Ireland v All Blacks, Chicago, 8PM, Nov 5th, eirSport 2 + BT Sport2

former total

World Rugby has officially sanctioned this match so it's going ahead...

It's in Soldier Field, i.e. the NFL stadium.

NZ Maoris play the USA the day before, also in Chicago.

thomond2006

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

thomond2006

Toyota Park on Friday, Soldier Field on Saturday!

For those of you who would like a week over there, I saw Dublin to O'Hare via Heathrow return on BA for around €460 return for midweek flights.

errlloyd

Just checked the cheapest return flights to the states for November, the cheapest is direct to LA, wtf.

ed06

Flights booked!!! Any idea when tickets will go in sale? Official announcement in Soldier field today!

vienne86

former total wrote: »

World Rugby has officially sanctioned this match so it's going ahead...

It's in Soldier Field, i.e. the NFL stadium.

NZ Maoris play the USA the day before, also in Chicago.

Ooh tempting. Very tempting.

sydthebeat

this is the day we break that hoodoo !

adrian522

I was at an NFL game there this year, nice stadium, right in town. Weather wasn't too cold when I was there (early December) so heopfully we'd get similar weather this year.

If the weather is bad though there isn't a whole lot of protection from the elements, and $9.50 for a can of miller lite had me doing my drinking outside before and in the pub after.

Losty Dublin

I'm eyeing this one up big time. Plotting away big time

swiwi_

Ireland by 30. You heard it here first.

rsh118

swiwi_ wrote: »

Ireland by 30. You heard it here first.

In the first half

roundymac

All our injured should be fit by then. It's to keep the rest fit is going to be the problem.

rsh118

My hope is since the majority of kiwis do not rate us at all (seriously AT ALL), they'll field a side slightly undercooked or experimental and yield our first ever win against the ABs.

That would bring glee to my life and finally make us less the cute team that so many people support 2nd because we're quite nice and fairly harmless.

pickarooney

swiwi_ wrote: »

Ireland by 30. You heard it here first.

Runs?

thomond2006

pickarooney wrote: »

Runs?

No, it's actually a Gaelic Football match in Chicago. So Swiwi means Ireland 4-20 New Zealand 1-9.

Yeah_Right

swiwi_ wrote: »

Ireland by 30. You heard it here first.

You mean we're giving them a 30 point head start? Could make it interesting.

pickarooney

Yeah_Right wrote: »

You mean we're giving them a 30 point head start? Could make it interesting.

I've suggested before that handicapping could be useful for games against tier 3 nations but hopefully we're not there yet!

swiwi_

rsh118 wrote: »

My hope is since the majority of kiwis do not rate us at all (seriously AT ALL), they'll field a side slightly undercooked or experimental and yield our first ever win against the ABs.

That would bring glee to my life and finally make us less the cute team that so many people support 2nd because we're quite nice and fairly harmless.

We have Ireland, Italy, Ireland, France.

Realistically, Italy will get the 2nd XV.

But come on, you want to beat the full strength side, otherwise what's the point...?!

swiwi_

swiwi_ wrote: »

We have Ireland, Italy, Ireland, France.

Realistically, Italy will get the 2nd XV.

But come on, you want to beat the full strength side, otherwise what's the point...?!

I will take what I'm given :pac:

errlloyd

swiwi_ wrote: »

We have Ireland, Italy, Ireland, France.

Realistically, Italy will get the 2nd XV.

But come on, you want to beat the full strength side, otherwise what's the point...?!

Its a pretty shameful thing to put in writing, but monkey off back is the point.

Once we've done it once, against anyone on any day, it'll get easier.

Melodeon

Here's the official website:
http://www.therugbyweekend.com/

rsh118

swiwi_ wrote: »

We have Ireland, Italy, Ireland, France.

Realistically, Italy will get the 2nd XV.

But come on, you want to beat the full strength side, otherwise what's the point...?!

If NZ ran so low on players that Tane Randall was put in the centres and Sean Fitzpatrick at 10 and we beat them, I'd still be delighted.

Monkey off back, then beat the ABs every time (because this is the Schmidt era).

Cronin The Destroyer

I think we should scupper the Six Nations and just concentrate on this game. Keep the players rested like. Six Nations is a second tier tournament anyway :P The Maori won't know what's hit em when McFadden comes a runnin'.

Peregrine

Earliest matchday thread in history?

Can't wait!

nc6000

A nice little jolly for Tommy while he's out injured.

razorblunt

A friend is selfishly getting married that day.

rsh118

razorblunt wrote: »

A friend is selfishly getting married that day.

Well he won't be there till late then...

Digifriendly

Any idea which TV station has rights to this game?

The Black Stags

rsh118 wrote: »

My hope is since the majority of kiwis do not rate us at all (seriously AT ALL), they'll field a side slightly undercooked or experimental and yield our first ever win against the ABs.

