Ireland Team To Play The ABs

daveirl

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daveirl

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Crash

Looks like a solid team - i like it. though I think some of it could weigh on how willing EOS is to use subs in this match - if murphy isnt performing sling dempsey on, if best isnt doing it at flanker bring gleeson in, etc.

daveirl

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mikedragon32

That's a good team by Eddie's standards. Can't understand why he keeps faith with Murphy at FB though.

It'll be interesting to see how Trimble copes on the wing.

Is the AB team announced yet?

Steffano2002

Lads, what time is this game at on saturday? I'll be in Paris for the Top 14 Final but I'd love to see the Irish take on the All Blacks!

BolBill

Its around 8am, so 9am your time.

Lambs to slaughter mind you.

Crash

Trimble's generally good on the wing i think anyhow - might not be a huge impact all the time but if you watch him in matches he's always in a great position to move out the wing, and always there in support. Which while it should be taken as given for a winger, doesn't always happen

Steffano2002

Cr@p I'm gonna miss it... We're landing in Beauvais @ 9am = start time... :mad:

Gowan Ireland anyway!!!

Diamondmaker

Dermody and Rawlinson to make All Blacks debut

UPDATED 2.00pm Tuesday June 6, 2006


Southland prop Clarke Dermody and North Harbour lock Greg Rawlinson will make their All Blacks debut in the first rugby test against Ireland, in Hamilton on Saturday.

An uncapped trio - Canterbury winger Scott Hamilton, Waikato first five-eighth David Hill and Auckland flanker Jerome Kaino - have been named on the bench and may also make their debut at Waikato Stadium.

Much of the interest in the team named today surrounded the forwards, with the two new caps joined in the tight five by lock Chris Jack, who wasn't originally named in the squad.

He was called into the team as Ali Williams was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Another feature is the naming of two specialist openside flankers, captain Richie McCaw and Marty Holah, in the starting pack.

Former Chiefs and Hurricanes rugby utility Isaac Boss is in the Ireland side as a halfback reserve, after injury ruled usual reserve halfback Eion Reddin out of the tour.

Boss, a halfback who can play fullback, who qualified for the team through an Irish grandmother, after helping Ulster to the Celtic League title.

Ireland this year won the Triple Crown and finishing second to France in the Six Nation.

All Blacks: Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Ma'a Nonu, Aaron Mauger, Joe Rokocoko, Luke McAlister, Byron Kelleher, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Marty Holah, Chris Jack, Greg Rawlinson, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Clarke Dermody.

Reserves: Scott Hamilton, David Hill, Jimmy Cowan, Jerome Kaino, Troy Flavell, Neemia Tialata, Anton Oliver.

daveirl

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RuggieBear

daveirl wrote:

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as always:(

daveirl

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Webbs

Diamondmaker wrote:

All Blacks: Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Ma'a Nonu, Aaron Mauger, Joe Rokocoko, Luke McAlister, Byron Kelleher, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Marty Holah, Chris Jack, Greg Rawlinson, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Clarke Dermody.

Reserves: Scott Hamilton, David Hill, Jimmy Cowan, Jerome Kaino, Troy Flavell, Neemia Tialata, Anton Oliver.

Not sure if I'd agree with you Dave,

Back 3 obviously NZ,
Centres about even (D'Arcy not anywhere near as good as he can be at the moment),
10 haven't seen enough of McAlister to really make judgement but what I have seen is he is better at using whats around him i.e. he can actually make a back line tick
Kelleher is a better all round 9, but Stringer has advantage of having all Munster players around him.

Odd no proper No6 for NZ though I expect that is because they expect to dominate the ball on the floor and though this may be seen as heresy they obviously don't expect to get out muscled by the Munster men.
I think their back row is frightning and are going to target O'Gara as he has shown in the past that he can lose it a bit when targetted by a quick back row.

2nd rows maybe just Ireland, O'Connell shades Jack, Rawlinson isn't going to be anything but decent enough though not seen him at all.

As for front rows, if the ref is hot in this area it could be painful for Ireland.

Can't see anything but a reasonably convincing win for NZ by 15pts plus

daveirl

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Webbs

I think its a backrow that deserves all the respect it can get Mccaw is by a considerable way the best back row forward in the world at the moment. Holah would be openside for most sides in the world.

It will be interesting for the first lineouts as I think they have gone for the 2 fliers to ignore the line out and just target O'Gara from the tail and I don't think there is enough pace in the irish back row to do the necessary covering.
Wales did something similar in the game in cardiff last year using Martin Williams to put the pressure on and we all know what happened to O'gara in that game.

