All Blacks v Ireland - July 2 8.05am Ireland time

cuttingtimber22 · 01-07-2022 10:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119278076#Comment_119278076

If you mean Sexton, he named him. Or do you mean Healy?

reg114 · 01-07-2022 11:16PM

Unfortunately I'm expecting a hiding for our guys tomorrow. Beating the ABs on our own homesoil is one thing, beating them on theirs is completely different. If we can muster the same bloodyminded intensity that saw us beat them in Dublin we might scrape 1 win out of 3 but even then I have my doubts. We have always lacked the ability to stack huge performances in sequence. Throw in the revenge factor for the kiwis and they're fired up. Make no mistake they don't fear us at all, they're just very keen to shut us up after us beating them here. Anything less than a resounding series win will be judged as a failed campaign by the new Zealand public. Try as we may we just don't have the strength in depth or the quality to win the series. I hope I'm wrong but the score line tomorrow and I juries shipped won't be pretty.

cuttingtimber22 · 01-07-2022 11:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119278377#Comment_119278377

I fear you are right. And this may well be a continuation of chickens coming home to roost as we saw in the two recent cup and league finals. A positive may be that we did peak too soon again but this tour may help focus minds for the next 18 months - I think we have a good coaching set up.

I should add that we still have quality players. There is talent there and if we get the bounce of the ball then a win is possible but I would be very surprised.

Cluedo Monopoly · 01-07-2022 11:27PM

From NZ Herald

In a nutshell:

If the All Blacks win all three matches, the series is no big deal. Lose one, and we'll shift nervously in our seats. Lose the series and it's back to nationwide lockdowns and 1pm briefings.

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I think the only chance we have of winning is the first test. Unlikely but hopefully we can beat the odds.

stephen_n · 02-07-2022 12:29AM

I would say the All Blacks are going to go after our ruck ball aggressively. Like the Māori did. We need find a way to resource the rucks, without it messing up our attacking game. Hopefully we can manage that. If we do we might have a chance. Though given the fact NZ went for bulk, I think we might struggle there.

pc7 · 02-07-2022 06:56AM

Finlay is out with COVID, Healy to 17, To O’T to 18, not the news you want to wake up too. Not sure who’ll be left at this rate for next week, can’t see anything but NZ win by at least 12. Really hope this a post that will haunt me in a few hours.

pickarooney · 02-07-2022 07:29AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119277643#Comment_119277643

But all of them are crocked. We brought a fairly small squad to play 5 tough matches in a row, to simulate a world cup scenario and here we have a perfect example of what can happen in that scenario and the answer is just play Earls on the wing, twice in a week. If he gets injured then who else is going to slot in?