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

[doctor_grey]

Weepu looks thinner with his new short haircut.

[wales606]

By the way Mr Kiwi or Mr Bilty mod.. Can we get a 3 lions emotion?

Can we get a daffodil hat emoticon?

Don't worry, I found something better...

[2ndtimeround]

Got to say as a neutral I feel Nigel Owen is much quicker to penalise Ireland than he is NZ.
Don't think it would have changed the game massively had he got his balance right but its tough enough playing the best team in the world without other little differences going against u.

[Thomond]

There's a jersey for Fitz if he wants it. He needs to work on his fitness a lot. Adam Jones had problems like that at the beginning of his career so it is correctable.

[rodders]

Ireland are rubbish

+ 10 million

[ME-109]

FFS Loughney and DOC should be playing AIB rugby....wasters the pair of them.

Well rodders I have seen more of DOC than Tuohy in the 10 mins he has been on...DOC should start next week.

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

I understand that you are talking cr/p and living in lala land. The swearing is because of stupidity of the argument.

All you see is a Munster player being criticised and you throw your toys out of the pram. Your posts on DOC, ROG and Sexton are embarrassing and you are nothing more than a parody of a one eyed fan. So let's all just agree with you, Murray superb and not painfully slow distribution and poor box kicking, Zebo positionally and defensively excellent, and ROG Ireland's saviour by taking over from the worse 10 in northern hemisphere rugby.

[MMC]

Could we give the Leinster v Munster shyte a rest? One of reasons I don't post that much any more... especially for Ireland related stuff.

[LondonTiger]

By the way Mr Kiwi or Mr Bilty mod.. Can we get a 3 lions emotion?

If you can find me a link to a suitable pic ...

Please not 3 lions, although th ecricketers use it as well it is really a footie thing. Cross of St George or though it pains me to see the wrong colour a red rose (which we kin of have) are better.

[Gibson]

Weel, lets look at this way, at least we know where we really stand. On our arse. And yes, this is not all Kidneys fault. AB's just far too good.

But we have run them so much closer in the past. Not even near them here.

That scoreline is flattering.

[LondonTiger]

I wish they would stop apologising for foul language that we never notice

[doctor_grey]

The NZ commentators are complementary towards Zebo.

[maestegmafia]

If ROG is finished...then Sexton hasnt even started...bring on Madigan or even better JJ Hanrahan..Sexton is not intl class.

Sexton is the best 10 in NH.

doesnt say much about the NH then

Sexton is not the best ten in the NH...

But he has not been the problem for ireland.. Selection is, they should have bloodied new players when they had chances too... THey look old and tired.. What is heaslip and ROG doing out there...

Need some youth, need a few ball carriers in the backs and forwards. And you cant have Earls vs SBW

[rodders]

FFS Loughney and DOC should be playing AIB rugby....wasters the pair of them.

Well rodders I have seen more of DOC than Tuohy in the 10 mins he has been on...DOC should start next week.

Tuohy didn't do enough really but the scrum was certainly more solid when he and Fitz were there.

Donners has done plenty of flopping around over the top of the rucks and standing with his arm in the air to be fair.....

[wales606]

Healy looks bad - worrying for Ireland hopes in the next tests - not that they really have any.

[Rava]

IMO we are seriously short of International class players. Our lack of depth at this level is so cruelly exposed. We have six or seven players today who could clearly compete for a place on the All Black squad. No more than that.

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Hook while you are talking absolute cr.p and you know it. Have you been talking to BOD during the game clearly he has told you he doesnt trust earls. How the f.ck can you tell you dope. Its international rugby they play in their positions and trust each other. There is absolutely nothing in the way they have played that you can tell that.

The fact is that certain players while looking flash in the hc are just not at the races internationally. Oh and Zebo has done ok with the ball he has seen and hasnt lost it or made any mistakes...isnt getting much help though.

Lay off the swearing and the personal attacks DOD

[LondonTiger]

uncontested scrums now I guess

[Gibson]

Fair enuf MMC. Old habits die hard. Its pointless. You are right.

Mon Ireland givvis a try!

[Thomond]

Healy's gone, feic.

[HERSH]

ha ha

[rodders]

The NZ commentators are complementary towards Zebo.

Yup hes done well imo, looked dangerous in attack.

[Notch]

As much as we say there is a gap in class, and regardless of our tactics or selection there very much is, it illustrates why Kidney will go sooner or later. He has no idea how we can close that gap and he never will.

I'm not even sticking the boot in now, I'm just sad. I haven't seen any evidence he knows how we'll get into the Top Three in the World Rankings again, or even the Top Five. He doesn't know how we can do it.

[LondonTiger]

ha ha

Careful HERSH. He who laughs last, laughs longest.

[doctor_grey]

I haven't eaten breakfast yet. Kind of lost my appetitie.

[rodders]

Rubbish from ROG.....total tom kite across the board..... this is embaressing ....

[doctor_grey]

As much as we say there is a gap in class, and regardless of our tactics or selection there very much is, it illustrates why Kidney will go sooner or later. He has no idea how we can close that gap and he never will.

I'm not even sticking the boot in now, I'm just sad. I haven't seen any evidence he knows how we'll get into the Top Three in the World Rankings again, or even the Top Five. He doesn't know how we can do it.

