2025 Nov 01 | AI's Round 1 | Ireland v New Zealand | 20:10 GMT | VM in Ire / TNT & Discovery+ in UK

What I feared would happen, that NZL would have a 5-10 minute period where they’d score +2 tries that would turn the game which is exactly what happened.

We need to seriously stop agreeing to these games, what’s even the benefit outside of sponsors? Our players are clearly not ready for a game of this intensity and it shows particularly late on.

This MUST be the wake up call Farrell needs.

Change needed now before we sleep walk with some of these players off a cliff

Yes. As much as Crowley's terrible error allowed New Zealand their sniff, the lineout has been biting us for years. We need our lineout and set piece to be functioning, especially if we're going to rely on a backline with no pace.

Tonight's match, in my opinion, backs up my view that the Lions is only a detriment to Ireland and there is no material benefit whatsoever.

maybe a phone call to cian heay and murray bring them back in the squad

O'Brien has been fine, but you are not going to win world cups or beat top teams with fine players, very good at club level , but offered little real killer threat at this level

Ireland are gone back to Schmidt Ball. Just running into traffic, put it under the jumper, or kick it forward and hope New Zealand mess up. They were celebrating a lineout earlier like a score, when New Zealand kicked it out under pressure.

New Zealand at least have genuine flair and have provided the highlights here even though they've also stunk the place out for most of the match.

Ireland going nowhere really. As said above the players are wrapped in cotton wool all year round to prioritise results in the internationals. Nothing to show for it here.

Does an Aki McCloskey midfield make sense to you? McCloskey had a great first half. Some great carries. Was a lot quieter in second half.