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]

Jonnys restarts have not been great

[clivemcl]

Feicing Kidney. All his fault that we have no discipline.

[Gibson]

Yo!

[rodders]

Great turnover!! Come on lads big 5 minutes here!!!!

[Cari]

ooh an Irish penalty! Shame it's not kickable for points.

[clivemcl]

Stupid kick!

[rodders]

Terrible from Sexton there....

[Suspicious lurker]

Jesus this is frustrating

[Cari]

Oh bum burgers. I see what Sexytoes was trying to do there...

[clivemcl]

That was nice...

[Gibson]

Mon Leinster!

[Cari]

COME ON LADS!!!!

[Suspicious lurker]

Keep a hold if the ball ffs


Need to go in ahead at half time

[rodders]

Brilliant by McCaw... some nice stuff there from us though....

[Cari]

Commentator "McCaw the master of the dark arts..."

[Cari]

Noooo Ferg!!!!

[Guest]

oh Ireland ffs! so many stupid penalties!

Kicking game needs to improve as well for the 2nd half.

[Gibson]

Shiiiit! Wrong decision lads.

[clivemcl]

McFadden again

[rodders]

Stupid penalty....

Doesn't matter this is great stuff lads.... keep this going..... 100%

[Cari]

Carter for once, please miss this!

[Cari]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers Din!!

[Biltong]

I can't see how Ireland can be penalised there, the All Blacks are doing the same at every ruck. They effectively just push the first arrivals so they "roll over" the ball

[clivemcl]

Yeoooooooo we are winning!!!!

[Guest]

ooof short, lucky there for Ireland.

Don't think 1point is going to be enough for yous though. Huge effort from you guys, but can you keep it up for the full 80?

Great watching so far though.

[nobbled]

Good stuff Ireland!

[Gibson]

Grand. Ireland leading NZ at HT. When did that last happen? Should be further ahead as well. Unreal.

McLaughlin is making a huge differ at the breakdown. Key.

[rodders]

Fantastic half..... Believe lads..... believe...

Hold nothing back, you are 40 minutes from immortality!

[Pal Joey]

I thought the first 20-25 mins Ireland played so much better than last week and were dictating play.

NZ back in the game through a few indiscretions which you can't afford against the ABs.

[Suspicious lurker]

I'm.pulling my hair out watching this, such a stupid performance from the lads, do they not realise we need the ball to score??? Na let's just keep kicking it away, we've a Leinster back line that cut Europe to shreds by running the ball but all the do is kick



AAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH


FRUSTRATION!!!

[Thomond]

Commentator "McCaw the master of the dark arts..."

I thought that was Snape?


Short. 10-9. Ireland, it's those feicing penalties. The All Blacks haven't created anything of note, we're letting them back into it by our lack of disicipline. Feck sake Kidney, get it sorted.


We need to step it up though, need a few penalties and possibly another try.

[yappysnap]

Ireland stop kicking the ball away!!

[Ozzy3213]

That could be a big miss from Carter in terms of the Ireland psychology on this game. Go in behind at the break and it could be all over, but just ahead they will be in a better frame of mind. Dan Tuohy is putting in a shift out there.

Morning all.

[Pal Joey]

Grand. Ireland leading NZ at HT. When did that last happen? Should be further ahead as well. Unreal.

McLaughlin is making a huge differ at the breakdown. Key.

2006? in Hamilton... when they were leading 25-15? at one stage.

[rodders]

Billser called it lads! BELIEVE

[Guest]

Close game, well done Ireland. Bit scrappy from ABs, but that's due to good pressure. The ABs backline aren't doing much either, yet

[clivemcl]

I can't see how Ireland can be penalised there, the All Blacks are doing the same at every ruck. They effectively just push the first arrivals so they "roll over" the ball

I agree, I don't like it, it's very difficult to avoid. But it is in the rule book...

[Guest]

If Hoog stops posting, I think we can assume he's spontaneously combusted.....

Have a calming


Ireland need to improve their kicking game, their chase is not good at all and they are just gifting the ball back to NZ. The Irish defence has been superb so far, but I don't know how long they can keep playing like that. The signs of tiring were already there end of the first half with the stupid penalties,

Go through the phases more, kick and chase better, and keep rattling NZ. Tis possible.

[asoreleftshoulder]

I can't see how Ireland can be penalised there, the All Blacks are doing the same at every ruck. They effectively just push the first arrivals so they "roll over" the ball

Yeah I though the same,it's the standard way NZ flood the rucks and there are bodies everywhere.

Still great 1st 20 minutes and good defence for the last 20,we need to sort out the lineouts,scrums and restarts.It's not like we've played the perfect game,we haven't but we're still ahead however to win this game we need ratchet it up again.

[clivemcl]

WAIT! If we win, will kidney get a contract extension?

[rodders]

The ABs are seriously rattled here...but for some silly errors from us they wouldn't be in the game so far...

We must believe here, stay composed... use the maul, vary the attacks, retain posession.

This game is there to be won.

[wolfball]

Take the line outs and scrums from last week and the rest of the performance this week and we look a good team. Restarts are dire though.

[yappysnap]

Big opening 20 in the second half and you've won this, probably just need one more try.

[Thomond]

Kick for territory don't just put up those stupid Garryowens. When we kicked for the line we were doing well.

[asoreleftshoulder]

The ABs are seriously rattled here...but for some silly errors from us they wouldn't be in the game so far...

We must believe here, stay composed... use the maul, vary the attacks, retain posession.

This game is there to be won.

I wonder how many teams have gone in at half time thinking that

In fairness it has been a hugely improved performance and Kidney,Kiss,Smal etc.. deserve a lot of credit for the turnaround.

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Commentator "McCaw the master of the dark arts..."

I thought that was Snape?

Actually Dumbledore had some serious selection problems in this stage of his career. Snape was crying out for selection- he certainly had the skills for the role, but Dumbledore was just too conservative to be honest. You have to pick wizards on form and Dumbledore didn't and he paid the price.

[doctor_grey]

I just woke up. And what do I see? Ireland on the up 10-9! Cripe, more of a wake-up than my morning coffee!

How do the boys in green look? The NZ broadcast just showed the half-time stats which are in the ABs favour. But how do Ireland look?

[rodders]

We must sort out the set piece here though... the restarts too...

Come lads... get ready for an AB hurricane here!! BELIEVE!!!

[yappysnap]

Never heard of Sam Kane

[Otagolad]

Do Ireland truely believe - my prediction is an AB win by 20 by the end. The Irish were good for the first 20 but have had no possession since then and I expect that to continue for the rest of the game - there is no way Ireland can defend for 40 mins and not concede quite a few points.

All credit to Ireland though as they have really ripped in to the AB's, especially at the rucks.

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