Ireland V All Blacks - Teams Announced and Matchday Thread

[clivemcl]

First topic message reminder :

IRELAND TEAM

15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
12 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
11 - Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
9 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 - Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon/Ulster) *
4 - Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
5 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
6 - Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 - Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17 - Ronan Loughney (Galwegians/Connacht) *
18 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
19 - Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 - Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)


NZ Team

15 Israel Dagg,
14 Zac Guildford,
13 Conrad Smith,
12 Sonny Bill Williams,
11 Julian Savea,
10 Dan Carter,
9 Aaron Smith,
8 Kieran Read,
7 Richie McCaw (capt),
6 Victor Vito,
5 Sam Whitelock,
4 Brodie Retallick,
3 Owen Franks,
2 Andrew Hore,
1 Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Hika Elliot, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith.

Tour Previews:
http://www.v2journal.com/irelands-summer-tour.html
http://www.v2journal.com/new-zealands-june-tests-preview.html

[Biltong]

I think it is McFaddens hesitancy that made Earls go for the wrong man, and again the second try McFadden hesitated and then went in.


with the All Blacks you can't hesitate, you need to decide and commit to the tackle.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Best players so far have been Best, POM, Earls...

Earls?? No. O'Brien has been the standout forward. Cave should come on and Earls should go to wing over McFadden.

[offload]

BOD for me has been poor so far which is a surprise.

I think BOD has been excellent? ...bar that attempted offload that led to the try...

I agree BOD has not payed well. Several poorly weighted passes and poor options.

[doctor_grey]

Its the spped at which the All Blacks are playing. Speed with the ball, speed without the ball, speed on defense. Irealnd can't match it. Looks like two different classes of players. I fear a total drubbubg in in the offing.

[Notch]

Well Trimble isn't in the 22, so maybe he'll come into it next week but it doesn't matter much right now.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Yeah certainly he needs to protect the ball more as this Irish backrow is impressive. That said his offload to the first try was pretty sweet. People say Gear is unlucky to not be in the side but have been impressed with Savea. Good finishing and that tackle on Kearney and the ensuing turnover when he got back to his feet and helpped drive over the ball can lift a side. Good on ya bro. 21 and looking pretty mature and composed. Have also been impressed with Smith. Lots of talking and that pass is sweet. I think Carter can't help but get a semi at how quick that ball comes to him after the pedestrian service of Cowan and Weepu.

[Gibson]

Well there are 2 real positives to take from that half,1st we have at least tried to play good attacking rugby now if Kidney embraces that game we have real hope for the future.2nd we have now got what looks like a decent backup option at TH,he needs more gametime to prove himself Fitzpatrick has stood up very well so far.

Yeah D Fitz has been grand. Needs more game time. Lots of game time from here on in. Half and half for him and Ross.

[rodders]

McFaddens defence has been shocking, he's a terrible defender...every game I watch him where's hes on the wing or outside centre he gets exposed.

Zebo and BOD have played well imo. BOD's defence on SBW has been superb and he's linked well with Earls. People wanted to see him at 12, give him a chance ffs.

[GunsGerms]

On the plus side. Our scrum has been ok.

[rodders]

Another KO....

[offload]

Its the spped at which the All Blacks are playing. Speed with the ball, speed without the ball, speed on defense. Irealnd can't match it. Looks like two different classes of players. I fear a total drubbubg in in the offing.

Spot on. Everything the Blacks do is faster.

[nathan]

poor by bod againt

[GunsGerms]

Thats because we have captain slow at scrum half.

[Notch]

See that, that really frustrates me.

Ireland attacking scrum in midfield. We look to release the backs. Our strike move is Rob Kearney cutting back inside into heavy midfield traffic. Our attacking gameplan is about as incisive as a teabag.

[doctor_grey]

Over. too slow. out conditioned by the ABs.

[Gibson]

Ah this is getting silly now.

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

SAVEA!

[rodders]

Shambles.

[Notch]

Compare and contrast with New Zealand.

Savea again. Pretty special rugby. We must just attack, attack, attack. We will lose this match. Let's god own playing rugby.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Dagg didn't fudge it that time. Delayed the pass like he should've done last time. Go Savea!

