NC: All Blacks v Ireland

Vaa'i will be better for the run.

@williethewaiter a few weeks ago put the mockers on LJ, saying he would break! And in his first ever back to back consecutive weeks of starting a test match too.

I certainly hope that if LJ cannot start that they just bring back Lakai and go with Ardie, Lakai and Sititi

Reposting my team.

Few players who haven't had minutes, otherwise probably need to lock in the top team - can then give them some extra minutes in the first couple of warm-up games in South Africa. Savea looks like he could use a rest.

Keeps the spine in tact, gives one final midfield combo a run to determine the best option going forward, allows a few extra players to get some minutes.

1. De Groot

2. Taukei'aho

3. Newell

4. Darry

5. Vaa'i

6. Parker

7. Jacobson

8. Lakai

9. Roigard

10. Love

11. Moorby

12. Barrett

13. Lienert-Brown

14. Jordan

15. McKenzie

Reserves:

16. Aumua

17. Numia

18. Tosi

19. Tuipulotu

20. Segner

21. Preston

22. Tupaea

23. Fineanganofo/Clarke

They aren't gonna drop/rest the captain against Ireland, although was good to see then sub him off.

If every player has to get a run, that’s Preston, Parker, Tuipulotu if available and - ugh - Beauden Barrett.

I'd really like to see QT given a decent run at 12 and Harkin at 15. Other than that, keep the core of the team.

@Victor-Meldrew said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Ireland:

I'd really like to see QT given a decent run at 12 and Harkin at 15. Other than that, keep the core of the team.

Harkin?

I'd like to see him get a run too but probably a slim chance given he's not in the squad (unless you know something we don't). Do you mean Moorby?

@Mr-Fish

Yes Moorby.

Bloody hot here and the Ghost Ship has been sliding down too well...

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Ireland:

If every player has to get a run, that’s Preston, Parker, Tuipulotu if available and - ugh - Beauden Barrett.

There's reports DR had said earlier that everyone in squad will get game time, but heard, I think on ZB, that he said that wasn't the case in recent presser.

@booboo said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Ireland:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Ireland:

If every player has to get a run, that’s Preston, Parker, Tuipulotu if available and - ugh - Beauden Barrett.

There's reports DR had said earlier that everyone in squad will get game time, but heard, I think on ZB, that he said that wasn't the case in recent presser.

That’s good. I’m not sure exactly what he said originally but if it was something like ‘we’d like to give everyone a run’ or ‘the goal is to give everyone a run’, that’s a bit different to guaranteeing it. .

If think we should go with the following.

1. De Groot
2. Taukei'aho
3. Newell
4. Darry
5. Vaa'i
6. Parker
7. Jacobson
8. Lakai
9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Fineanganofo
12. Barrett
13. Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Moorby

Reserves:
16. Aumua
17. Numia
18. Tosi
19. Tuipulotu
20. Segner
21. Preston
22. McKenzie
23. ALB

@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Ireland:

If think we should go with the following.

1. De Groot
2. Taukei'aho
3. Newell
4. Darry
5. Vaa'i
6. Parker
7. Jacobson
8. Lakai
9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Fineanganofo
12. Barrett
13. Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Moorby

Reserves:
16. Aumua
17. Numia
18. Tosi
19. Tuipulotu
20. Segner
21. Preston
22. McKenzie
23. ALB

Solid but Jacobson might be injured?

This is the biggest game of this Nations Championship series this year, I would not be bringing in anyone into the starting lineup that hasn’t played unless it’s a fairly like for like replacement for injury. Look at our number one lock yesterday, he looked rusty as in that first half.

This is the test to hit a peak (of sorts).

6- Lakai
7- LJ (Segner)
8- Ardie
Bench: Sititi

Lots of talk about the front row, I’d be very surprised if Taylor didn’t start. Sami on the bench.
I’m not too fussed about Newell or Lomox starting, but I’d have Tosi on the bench regardless of who starts. EDG is in top shape and has been performing well, so first name on the team sheet….

Darry and Vaa’i pick themselves. PT hasn’t played any footy since June 12. Lord hasn’t been too bad either.

There are a few calls to rest Savea. If they were going to rest the captain, surely that would have happened against Italy.

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Ireland:

There are a fell calls to rest Savea. If they were going to rest the captain, surely that would have happened against Italy.

Savea won’t be rested, Rennie has already mentioned that.

Sounds like Savea's rest will come at the start of the Bok tour

Parker will be 6 maybe Lakai bench
Jacobson poss injured? If so Segner 7
ALB prob starts 13- Quinn to bench but could also be other way round
Like to see Numia and Aumia start

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

first name on the team sheet….

T Lander

@kidcalder said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Parker will be 6 maybe Lakai bench
Jacobson poss injured? If so Segner 7
ALB prob starts 13- Quinn to bench but could also be other way round
Like to see Numia and Aumia start

You have a source?
Or your speculation?

