Ireland v All Blacks

[Lizard]

This is the Big One.

World No. 1 v World No. 2! 6N Champ v TRC Champ! Raeburn Shield on the line!

50:50 record between the two since 2013.

Big match-ups all over the park:
Tu'inukuafe v Furlong
Stander v Read
Sexton v Barrett

This should be great.

Likely All Black team
1. Tu’inukuafe
2. Coles
3. Franks
4. Whitelock
5. Retallick
6. Squire
7. Savea
8. Read
9. Smith
10. Barrett
11. Ioane
12. Crotty
13. Goodhue
14. Smith
15. Mckenzie

16. Taylor
17. Tu’ungafasi
18. Laulala
19. Barrett
20. Todd
21. Perenara
22. Mo’unga
23. Lienert-Brown

Tight 5 are probably locked in, if Coles is considered up to starting. Some might prefer Toss starting but Shag ain't one of them. Crotty/Goodhue with ALB on the bench is the obvious midfield with SBW out. I'm not sure if they will persist with Bin Smuth at wing and McKenzie at fullback or go back to a more traditional Naholo/Smith pairing.

[paddy no 11]

Yer lacking a thuggish element this year

Ye should have enough to win by a couple of scores. Yer backs are well ahead . Close up front, we get going after 20 phases......zzzzzzz

[Lizard]

So switch Taylor and Coles, and put the locks around the right way, and you’ve got the actual XXIII.

[zer0]

I'd also like to see more of S.Barrett at blindside. Squire had an okay 2017, but has been pretty anonymous this season. If not S.Barrett then Cane, as he's basically a blindside anyway. That would also open up the #7 spot for Todd.

[paddy no 11]

Leavy is out so another plus for ye, I'm thinking ye might put us back in our box Saturday evening

[francoisfou]

Leavy is out so another plus for ye, I'm thinking ye might put us back in our box Saturday evening

In that case, I'll definitely put a tenner on your boys to win!

[paddy no 11]

Nah leavy was our trump card

That and keeping the ball all day

Nz by 15

[zer0]

What a sh*t show that was.

> Picks two running play makers
> Kicks the ball away at just about every opportunity
> Has about 4% possession
> Leaves the best turnover producer on the bench for 75 minutes
> Loose forward captain is having a meh game
> Pulls the best loose forward instead
> Has the best defensive lineout in the world
> Doesn't use it until the final few mintues

Yeah. Real coaching GOAT stuff there, Jabba. About the only good substitution he made was enforced by the anonymous Squire's injury.

In saying all that, I actually enjoyed that test much more than the England one.

[Spiffy]

What a sh*t show that was.

> Picks two running play makers
> Kicks the ball away at just about every opportunity
> Has about 4% possession
> Leaves the best turnover producer on the bench for 75 minutes
> Loose forward captain is having a meh game
> Pulls the best loose forward instead
> Has the best defensive lineout in the world
> Doesn't use it until the final few mintues

Yeah. Real coaching GOAT stuff there, Jabba. About the only good substitution he made was enforced by the anonymous Squire's injury.

In saying all that, I actually enjoyed that test much more than the England one.

Apart from all that terrible NZ stuff - Ireland didn't play too badly either.

[paddy no 11]

Leavy is out so another plus for ye, I'm thinking ye might put us back in our box Saturday evening

In that case, I'll definitely put a tenner on your boys to win!

Ah boy Frankie

It appears da all blacks need to recruit about 7 forwards

[Lizard]

Let’s not overlook that extraordinary defensive effort from Ireland. The All Blacks rarely play a perfect 80 anyway so you can’t blame a few errors for the loss (but, yeah, that kicking game - sheesh).

Ireland the better team on the day. And I suspect the better team fairly often, actually.

[Renniks]

What a sh*t show that was.

Y'know how comforting it is to see NZ fans lose their shit when their team is still this good?

Makes our whinging about England seem almost justified

[Lizard]

Penalty goals are the new drop goals. We don’t do them.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Penalty goals are the new drop goals. We don’t do them.

It appears you only do them...

[zer0]

Picking a guy because he once kicked a long range penalty, while lacking in other areas, isn't the best selection strategy. Particularly when it does nothing to alleviate the more pressing issue of a fullback still being played at first five.

The optimal back three setup is what we had at the end of the Irish test: Ioane/B.Smith/B.Barrett, with Mo'unga at first five. That way Barrett gets the extra time and space he needs to run while Ioane and Smith (along with the midfield) are brought into the game more by Mo'unga. Hopefully the English and Irish have forced Hansen to accept this realisation.

[canta_brian]

Penalty goals are the new drop goals. We don’t do them.

It appears you only do them...

Virtual rep

[Lizard]

Penalty goals are the new drop goals. We don’t do them.

It appears you only do them...

Virtual rep

Seconded.

Although fair to note that B.Barrett has now rocketed to 3rd= most drop goals for the All Blacks in the professional era.

Carter 8
Mehrtens 5
Barrett, Z. Brooke*, Mauger 2

*Zinny also slotted 1 DG in the “amateur” era (being his monster from 45m out in Lomu’s test v England, RWC1995)

[Spiffy]

Picking a guy because he once kicked a long range penalty, while lacking in other areas, isn't the best selection strategy. Particularly when it does nothing to alleviate the more pressing issue of a fullback still being played at first five.

The optimal back three setup is what we had at the end of the Irish test: Ioane/B.Smith/B.Barrett, with Mo'unga at first five. That way Barrett gets the extra time and space he needs to run while Ioane and Smith (along with the midfield) are brought into the game more by Mo'unga. Hopefully the English and Irish have forced Hansen to accept this realisation.

If you want to see Barrett at FB, another option is to play McKenzie at 10. How do you think he rates in that slot compared with Mo'unga? As far as I have seen from clips of NZ rugby over the past few seasons, McKenzie is electric, can carve openings from 10 for his teammates and is himself a great finisher too.

[Lizard]

I love D-Mack, but even I have to admit that he is a bit too erratic to start at 10 for the All Blacks. Yes, he might carve it open and win you a game, but there’s an equal chance he will try too much and fuck it up, rather than trusting the game plan.

[J Dory]

Enjoyed that game, massive defensive effort by Ireland, deserved winners. Was on the edge of my seat for most of the match.

Hemmingways is a Kiwi pub here in Toronto, good mix of Irish and NZ fans there on Saturday, the Irish fans were off the charts, was awesome to see.