Notch, Ireland could have God's gift to coaches today and it wouldn't make a difference. It is the gap in talent, conditioning, and class.

[LondonTiger]

Smith definitely held back, I thought

[wales606]

Smith was pulled back there - should be a YC if its been seen.

[rodders]

As much as we say there is a gap in class, and regardless of our tactics or selection there very much is, it illustrates why Kidney will go sooner or later. He has no idea how we can close that gap and he never will.

I'm not even sticking the boot in now, I'm just sad. I haven't seen any evidence he knows how we'll get into the Top Three in the World Rankings again, or even the Top Five. He doesn't know how we can do it.

Notch, Ireland could have God's gift to coaches today and it wouldn't make a difference. It is the gap in talent, conditioning, and class.

On this evidence I can't argue with that....we are miles of the top teams now.

[doctor_grey]

Should have been yellow on Cave. Lucky to get away with that. Or maybe pity by Nigel.

[LondonTiger]

Ireland turnover NZ ball and kick it straight back to them.

NZ turnover ball and attack.

[LondonTiger]

Cruden has looked good.

[Notch]

As much as we say there is a gap in class, and regardless of our tactics or selection there very much is, it illustrates why Kidney will go sooner or later. He has no idea how we can close that gap and he never will.

I'm not even sticking the boot in now, I'm just sad. I haven't seen any evidence he knows how we'll get into the Top Three in the World Rankings again, or even the Top Five. He doesn't know how we can do it.

Notch, Ireland could have God's gift to coaches today and it wouldn't make a difference. It is the gap in talent, conditioning, and class.

On this evidence I can't argue with that....we are miles of the top teams now.

Yeah exactly. And a good coach who gets all 15 players playing as more than the sum of their parts and believing in their gameplan and themselves can close that gap. Maybe not enough for us to win. But at least we might get better.

[doctor_grey]

Well, I think the best player on the pitch today just jot his deserved try.

[wales606]

Smith deserved that try, he's been immense all game.

[rodders]

The AB's have been awesome

[Gibson]

NZ offloading is like watching really good porn.

I mean its just horny stuff to watch.

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

A lot of negatively, but I thought the pack did pretty well for most of the match. Murray's passing was slow at times and a couple of bad box kicks but did ok. Sexton did not too bad but needs quicker ball. The outside backs were an utter shambles. I don't know who is to blame, the IRFU or Kidney, but why on earth we don't have a backs coach is beyond me. They look utterly clueless.

[Knowsit17]

Morning gents. Just catching the final few mins and Smith has just put on the icing. I gather Savea has had a great debut.

Winding me up seeing O'Gara in a green shirt. What does he have to do to get dropped?

[doctor_grey]

At least I can now go out and get some bagels for breakfast.

[Gibson]

A lot of negatively, but I thought the pack did pretty well for most of the match. Murray's passing was slow at times and a couple of bad box kicks but did ok. Sexton did not too bad but needs quicker ball. The outside backs were an utter shambles. I don't know who is to blame, the IRFU or Kidney, but why on earth we don't have a backs coach is beyond me. They look utterly clueless.

Its been like that for 3/4 years now. I wonder does anyone at the IRFU notice it?

I know, I'll pen them a stiff letter... that'll sort it.

Thank Christ that's over.

[doctor_grey]

...........I don't know who is to blame, the IRFU or Kidney.............

The only blame belongs to the All Blacks. Blame them. They are solely responsbile for this.

[LondonTiger]

Well, absolute thumping. Hope Wales do better.

[Guest]

Hookisms - I thought in the 1st half for sure, your backs looked a lot better then they have for ages (I'm not sure that's saying a lot)


Conditioning has to be worked on for the Irish players, there were far too many looking out of shape today.

Good effort, some great defence at times, but discipline and basic errors cost you guys against yet another NZ that is just so, so clinical. Some beautiful rugby on display from them at times.

Da iawn NZ and commiserations to Ireland. Your new TH looks like he could be a little gem mind!

[mystiroakey]

By the way Mr Kiwi or Mr Bilty mod.. Can we get a 3 lions emotion?

If you can find me a link to a suitable pic ...

Please not 3 lions, although th ecricketers use it as well it is really a footie thing. Cross of St George or though it pains me to see the wrong colour a red rose (which we kin of have) are better.

I am talking for football- there is a footy forum on here as well Mr tiger!!!, just because you are a bigger cat there is no need to feel superior..

[offload]

Brilliant by NZ. The score flattered Ireland.

[2ndtimeround]

I wouldn't be to critical of the Irish players at the moment, the All Blacks look sublime now the pressure of winning the WC has been lifted.
That was possibly the most confident performance I've ever watched by any team against another top 10 side.
I doubt any of the NH teams would have fared any better today.

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

New Zealand were very good, but looked liked they were in third gear and could have stepped it up if they wanted. The score flattered us if truth be told. In offense in the first half our backs looked ok, Earls looked sharp and Zebo did not too bad. But in defense they were as poor as I have seen an Irish back line in a long time. I honestly can't remember a worse performance from BOD in an international.

[rodders]

Well played NZ

Reality check for us, pack isn't good enough, no game plan in attack and far too many handling errors.

Apart from our breakdown work there is no facet of our game which is top class right now.

This is going to be a long 3 weeks but in the long term this will hopefully benefit us. No pain no gain....

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