Ireland vs New Zealand 2nd Test: Team announcements and matchday thread.

[Biltong]

First topic message reminder :

Sorry boys new thread other one is full.


Venue for the 2nd test: AMI Stadium (Addington) - formerly Rugby League Park Christchurch
Capacity: 26,000 incl. temporary seating
Weather http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2192362 (current forecast for Saturday evening is around 3 degrees C and light rain. But last week's snow has melted at least)


courtesy of Taylorman:

NZ team named- only one change- Thompson for Vito (injured) with Sam Cane on the bench...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7098902/Thomson-in-for-Vito-Cane-on-All-Blacks-bench

All Blacks: Israel Dagg, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Adam Thomson, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Hika Elliot, Ben Franks, Sam Cane, Ali Williams, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith

Irish team:
15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
9 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 - Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
5 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
6 - Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
7 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 - Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17 - Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon/Ulster)
18 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
19 - Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 - Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)


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

[GunsGerms]

Come on DC give us a smile

[GunsGerms]

Are we in for another savea hiding?

[Cari]

Oh here we go....the Great Anthem Massacre....

[GunsGerms]

Go on Rebecca!!

[SecretFly]

Quinny is commentating again!

Gawd that Irish music is embarrassing though isn't it?

Why? It's what people think of us. We had a comedy skit on RTE after the football game against France. A German smug B*****d telling us all to "Put down the spud and listen to this" It was funny but it's true - that's the perception. Why U2 it when you can snigger with the diddledee, idledee stuff.

[Cari]

Ireeeeleeeeend Bloody awful love. Sit down.

[Gibson]

Well done Christchurch, for building that stadium in a year. Following a terrible year for the City. Lest we forget. For all those who suffered. Respect

[Thomond]

Well that's it we've already lost. That was even worse than usual.

[Cari]

I thought that was Regan King for a moment singing!

Fly - Ha I know. They might as well ad a few spuds flying around then too!

[Cari]

Well done Christchurch, for building that stadium in a year. Following a terrible year for the City. Lest we forget. For all those who suffered. Respect

+ 1 Yeah this is a special night for them. I'm not sure that bodes well for Ireland though!

[Thomond]

Quinny is commentating again!

Gawd that Irish music is embarrassing though isn't it?

Why? It's what people think of us. We had a comedy skit on RTE after the football game against France. A German smug B*****d telling us all to "Put down the spud and listen to this" It was funny but it's true - that's the perception. Why U2 it when you can snigger with the diddledee, idledee stuff.

That was probably the best Apres Match ever. Up there with them anyway.

[dogtooth]

again new zealand manage to murder a visitors anthem.

[Cari]

Haka Time! Can't touch this...

[SecretFly]

I thought that was Regan King for a moment singing!

Fly - Ha I know. They might as well ad a few spuds flying around then too!

against Spain I meant, of course....!!!

[SecretFly]

I hope Murray did a lot of training this week with hot rocks....

[GunsGerms]

Donnacha Ryan permanently looks like he is looking for a scrap in front of a chippers.

[Pal Joey]

There's yer man looking up for it Cari...

[Cari]

BOD looked like he was dying to laugh then. Attractive lot when they do the Haka arent they?

[Gibson]

Well done Christchurch, for building that stadium in a year. Following a terrible year for the City. Lest we forget. For all those who suffered. Respect

+ 1 Yeah this is a special night for them. I'm not sure that bodes well for Ireland though!

In the grand scale of things, does it really matter? The stadium has been Blessed with its 1st Haka. Grand. So grand.

[rodders]

Supercharged Haka and anthem there from NZ!

Come on Ireland! Do it for Billy!!!

[GunsGerms]

There's no need for Murray to start. Wrong call once again.

[Cari]

There's yer man looking up for it Cari...

Which one? Ferg? Chilli?

Morning Breaker by the way. My mate is Oz is going to our match later. Uber jealous I am.

[Suspicious lurker]

Well this will be interesting

[Taylorman]

Stadium is small and should be similar to the club rugby atmosphere uk players are used to such is the closeness to the sideline.

Patronising or what!

In case you didn't realise Taylorman most of Ireland isn't in the UK, and there are a few stadia bigger than your average NZ back yard.

To be honest Auk, the capacity of RDS Arena is only 18,500, Thomond Park is only 26,500, Ravenhill is only 12,300 and Galway Sportsgrounds is only 9,500 so actually AMI Stadium which was put together in less than a year and holds 21,000 isn't too bad. So frankly, Taylorman is dead right even if he said the UK rather than a European club ground.

TM's implication is that Ireland will be more at home in a small ground i.e. condescending. Given his subsequent post, maybe he didn't mean to be, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Rugby is a minority sport in Ireland so yes the club grounds are small, but the National team very rarely plays in them, in fact they have played far more at the 82k capacity Croke Park in recent years with the touchlines about 10m in from the stands.

Not that i need to be given any benefit of any doubt aukster but if you read my post it specifically referred to club rugby NOT Ireland. Im not naive enough to not know the capacitys of landsdowne road or Croke park. The words were a reflection of BOD himself but in any case to look out for anything in that post suggests a little anxiety perhaps.
Anyway. .Enjoy the game....now that...could be taken as condascending... perhaps.

[Cari]

Gibbo - not really, I'm sure it creates an intense atmosphere for everyone there.

[Suspicious lurker]

EVERYTIME REF!!!

[rodders]

Good defence so far but we're committing too many men to the tackle.

[GunsGerms]

Bad start for sbw

[FerN]

Was that a kick in SBW's face? Or is that bruise from just sliding on the grass?

[Pal Joey]

There's yer man looking up for it Cari...

Which one? Ferg? Chilli?

Morning Breaker by the way. My mate is Oz is going to our match later. Uber jealous I am.

Tommy. (not good on the nicknames)
I've got my tickets for next week too.

[Gibson]

Kiwis are so fired up. Need to hold them out for a bit

MILES FORWARD!

[Suspicious lurker]

I REALLY REALLY DISLIKE SBW

[Suspicious lurker]

GREAT TACKLE FROM ROB KEARNEY

[Cari]

Is he there watching?! I missed that Breaker!

[rodders]

Waken up!!

Shambolic start by us.

[FerN]

Doesn't look to good for Ireland

[MMC]

Argh! Can't get a link that works! Could someone PM me one that does please??

[Gibson]

Go Jonny!

[rodders]

Awesome kick by Sexton!

[GunsGerms]

Nice play Ireland. Need some big hits!!

[Thomond]

MMC. Mail

[Suspicious lurker]

Everytime ref!!!

[Cari]

MMC - YOU HAVE MAIL.

[Gibson]

MON Leinster! Wheres Reddan? And Brad. And Isa?

[Suspicious lurker]

Superb kick from jonny

[Pal Joey]

oops Cari... it was Sexton of course.

nice touch finder.

[FerN]

Maybe Ireland can make something of this

[Gibson]

Jeeezuzz Murray!

[rodders]

Much better lads!

[Cari]

Breaker

Penalty Ireland!

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