All Blacks v Ireland part III - July 16 8.05am Ireland time

Mr Clever

Can the lads do it or will they be overwhelmed as so often happens in world cups?

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058254120/all-blacks-v-ireland-part-iii-july-16-8-05am-ireland-time

That’s a pretty miserable way to frame things.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058254120/all-blacks-v-ireland-part-iii-july-16-8-05am-ireland-time

is it your goal to create the worst match threads ever??

Mr Clever

When will teams be named? Any concerns for Ireland? Assuming same XV though Larmor would be a better option than Low

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058254120/all-blacks-v-ireland-part-iii-july-16-8-05am-ireland-time

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https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119325738#Comment_119325738

No, he wouldn't.

The criticism of Lowe's performance from last week is overblown.

He brings some things that Larmour doesn't, particularly as the conditions will likely be poorer for this game (than under the roof in Dunedin), such as his powerful carrying ability which draws in tacklers and his huge left boot. They won't (and shouldn't) drop Lowe for this Saturday.

Pudsy33

With Aki into the XV, I think Larmour has done enough to earn the 23 shirt. Especially considering Lowry and Earls weren't great today.

Mr Clever

When can we expect team to be named?

TheRona

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119332219#Comment_119332219

Early tomorrow morning Irish time

swiwi_

Ireland by 50 points.

jacothelad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119332666#Comment_119332666

Sadly, experience over the last 60 years tells me that the ABs are very unlikely to be so bad again.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119332864#Comment_119332864

They won't and certainly Whitelock coming back will be significant , but New Zealand haven't really been "in control" at all across the 2 tests so far.

They had a fantastic purple patch in the 2nd quarter of the 1st game which coincided with Ireland losing all shape when Sexton went off , where they scored 20+ points.

After that though and all the way through the second test , Ireland have mostly controlled the pace of the game and looked reasonably comfortable with what NZ were bringing to bear.

We'll have to see how many changes Foster makes , Whitelock coming in and Scott Barrett moving back to 6 are probably the only ones we can be sure about. Jordan will probably come in on the wing and he might make a change in the centre , but hard to know.

For me this is a 5 point game either way - If Ireland can avoid giving New Zealand any soft scores like they did in the 1st test , I fancy Ireland here.

But it will be very close.

Roxxers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119332864#Comment_119332864

yep they will be dirt bags like they were in the Aviva after they lost in Chicago , will all target sexton not in a clean way , would rather Larmour over lowe , lowe is not the brightest of players

AbusesToilets

I think we win by 2 scores, if Sexton stays on the field. They'll be under incredible pressure, and I think their inability to break down our defense will lead them to frustration and mistakes.

TheRona

As was mentioned in a YouTube clip I was watching, it's a very similar situation to the last NZ Lion's tour. NZ one up, and then lose a match with a red card.

Let's just hope the end result isn't decided by a farcical refereeing decision at the end, as it was in 2017.

If NZ keep all their players on the pitch, they should win. They would have learnt a few lessons from the last match.

ednwireland

squeaky bum time

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119333502#Comment_119333502

If NZ keep all their players on the pitch, they should win. They would have learnt a few lessons from the last match.

The way they have played in the last two matches. That’s a big if.

I think as you pointed out before, NZ have a much better ability to convert chances than we do. What they lack though is the ability to impose their game on us. As long as our defence doesn’t implode. I think NZ will struggle to manufacture those chances.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119333502#Comment_119333502

Let's just hope the end result isn't decided by a farcical refereeing decision at the end, as it was in 2017.

I thought it was just the Irish fans who moan about referees?

TheRona

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119333611#Comment_119333611

You're correct.

BoardsMember

There's a tiny bit of a whiff of the narrative that preceded Leinster v LAR around....like if we play our game we'll have too much for them.

Their pack won't be anything like as passive as last day. They were missing 2 of their most influential forwards in Whitelock and Savea, and they played a lot of the game with at least 1 less than us. The idea that they can't impose their game on us is laughable, as is the notion they can't breat down our defence.

I'm hopeful of giving it a good go and maybe a win, but there's a fair bit more confidence than I'm comfortable with around here!