@Frank Purely my speculation how I feel it will roll... Parker unused so far and likely will get a decent run

@kidcalder
He would have been used by now if they really wanted to embed him into their style of play.

While Ireland have to be put to the sword, this is the ideal game for Rennie to give a couple - and I do mean a couple - of chances to players who haven’t featured yet.

Need to find out if they’re up for the first test against the Boks (and therefore likely vs the Sharks the week before) or if they’re fronting up against the Stormers and Bulls with Captain Beauden.

Over to you, Simon Parker and Kyle Preston.

@game_film think it's time to test out ST starting with Aumua finishing too.

I imagine Dave is also keeping a fair bit of dry powder in his basement, which should be a consideration at this stage.

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.

Bit on the line here for Dave in his third test , with the eden park record and all that .

Not one he would want to drop or the knives will be out very early in his tenure ..

@akan004 EdG has been doing it all year.

Lomax was like a tractor in traffic, just kept chugging along, - was weird as he looks a long way off his fitness levels of the past and he's not exactly explosive.

@kiwiinmelb be a good excuse to move to a new captain though...

@Bones said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@kiwiinmelb be a good excuse to move to a new captain though...

Not sure that would help his popularity though , ardie has a bigger fan club

@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.

DeG also did it in test 1, Newell as well although he has been obc working in that a year or two.

@kiwiinmelb said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Bit on the line here for Dave in his third test , with the eden park record and all that .

Not one he would want to drop or the knives will be out very early in his tenure ..

I think we lose this game.
I hope I'm wrong, but a one-off game with a new team looks like the perfect game to ambush the record.

We've looked good at times, but also there are a few holes, and they've been giving guys a go so we don't have much in combinations yet.

@gt12 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@kiwiinmelb said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Bit on the line here for Dave in his third test , with the eden park record and all that .

Not one he would want to drop or the knives will be out very early in his tenure ..

I think we lose this game.
I hope I'm wrong, but a one-off game with a new team looks like the perfect game to ambush the record.

We've looked good at times, but also there are a few holes, and they've been giving guys a go so we don't have much in combinations yet.

I think we are going to win by 15-20. I feel like it's just about to click.

@akan004 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@gt12 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@kiwiinmelb said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Bit on the line here for Dave in his third test , with the eden park record and all that .

Not one he would want to drop or the knives will be out very early in his tenure ..

I think we lose this game.
I hope I'm wrong, but a one-off game with a new team looks like the perfect game to ambush the record.

We've looked good at times, but also there are a few holes, and they've been giving guys a go so we don't have much in combinations yet.

I think we are going to win by 15-20. I feel like it's just about to click.

It could be exactly that too - which I hope for, of course - but this team feels like a plane that is being built while flying.

Let me put it this way, if I were Ireland, I'd have had this test circled in the diary, so it should be an ideal test of the group before we set up for SA.

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.

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.

@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.

@gt12 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@kiwiinmelb said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Bit on the line here for Dave in his third test , with the eden park record and all that .

Not one he would want to drop or the knives will be out very early in his tenure ..

I think we lose this game.
I hope I'm wrong, but a one-off game with a new team looks like the perfect game to ambush the record.

We've looked good at times, but also there are a few holes, and they've been giving guys a go so we don't have much in combinations yet.

I'm significantly more confident in this team than I was last year - I'd definitely be expecting a loss then. They can still score points in the final 20 minutes. I don't see players giving up when they're behind. There's a much greater emphasis on doing all the hard work. They seem to have cut out the nonsense miracle plays, chip kicks and so on. There's definitely still a lot to work on, but I think things are looking up, with a few problem areas to sort out.

@ShaquilleOatmeal what would you classify as miracle plays?

Last year with Beaudie there were a few chip and hopes, this year there’s been quite a few jump in the air and pass all in one motion plays. Love in particular.

We are attacking from a pretty flat alignment at times which is high risk/high reward footy. I don’t mind it, but when the opposition has rushed us, we are still trying to make the big play it seems. Both Love and DMac need to vary their depth a bit more.

Ioane has come into the squad as injury cover as the ABs continue to monitor injuries in the outside backs.

Fehi and Leroy won't be available this week according to the Breakdown.

@gt12 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@kiwiinmelb said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Bit on the line here for Dave in his third test , with the eden park record and all that .

Not one he would want to drop or the knives will be out very early in his tenure ..

I think we lose this game.
I hope I'm wrong, but a one-off game with a new team looks like the perfect game to ambush the record.

We've looked good at times, but also there are a few holes, and they've been giving guys a go so we don't have much in combinations yet.

OTOH, Ireland were lucky to beat the Wallabies. They are probably a step down from France.

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

@ShaquilleOatmeal what would you classify as miracle plays?

Very low-percentage passes or offloads, where saying they're fifty-fifty would be extremely generous. Avoiding being tackled or going to deck as if that's going to end the play. Kick-passes haven't been seen often either.

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.