Autumn Series ‘21 - Ire v NZ 13thNov Kickoff:3:15PM TV:RTÉ2/C4 Radio:RTÉ1 Streaming:RTÉPlayer/All4

FrancieBrady

Great to watch it from the NZ perspective

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQSIXNklwMw

ersatz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118176459#Comment_118176459

-If we had beaten South Africa, I don't think it would be any smaller of an achievement. Yet people wouldn't be celebrating as much.

We've beaten SA with some regularity but it's only now become a habit with NZ. And the result is pleasing but the manner in which we dismantled them and attacked made the game exciting. I wouldn't be planning outfits for the world cup final, or even a 6N decider just yet tho.

The Irish forwards played exceptionally in the loose but the scrum was one area where NZ stayed in touch and edged it a lot of the time. And i think NZ are always 'tired' on these tours, but this year there is something to it. Dane Coles (I think) played an hour in the first Aurora game ten months ago. Throw in Covid bubbles and isolation and thats a long season. Was our new front row, that seems like it's really clicking, a bit underpowered?

The short passing game with multiple runners and angles worked to get us territory inside their half and we left a few tries out there (Kelleher won't have enjoyed rewatching Furlong's disallowed effort). Doris's line break is the kind of score you want those tactics to produce but there's still a lot of room to improve the attack. They were mixing it up inside the 22 and on the line, looking more quickly for longer passes off the base and I'm sure Catt and POC are looking for ways to sharpen it up. This area will get better and better.

Anyway, if we can build on it for Argentina and rotate some of the team, this Autumn have been a tidy bit of work for Farrell.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118190263#Comment_118190263

Was our new front row, that seems like it's really clicking, a bit underpowered?

It would be very hard to assess that off one game. Nothing we have seen so far would suggest that they are underpowered. One team getting a scrum advantage in a single game could be down to a lot of things. Including the referees interpretations. The advantage at scrum time is usually a tactical one.

Blue4u

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118190263#Comment_118190263

Watch Furlong at every scrum, he was pointing to the ref and to the assistant ref constantly that the nZ front row was doing something, I am no expert but a lot of messing was going on. One thing I wouldn't have called them is underpowered.

Dubinusa

With Porter just switching to lh, I wouldn't expect dominance! The results of the switch have been great so far. He will probably improve with game time. This front row could be world class.

molloyjh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118191396#Comment_118191396

Moody was boring in a few times anyway. Nothing every other LH wouldn’t do, but it probably should have been pinged.

AbusesToilets

Thought Porter had the nudge in general. Hard to guage from the tv, but the NZ TH was stretched out flat on the deck a good few times.

pickarooney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118189383#Comment_118189383

I missed this the first time but what is this rule that if a substitution is tactical the replacement can't kick the penalty?

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118192350#Comment_118192350

The sub came on after the penalty was blown for. So it’s my understanding, that if the sub was for a HIA, he could kick the pen, but if a regular tactical sub, he couldn’t. (I think, at least).

pickarooney

Does that only apply to the first kick/touch after coming on?

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118192474#Comment_118192474

Someone on the pitch when the penalty is awarded has to kick it basically. There is an exception for someone has gone off for an HIA or blood.

Blue4u

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118192350#Comment_118192350

Yeah totally missed that, NZ coverage has a lot better audio fo the ref. I thought at the time Fogarty said somethign tothe NZ captain to wind him uop....interesting

Blue4u

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118192556#Comment_118192556

That was a bit of a lie by Ireland, no way was he going off for a HIA

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118192707#Comment_118192707

He was going off for a HIA and if he wasn't its more than a bit of a lie, it would be terrible.

Blue4u

I would swear both RTE and NZ tv said the same thing at the end about Low having the first say and the last say......

Ardillaun

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118161339#Comment_118161339

Best front row too.

pickarooney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118192707#Comment_118192707

I don't think it was either a HIA or a tactical substitution. I think he went off because his leg was injured. Some of these rules are completely stupid.

irelandrover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118192556#Comment_118192556

I can't find any reference of this rule. There's an rfu regulation but it's not applicable here. As far as I know if the ref allows a sub then they can kick.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118193252#Comment_118193252

Indeed you are correct. There is an element of clarification here:

https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/clarification/2021/1/

Ultimately, it is not standard practice to allow replacements between a penalty being awarded and the kick, but in the case of blood or HIA the referee has no choice.

fitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118193016#Comment_118193016

It's a completely ridiculous rule imo. Say your kicker is injured by the table you were awarded the penalty for and has to go off...that his replacement can't take the penalty is rewarding the offending team imo. The only reason I can think for it is so there won't be time taken up by the subbing on top of getting ready to take the penalty. But really, how frequently is it going to happen? Is it really going to delay that many games that frequently? One of those rules that feels like a solution of search of a problem.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118194884#Comment_118194884

It’s a direct response to actions of some teams in games. Can’t remember the game but France did something very similar to get a distance kicker on the field a few years ago. It’s to stop teams getting a tactical advantage by bringing on specialist kicker to win a close game.

sydthebeat

Iirc they actually had a rule at one stage where the temporary replacement WASN'T allowed to take a kick at goal

molloyjh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118193016#Comment_118193016

Sexton had a nasty head clash with Savea and the docs were on to look at him after it. They def weren’t looking at his knee at the time. I reckon he was off for a HIA.

Lsdrugbyfan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118192978#Comment_118192978

potentially best front row ever...

Furlong already best ever irish tighthead... wait and see how Porter/Kelleher go.

ionadnapóca

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118176691#Comment_118176691

I've watched match back again(x4!!) And also read Sextons quotes and I'm pretty sure they made the wrong calls on 2 of them.

“In hindsight maybe the first penalty, I wanted to take three (points), but they just got a sin bin and the pack wanted to have a go. Then they were accumulating penalties so we sort of said, ‘well, let’s go again’.

The 1st pen (12min) after the Taylor YC was a no brainier. You have a full 10mins to capitalise and wear them down. Plus Taylor is always a threat at breakdown. I don't know why Sexton was thinking 3.

The 2nd pen (23min) was bad judgement and game management. Very kickable pen after a great penalty from a scrum. Mo'unga had come on 21min. Then Taylor came back on plus Blackadder. So that was 3 fresh players that came on after a big Irish effort at scrum.

The 3rd pen (39min) is up for debate - Fatigue v 3 points. But Havili had also just come on. So NZ actually had 4 fresher players on the pitch. It was a very kickable pen. I would always take the points going into HT. Particularly if you are trailing by 5.

The only thing i can think of is that Sexton himself didn't fancy his chances kicking the points. He was 1 for 3 in the game. The second miss after Kelleher's try was very unlike him (although, same spot as 2013). In his defense he was probably injured.

Btw when Sexton went off it was from his third head clash in the game.

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2021/11/14/sexton-we-kept-pounding-away-and-got-our-rewards/

Dubinusa

The conversion misses were not easy kicks. Maybe Sexton had a niggle? He was great v Japan. I always think if the 3 points is better than going into the corner. Keeping the scoreboard moving puts pressure on the other team.

ersatz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118195523#Comment_118195523

Yeah, that was a brutal collision and Savea was rattled for a few minutes too. Surprising that both of them weren't referred for HIA by the match officials but Sexton was certainly affected, regardless of his other injury, and he defo should have had a HIA.