PTH2009

AB are hurting and by christ their sulking

Overall a very positive tour by us so far no matter the result Saturday

Let's hope lessons of 2014 and 2018 have been learnt

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119333855#Comment_119333855

What was their excuse in the first game?

BoardsMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119333984#Comment_119333984

Excuse for what? They won comfortably, they were leading by 23 points at half time and won at a canter? Some seem to have forgotten this. I know they got some lucky breaks, but they beat us well on the scoreboard and there's every chance that could happen again.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119334061#Comment_119334061

Or some watched the game not just the headlines. Apart from a 15 minute spell when they were incredibly clinical. They didn’t impose themselves, their forwards didn’t dominate us. In fact quite the opposite and another referee might have made them pay more.

You made a comparison between LAR v LEI. We didn’t play LAR twice before that game. We had no comparisons going into a one off game. We have played NZ twice now and been on top for most of both games.

If you like to have an inferiority complex that’s ok. What I see is two relatively evenly matched teams. Both capable of winning on Saturday. I would say based on what we have seen so far. Ireland have a slight advantage (very slight). If you want to believe that we’ll be lucky to win, that’s fair enough. It’s not based on the evidence of the two games so far though.

BoardsMember

I don't think we'll be lucky to win, my post was in relation to some overly confident themed recent posts. If we win we'll have earned it, and I'm sure we'll have the scars to prove it.

Statements like they lack the ability to impose their game on us are a bit fanciful and i fear a backlash. It could be there wont be one. But their game is scoring tries out of nothing and they managed that pretty well in the first test.

The analogy stands for me, over confidence based on our form, and a belief that our gameplan will be hard to neutralise and our defence hard to breach based on one very dominant win (when they were down 2 key players in the pack). Its obviously not identical. That was the extent of the analogy.

Anyway, I'm very hopeful of a win I just don't want to get my hopes up too much and be devastated if we don't win. I'm massively impressed with the performances in the last 3 matches.

Lucy8080

There is a rugby podcaster (N.Z), ( and for the life of me ,I can't remember his name), that I have heard twice say that "Super Rugby" is not being refereed in the same way as European Club Rugby has been refereed recently.

He has been spouting for maybe a year that the International teams, that draw from Super Rugby, are going to run into a heap of **** when they meet the actual laws of the current game.

Former Former Former

Team named, Aki the only change with Earls on the bench.

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 22 caps

14. Mack Hansen (Connacht) 5 caps

13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 59 caps

12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 39 caps

11. James Lowe (Leinster) 14 caps

10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 107 caps CAPTAIN

9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 19 caps

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 45 caps

2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 9 caps

3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 59 caps

4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 32 caps

5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 45 caps

6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 86 caps

7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 42 caps

8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 19 caps

Replacements

16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 27 caps

17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 117 caps

18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 24 caps

19. Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 7 caps

20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 29 caps

21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 98 caps

22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 34 caps

23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 97 caps

septictank

Whitelock and Havili back in and RTS on the bench.

TheRona

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119334853#Comment_119334853

Will Jordan on the wing as well

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119334364#Comment_119334364

To be honest, I think NZ are poorly coached and lack the ability to impose their game on teams. As a counter attacking team, the players are still the best in the world. They are a good side poorly coached. As for Ireland, I don’t think 2 games counts as form. We haven’t been as good as we were last November.

phily2002

Think we should win this on Saturday, hard to know what way NZ will respond. NZ of old you'd fear a hiding but don't think this team has it in them. Selection as expected but surprised Earls got the nod, he's has 3 poor games so far.

septictank

Foster is very loyal to Beaudan Barrett but I think he will have to give Richie Mo'unga a run out. As Super rugby champs fly half he out played Barrett and a lot of NZ want him in the side. His style of open play coupled with the backs he has around him could open up any defence.

Laulala the tight head is a loose cannon at ruck time and tackling in general, can't help himself but ref's have his number. It does hint at Foster wanting to turn this into a more physical challenge.

LuckyLloyd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119325548#Comment_119325548

It’s also an opportunity.

