@brodean said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@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.

Ratima isn't remotely comparable to Aaron Smith in any capacity.

Yep not even close, but we have traditionally referred to Smith and Marshall when talking about how different NZ 9s play. Nobody will ever be Smith but he represents the peak of that style and DuPont has shown another type of 9 which I think Roigard is closer to.

@No-Quarter said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Rieko against Ireland would be a good idea

Even as waterboy with a couple of sideline quips...

@nostrildamus said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@No-Quarter said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Rieko against Ireland would be a good idea

Even as waterboy with a couple of sideline quips...

Bugger off. BB has made that job his own.

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Some early oil to start your week.

Moorby is starting.

Interesting back 3 if it’s Moorby , Dmac and Jordan,

You would expect then , that combination to be one that’s good under the highball given they all play a bit of fullback

@Landers92 ..so when do the players get told who is starting ? Has the whole team been named behind closed doors already ?

@zinnyzinzin said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Landers92 ..so when do the players get told who is starting ? Has the whole team been named behind closed doors already ?

Players don't find out until same time as we do and spend the next 3 days just playing touch in random positions

@zinnyzinzin Didn't Segner say he was told he was in the 23 for Italy on Monday? Tuesday would be the first big training day so the starting XV would be training together from then.

@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.

Sheehan isn't a good scrummager. Can be attacked by hooker and TH. Boks did it successfully, albeit their TH pushing up and in isn't actually legal. But once Ref thought they were on top he jumped to conclusion Ireland were cheating...

Ioane in camp. Brown signed for the future. Retain your IP.

@Bones said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@zinnyzinzin said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Landers92 ..so when do the players get told who is starting ? Has the whole team been named behind closed doors already ?

Players don't find out until same time as we do and spend the next 3 days just playing touch in random positions

I don’t believe anything about possible team lineup until one of the Ferner’s rocks up to a training session and then tells us who is running the cutter.

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

@Bones said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@zinnyzinzin said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Landers92 ..so when do the players get told who is starting ? Has the whole team been named behind closed doors already ?

Players don't find out until same time as we do and spend the next 3 days just playing touch in random positions

I don’t believe anything about possible team lineup until one of the Ferner’s rocks up to a training session and then tells us who is running the cutter.

Lander has been very consistent naming teams of late

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

@Bones said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@zinnyzinzin said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Landers92 ..so when do the players get told who is starting ? Has the whole team been named behind closed doors already ?

Players don't find out until same time as we do and spend the next 3 days just playing touch in random positions

I don’t believe anything about possible team lineup until one of the Ferner’s rocks up to a training session and then tells us who is running the cutter.

What if a Ferner overhears the team while at breakfast?

Think the team is normally named internally on a Tuesday morning. Some players might be alerted in advance (debutants, new captain etc.).

@voodoo said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

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

@Bones said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@zinnyzinzin said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Landers92 ..so when do the players get told who is starting ? Has the whole team been named behind closed doors already ?

Players don't find out until same time as we do and spend the next 3 days just playing touch in random positions

I don’t believe anything about possible team lineup until one of the Ferner’s rocks up to a training session and then tells us who is running the cutter.

What if a Ferner overhears the team while at breakfast?

Texas crude.

@canefan said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

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

@Bones said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@zinnyzinzin said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Landers92 ..so when do the players get told who is starting ? Has the whole team been named behind closed doors already ?

Players don't find out until same time as we do and spend the next 3 days just playing touch in random positions

I don’t believe anything about possible team lineup until one of the Ferner’s rocks up to a training session and then tells us who is running the cutter.

Lander has been very consistent naming teams of late

Just the last 2 or so seasons without fault lol. @act-crusader ive never just posted anything for shits and giggles. Only ever post when I know it’s reliable.

This season, the squad have been finding out Monday evening. Will likely change for different test weeks etc but that’s how it’s being handled so far while they are in NZ and 3 test weeks in a row.

This is correct. I believe it’s Monday night now - previously it was Tuesday morning so not a major difference.

A bit of whooshing going on here fellas….

Under Razor I can tell you that word was out by Tuesday mid-morning for home tests. Time enough to tell whanau to make travel plans etc.

@antipodean said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

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.

Vaai at 6 maybe?

I wouldn't mind seeing Segner at 6 and Lakai on the bench for impact this weekend. Sititi have a weekend off.

@Bones said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

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

Our tight 5 are bloody good right now - they'll give Rassie's lot a really hard time. It's 6/7/8 that needs work.