.
@sparky said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
If we lose this game, if we lose this series, I can't see how Foster can continue as AB coach. He will have zero credibility with the players and fans. His job is on the line this weekend.
NZR have been very quiet, haven't they?
Maybe his KPI just says "announce learnings postmatch".
@Dan54 said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Dan54 Big Grace fan (as you can see from previous posts) and I think Sotutu and Grace should be in the ABs as specialist No.8s competing for the position against each other. But you'd think Sotutu would get a go first and foremost if they were taking this line of thought? His SR form was great (he had a big improvement in physicality), his No.8 skills off the back of the scrum are exceptional... and yet he hasn't been sighted.
Yep and Grace didn't really come on until end of season, so Sotutu got the jump. Think perhaps also PGS also had a big impact earlier in Super than Grace. Regardless I really think at this stage Ardie is just about our best player and he is (whether some like it or not) 8 too. I was on Grace bandwagon big time a couple of years back, and he seemed to of not really come on until second late in super rugby, and think somehow that Super final may just be his breakout performance that will set him up, though I suspect could be after WC that he really cements spot.
I reckon there might have been a few changes if Fozzie had named his squad after the Super Rugby final. Grace might have pushed PGS and Fozzie might have looked again at the Crusaders tighthead props. Those are places I'd be looking at for the next squad.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Kruse I just jumped on lassenpickandgo as he had a calculator on there which you could chuck results in.and would tell you but looks like that site is another victim of Covid, not been updated since 2020.