That would bring glee to my life and finally make us less the cute team that so many people support 2nd because we're quite nice and fairly harmless.

You'd be surprised how many All Blacks get their first cap against Ireland - really rather telling.

rsh118

The Black Stags wrote: »

You'd be surprised how many All Blacks get their first cap against Ireland - really rather telling.

I cannot tell you how many pats on the back or head I got from kiwi colleagues when discussing Irish rugby. They look at us quite affectionately.

Affection generally does not mean that we often run them close or give them tough games. We also got to regularly discuss numbers like sixty.

its_phil

rsh118 wrote: »

I cannot tell you how many pats on the back or head I got from kiwi colleagues when discussing Irish rugby. They look at us quite affectionately.

Affection generally does not mean that we often run them close or give them tough games. We also got to regularly discuss numbers like sixty.

Wow I knew Kiwi's were friendly and liked Irish rugby, but never knew they liked it that much....

:pac:

rsh118

its_phil wrote: »

Wow I knew Kiwi's were friendly and liked Irish rugby, but never knew they liked it that much....

:pac:

A lot of kiwis keep in touch with their Irish roots...


I'll get me hat.

The Black Stags

rsh118 wrote: »

I cannot tell you how many pats on the back or head I got from kiwi colleagues when discussing Irish rugby. They look at us quite affectionately.

Affection generally does not mean that we often run them close or give them tough games. We also got to regularly discuss numbers like sixty.

Yeah, I was out there a couple of months after that match that never happened. They like us just fine, many of them have roots from here (plenty of documentaries you can watch on it) and walking around some of the towns; Palmerston North to name drop one - it feels like home. The signs and streets all kind of look the same as here, they have the same feeling to them.

We really haven't won their respect though in rugby terms. Really the only team that has - and that it's generally held as being acceptable to lose to is the Springboks. But they have a long history and rivalry together.

pickarooney

Aus too, if you could call it respect, and France.

zambrotta11

Has anyone heard anything more about when the tickets for this game will be available?
The Rugby Weekend website said they were going on sale 1st April and I signed up to the newsletter but I haven't heard anything yet...

thomond2006

Just got an email, public sale begins Thursday April 7th.

However none of ye can buy tickets until I've bought mine. Thank you.

thomond2006

Price range: USD 267

I'm gonna assume that's a mistake. :pac:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/new-zealand-vs-ireland-chicago-illinois-11-05-2016/event/04005076029A3F51?artistid=1055482&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=205

How much did you get flights for? I am looking for an excuse for a holiday...

thomond2006

Deleted User wrote: »

How much did you get flights for? I am looking for an excuse for a holiday...

€574 return but I had Avios to burn against that.

I was in Chicago last year. Great places to see and great deep dish pizza.

case885

thomond2006 wrote:

I was in Chicago last year. Great places to see and great deep dish pizza.

You can get them down your local centra :P

pickarooney

What's in Chicago besides wind and stodgy pizza and al capone and William The refrigerator Perry?

Not a place that ever appealed to me

Bazzo

case885 wrote: »

You can get them down your local centra :P

No no no my friend. I've been to Chicago. The deep dish pizzas there are a different animal all together.

case885

Bazzo wrote:

No no no my friend. I've been to Chicago. The deep dish pizzas there are a different animal all together.

You're right, you wouldn't see the slices floating in the centra spec pizza

irishbucsfan

pickarooney wrote: »

What's in Chicago besides wind and stodgy pizza and al capone and William The refrigerator Perry?

Not a place that ever appealed to me

Hot dogs

Losty Dublin

pickarooney wrote: »

What's in Chicago besides wind and stodgy pizza and al capone and William The refrigerator Perry?

Not a place that ever appealed to me

A rugby club, thankfully

AbusesToilets

Bazzo wrote: »

No no no my friend. I've been to Chicago. The deep dish pizzas there are a different animal all together.

That thing is a blasphemy

thomond2006

I've been able to get access to this pre-sale. I have a relative with a citi card. USD 33 to USD 267 (not including ~ 18% service charge and taxes!).

él statutorio

thomond2006 wrote: »

I've been able to get access to this pre-sale. I have a relative with a citi card. USD 33 to USD 267 (not including ~ 18% service charge and taxes!).

When do they go on general release?

thomond2006

él statutorio wrote: »

When do they go on general release?

Thursday

Just be aware that if you can't send the tickets to a US address then you have to collect them at the ground with ID/Passport and the card you used to pay.

él statutorio

thomond2006 wrote: »

Thursday

Just be aware that if you can't send the tickets to a US address then you have to collect them at the ground with ID/Passport and the card you used to pay.

I live stateside so I'm safe enough on that score.

I just have to persuade herself that this is a good idea!

zambrotta11

The presale code for the chicago bears season tickets holders is just chicagobears
I took a guess and got lucky so I have my tickets sorted already!