Since then I think the Irish back row has got better at covering it but just think they will be off the pace

cgarvey

Sky Sports only? If so, anyone know pubs that are opening for it?

.cg

Amz

You might get it in the White Horse Inn or in The Wool Shed on Parnell Street.

RuggieBear

probably the aussie theme bar up at the parnelll street cinema

Diamondmaker

We are watchiung it in the Goat if thats handier for any one near ...Dundrum SC
Down Under ( at Major Toms ) Stepehens green will show too.

MarVeL

Slow of me but I've just noticed we've no reserve out half. Who goes in if O'Gara takes a knock? Boss or Dempsey? Please god not O'Driscoll!

Sundy

D'arcy could do it. henhas stood at 10 for leinster when contemponi gets sucked into contact

youcancallmeal

Is kick off not 8.35am with coverage starting on Sky Sports at 8am?

Crash

The Goat definitely showing it DiamondMaker? think I'll pop in there - much easier to get to than the Woolshed...

Jilm

MarVeL wrote:

Slow of me but I've just noticed we've no reserve out half. Who goes in if O'Gara takes a knock? Boss or Dempsey? Please god not O'Driscoll!

Murphy would be the first choice backup FH. D'Arcy could also do the job, BOD at a stretch (both have played FH for Leinster).

Diamondmaker

The Goat so my Kiwi mate tells me. A few of us meeting there 2 kiwi and 2 ire so he better be right! I will double check tomorrow though.......never trust a Kiwi........turn your back and 2 of them will pile you into the ground or lash you with a hand bag!:D
Looking forward to the banter Sat, please god we dont get thumped.

Mate above gave me 100:1 odds on the last game and I gave him a spread of 1 e for every point they won by in return...he did not collect off me, which is even more humiliating!:mad:

Crash

Hrmmm I'd say if the goat isn't open then Charlie Chalk might open the Orchard anyway - if you lemme know when you check it'd be great

thebaz

is Best up to playing the All Blacks as blind side ?
Would Foley , not have been the safer option , with Leamy at no. 6 ?
Thats my major concern , although Murphy, Trimble and Darcy will have to give big games , to prove they are serious international test quality players !

Snickers Man

Logic dictates that NZ will be too strong. Having said which, we have come so close to them on so many occasions that the current record of won none, drawn one, lost loads is not a fair reflection of the relative strengths of the two sides over the years.

We are going to get lucky against them some day

TarfHead

thebaz wrote:

Would Foley , not have been the safer option , with Leamy at no. 6 ?

Possibly, but Leamy will likely be the RWC2007 No. 8 so what's the point of putting him at 6 ?

RuggieBear

TarfHead wrote:

Possibly, but Leamy will likely be the RWC2007 No. 8 so what's the point of putting him at 6 ?

and Heaslip will grow old...and the rest of us will wish there was another man in charge of the national team

Amz

RuggieBear wrote:

and Heaslip will grow old...and the rest of us will wish there was another man in charge of the national team

QFT

thebaz

it will also be interesting how Hayes and Horan do in the scrum, if Ireland are to progress we really need a solid scrum. Bracken is on tour , he is big and strong , and Young the sub has played Super 14 rugby in australia , i believe. For the world cup, as we face Argentina , we will really need to get a solid base .
With Staunton's ommision, and i think Humphrys is playing one more year for Ulster, they will probably beg him to give the world cup one last go, hopefully he will agree.

Diamondmaker

The Goat so my Kiwi mate tells me. A few of us meeting there 2 kiwi and 2 ire so he better be right! I will double check tomorrow though.......never trust a Kiwi........turn your back and 2 of them will pile you into the ground or lash you with a hand bag!
Looking forward to the banter Sat, please god we dont get thumped.

HE MEANT THE DROPPING WELL!!!????
ANY WAY DROPPING WELL IS CONFIRMED AND DEFFO on there and open.

Spose he is a long way from home I will excuse him.:D

accensi0n

Diamondmaker wrote:

The Goat so my Kiwi mate tells me. A few of us meeting there 2 kiwi and 2 ire so he better be right! I will double check tomorrow though.......never trust a Kiwi........turn your back and 2 of them will pile you into the ground or lash you with a hand bag!
Looking forward to the banter Sat, please god we dont get thumped.

HE MEANT THE DROPPING WELL!!!????
ANY WAY DROPPING WELL IS CONFIRMED AND DEFFO on there and open.

Spose he is a long way from home I will excuse him.:D

Thats awesome! Just down the road from me. Cheers.