[Biltong]

Well NZ is targetting McFadden, again there McFadden hesitated and didn't go immediately, otherwise the offload wide might not have been there

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

I agree Rodders with that, we need to stick with BOD and Earls. They look like they have never played together, and basically, they haven't. BOD is also playing in a new position and it shows that even a move from 13 to 12 at international level is difficult.

Just as I type that New Zealand score again. The Irish back three is a complete and utter shambles. The performance of that unit is as poor as our front row against England, with Rob Kearney playing the Rory Best role of playing decently enough in trying circumstances.

[GunsGerms]

Ireland really need to put in some big hit. Poor d from Zebo.

[Cymroglan]

BOD,s sloppy passes are costing Ireland dearly.

[maestegmafia]

Great scrum but nothing in the backline... you need some ball carriers

[wales606]

Hat-trick on debut - The All Blacks will love him.

Carter not showing any groin problems, beautiful kicking.

[rodders]

Men against boys out there...our back 3 have been so badly exposed in defence.....

[GunsGerms]

Id say Kidney has just logged on www.Irishjobs.ie

[ME-109]

what a load of cr.p hookisms....doestn trust earls any excuse.

oh yeahGibson....just what we need Darcy and BOD...for the future what?

[doctor_grey]

BOD,s sloppy passes are costing Ireland dearly.

Do you honestly feel O'Driscoll is the reason Irealnd is behind? OK, not playing his best, but the gap here is huge.

[Notch]

Men against boys out there...our back 3 have been so badly exposed in defence.....

We could or should have seen that coming with the back three we picked.

[nathan]

there's just no attack from ireland. I'm unsure if that because NZ defence is amazing or Ireland's attack is pants.

[rodders]

Jeebus this is a disaster......

[asoreleftshoulder]

too many basic mistakes....maybe we should have Earls and Cave in the centre...dare i say it but is this the end of BOD?

Strange,how many poor am has RoG had against the All Blacks and you've never made a statement like that about him.I wonder why?

[Gibson]

there's just no attack from ireland. I'm unsure if that because NZ defence is amazing or Ireland's attack is pants.

Both.

And we have a clueles manager tactically.

They'd still hammer u,s but we have no game plan. Haven't had for 3 years.

[rodders]

Men against boys out there...our back 3 have been so badly exposed in defence.....

We could or should have seen that coming with the back three we picked.

Yeah I did actually...there all weak defensively especially McFadden... disappointed with Kearney to be honest.

[Notch]

there's just no attack from ireland. I'm unsure if that because NZ defence is amazing or Ireland's attack is pants.

Bit of both. We have zero ideas about how to attack with ball in hand, and haven't for a while.

[Thomond]

Trimble would have done better in defence with Bowe and Fitz out, any of our young wingers would have been exposed out here. Injuries have played their part, NZ are far better. Our attack could be better but has improved somewhat. Scrum great, lineout solid. Other facets need to be improved.

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

When was the last time a ref called a crooked feed? Well done Nige.

[Biltong]

You could sit here and criticise Ireland all you want, but hell this is just brilliant rugby from NZ

[rodders]

Cancel Christmas

[doctor_grey]

Good TRY!!!!!!!!!!

[Biltong]

Good try for Ireland.

[MMC]

The comeback is on

[wales606]

Yeah, Ireland scored!

[ME-109]

Yes its the back three it wasnt the three penalties (SOBx2 and Kearney) it wasnt the bad kick leading to the first try (Sexton) it certainly wasnt BOD tossing the ball aimlessly leading to the second try...

basic mistakes...they are playing the right game they just are giving it away...

[TycroesOsprey]

Just tuned in, Has it really been totally one sided?

Hansen looks like hes been eating a few pies.

[rodders]

McFadden you legend.....

[maestegmafia]

Well done Fergus.. Lets hope its the start of a come back...!

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

what a load of cr.p hookisms....doestn trust earls any excuse.

oh yeahGibson....just what we need Darcy and BOD...for the future what?

Maybe you are incapable of reading DOD while you defend Munster players without considering what people are actually saying. BOD doesn't trust Earls, as BOD wouln't trust Cave if he was starting. It's not a reflection on Earls as a player merely that they haven't played with each other many times and don't know each other's game. BOD needs to concentrate on his own game and not on Earls. Earls isn't helped by the dreadful display from his wingers. Grow up, take from Munster shades off and wind your neck in.

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