At some point Irish rugby is going to have to take on the responsibility of winning tough games that matter outside their regional competition. We can’t play all our World Cup games at home against England on Paddy’s day, unfortunately.

If we beat New Zealand on Saturday this squad will have nothing to fear come the World Cup Quarter final. There’s no reason we can’t do it either.

irishgeo

What will be interesting is the set pieces, as was said their scrum was interrupted pretty much the whole game and their line out missing the best player.

Aslo I expect a tough tackling game and sexton to roughed up in the hope of getting him a HIA.

Will the ref be as tough on the ruck as the ref last week.

Its Wayne Barnes isn't it?

Its gonna be close I reckon inside 7 points. I really can't call it.

I feel like I've been here before. Not discounting NZ to bring their A game and Ireland to implode. Many reasons why that won't happen but this just feels like familiar territory in terms of hope.

joedamuss

If they bring there A game and we bring ours it's a fifty fifty game, just hope Barnes is strong enough to deal with their over the top physicality that's going to come, if they rough up or hurt one of our lads we just have to stand up to them, no punches thrown or any thing, just lay down a marker that we won't put up with their filthy ****.

Madeoface

Odriscoll was asked on otb yesterday would he take a series win in NZ or semi in wc, he said series win. Losing in a semi nothing to celebrate...I didn't think of it that way.

I hope to Jeebus that Barnes has a good game. NZ looking like they have opted for physicality alright. Would love to see a win, especially 15 v 15 so the kiwi's stop whinging cards were the reason they lost 2nd test. Stick to the rules lads and ur players stay on the park.

Either way we've got Treadwell, Frawley and Coombes up another notch this tour. I'd have taken 2 wins at the start from the 5 games. Hopefully a good, tight game...I don't know what way to call it. I'd love a series win....

Former Former Former

Barnes is a great ref and we should be ten times more familiar with him than NZ so if we can't play to his interpretations then we're fncked before we even start.

My major concern is fatigue, if NZ get on top that we'd struggle to find the reserves to come back.

At this point a win would be great but unless we get absolutely hosed the tour will be a success.

I'd say NZ by 10+

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119335927#Comment_119335927

Yea bang on I think.

We're fairly bad at chasing games and we don't have the bench to change a game so we can't let them get a few scores ahead.

WJL

Anyone from around Portlaoise know what pubs will show the game?

StevenToast

If Ireland win a test series in NZ, it is the greatest achievement in Irish Rugby history....beats any grand slam...

How many teams have won a test series down there?

The Lions once ( in the 70s)

France in 94

SA and Oz i think once each....

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119336376#Comment_119336376

England won one the year before they won the World cup.

But that's it

AbusesToilets

Don't see the point behind Earls on the bench. He only covers the back 3, who we haven't subbed once so far. If he's going into the center, we're likely goosed.

Disappointed it wasn't Frawley and Larmour for back cover, with Coombes over Conan. Hope we don't come to regret that.

WJL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119336376#Comment_119336376

And while Ireland have played better, last Saturday's victory was the best one game win in Irish rugby history imo.

WJL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119336253#Comment_119336253

We need the good early start again :)

stephen_n

NZ will need to try get on the ball early and hold on to it. We have come flying out of the blocks in all 4 halves so far. Though have failed to maintain that intensity. If NZ can hold onto the ball for the fist 10 minutes it might undermine confidence. Though I’m not sure their phase play will allow that to happen.

Yeah_Right

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119336396#Comment_119336396

England won a one off test in 2003. It wasn't a series.

StevenToast

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119336396#Comment_119336396

Im not sure that was classed a "series"...but ya..that was peak england scraping a win down in NZ....

molloyjh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119336396#Comment_119336396

Yeah, England played 1 game on their Australasia tour in 2003 ahead of the RWC and won. They played the MABs, NZ and Oz, winning all 3. But nobody has won a series there since France in 1994.

BoardsMember

Earls covers 13 too, so there is sense in it. I'd prefer to see Larmour as something a bit more threatening from the bench.

AbusesToilets

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119336589#Comment_119336589

Thought that idea had been put out to pasture a decade ago. Disaster in the making if it comes to pass