Ire v NZ QF 2

[paddy no 11]

Ireland keep the same team as v Scotland

Changes on the bench see Mccarthy named instead of injured James Ryan- no loss imo.

Jimmy O'brien is on the bench over mccloskey this is high risk, if ringrose or bundee get injured we're goosed

NZ were 6/4 on Monday, that's probably generous, Ireland are probably 11/10 to me and I think NZ have a far stronger bench, dmac and roigard could be very troublesome with 20 to go

[Mikey Brown]

Weren't Lowe and Hansen both injury concerns in the week? Hasn't O'Brien covered 13 at some point? Not that it would be ideal.

[paddy no 11]

He has played 13 for leinster alright but not sure how much he's predominantly been on the wing, he's had no match in the tournament so far, so coming on v ioane et al would be a big ask. In fairness to farrell he gets a lot right.

[J Dory]

ABs side named.

1 Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Scott Barrett, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 8 Ardie Savea, 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Rieko Ioane, 14 Will Jordan, 15 Beauden Barrett. Reserves: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Samuel Whitelock, 20 Dalton Papali’i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown

Pretty much full strength minus Telea.

[morepork]

*sigh* Sam's Cane. That's one yellow card right there. Plus, D-Mac for BB.

[paddy no 11]

Very surprised that roigard is dropped

[BaldiePete]

Very surprised that roigard is dropped

They wanted to give a Scot the chance to play in the quarter-finals

[Puja]

Telea apparently "broke team protocol" which is why he's dropped: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67096110

Puja

[Cameo]

Convenient in a way, as good as Telea is, I think they will have been keen to get Fainga'anuku involved. His power, level of involvement near the ruck, and turnover ability could be important.

Not the team I would have picked, but fairly predictable and in with a chance.

[morepork]

Very surprised that roigard is dropped

He should be on the bench for this.

[Cameo]

Very surprised that roigard is dropped

He should be on the bench for this.

Yeah, forgot about that in my previous comment. Very strange (though I like Christie too).

[Spiffy]

*sigh* Sam's Cane. That's one yellow card right there. Plus, D-Mac for BB.

D-Mac should get plenty of time off the bench. He's such a dangerous little sod for the ABs - a potential match winner, who will need to be shackled by the Irish.

[Which Tyler]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... ate-lyrics

Ireland’s embrace of Zombie song at Rugby World Cup stirs debate over lyrics

Fans seen singing the Cranberries’ hit in stadiums but some Irish republicans are unhappy at revival

Thirty years after a lethal IRA bomb inspired its stark, chilling lyrics, the Cranberries’ song Zombie has experienced an unlikely rebirth as a Rugby World Cup anthem.

Ireland fans have belted out its chorus in stadiums across France and hope to do so again on Saturday after a quarter-final tie against New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris.

The transformation of Dolores O’Riordan’s scorching lament into a paean of sporting joy has repopularised the song and stirred debate about whether it still represents a repudiation of IRA violence.

[Son of Mathonwy]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... ate-lyrics

Ireland’s embrace of Zombie song at Rugby World Cup stirs debate over lyrics

Fans seen singing the Cranberries’ hit in stadiums but some Irish republicans are unhappy at revival

Thirty years after a lethal IRA bomb inspired its stark, chilling lyrics, the Cranberries’ song Zombie has experienced an unlikely rebirth as a Rugby World Cup anthem.

Ireland fans have belted out its chorus in stadiums across France and hope to do so again on Saturday after a quarter-final tie against New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris.

The transformation of Dolores O’Riordan’s scorching lament into a paean of sporting joy has repopularised the song and stirred debate about whether it still represents a repudiation of IRA violence.

No idea what that shite dirge is about but I'd hope both sides could come together to condemn it on the grounds of basic musical taste.

[Lizard]

Fozzie’s shanked it. Cane should be out. Roigard should be on the bench.

Telea is a bloody idiot.

I’ll be in Sur in Oman when this game is on (currently in the desert in ditto). If I can align a hotel with wifi, a VPN and a dodgy stream I might just get to see Ireland finally win a QF.

[morepork]

Is it too soon to start drinking?

[JonnyScuba]

Fozzie’s shanked it. Cane should be out. Roigard should be on the bench.

Telea is a bloody idiot.

I’ll be in Sur in Oman when this game is on (currently in the desert in ditto). If I can align a hotel with wifi, a VPN and a dodgy stream I might just get to see Ireland finally win a QF.

I think Fozzie said he wanted a more defence orientated scrum-half as it's Ireland. Different opposition may have changed that decision.

[J Dory]

Is it too soon to start drinking?

Not if you take stimulants.

[J Dory]

In all seriousness, I can't wait for tomorrow. Wifey away, lads coming for the game, c'mon ABs.

[francoisfou]

In all seriousness, I can't wait for tomorrow. Wifey away, lads coming for the game, c'mon ABs.

Yep, c'mom ABs, cos I want a France v NZ final!

[canta_brian]

Fozzie’s shanked it. Cane should be out. Roigard should be on the bench.

Telea is a bloody idiot.

I’ll be in Sur in Oman when this game is on (currently in the desert in ditto). If I can align a hotel with wifi, a VPN and a dodgy stream I might just get to see Ireland finally win a QF.

I think Fozzie said he wanted a more defence orientated scrum-half as it's Ireland. Different opposition may have changed that decision.

Oh for the days when we didn’t need to really consider any opposition except South Africa. We used to just pick our team, play our game and usually win (or shit the bed looking like headless chooks against France every few years).

[J Dory]

In all seriousness, I can't wait for tomorrow. Wifey away, lads coming for the game, c'mon ABs.

Yep, c'mom ABs, cos I want a France v NZ final!

I would be happy with that Could even live with France winning it, maybe, well, maybe not, actually no.

[paddy no 11]

My reporter on the ground says there is light rain, and will be about 10 kiwis in the stadium

[morepork]

My reporter on the ground says there is light rain, and will be about 10 kiwis in the stadium

Cheeky prick. I’m in an “Irish” pub in Philly and definitely in the minority. I’m already hammered and will probably wake up in a 24 hour diner later. All the best you green bastards.

[Spiffy]

May the best team win .............. unless it's New Zealand.