Ireland v New Zealand

First topic message reminder :

Right what's done is done regarding Aus. Time to move on and look forward to the ABs. This could be one to watch from behind the couch.

I don't expect any major changes in the team. Murray for Redden being the only obvious change, possibly at tighthead, possibly in the second row. Sexton is doubtful, maybe Earls is available.

My only expectation for this game is for an improved performance as the required level of aggressiveness was just non existent last Saturday. Otherwise we are looking at some hammering.

Without stating the obvious...I would like to see our players try to copy the All Blacks in certain aspects of the game. Namely
1. Passing the ball to another Irish player who is moving forwards and preferably in space
2. When running with the ball try to avoid the opposition players as much as possible instead of seeking out contact.
that is all.

Suas an bothair agus ar aghaidh an tarbh.

Updated with Teams
All Blacks
15 Dagg,14 jane, 13 B Smith, 12 Nonu, 11 Savea, 10 Cruden, 9 A Smith
8 Read, 7 McCaw, 6 Luatua, 5 Whitelock, , 4 Romano, 3 Faumoina, 2 Hore , 1 Crockett

Ireland
R Kearney; T Bowe, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, D Kearney; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross, D Toner, P O’Connell, P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, J Heaslip.
Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath, D Fitzpatrick, M McCarthy, K McLaughlin, I Boss, I Madigan, L Fitzgerald.

ME-109 wrote:
But Bluemuff didn't bring up Kidney nor did I except in rebuttal. BM just criticised Joes selection that is all. You are the one making (incorrect) comparisons with Kidney. All that is being pointed out are the inconsistencies with Joes selections, even Kidney had dispensed with Darcy at the end of the 6ns. What would you like me to complain about for Kidney. Our Grandslam, our best ever World cup, beating a SH team away from home. The goals for Schmidt are clear in terms of what he has to achieve. What is wrong with having this expectation? Kidney is the past...only you or other blue rinsed brigade members seem to be obsessed with him.

This link would suggest that Kidney only gave Marshall a game after D'Arcy was injured,Schmidt has already given Marshall a game against superior opposition and he didn't wait til his hand was forced,that's being proactive not reactive.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/2013/0215/367990-darcy-is-ruled-out-of-6-nations/

I don't want you to complain about anything for Kidney you made it clear that you believed the underachievement of his sides was more down to a decline in the talent available and bad luck with injuries.I simply ask that you be consistent and afford the same leeway to Schmidt,I lost patience with Kidney around the AI's 2010 so if things don't improve in the 6N and definitely by next years AI's I will be criticising Schmidt.that's being consistent in my standards.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

ME-109 wrote:
But Bluemuff didn't bring up Kidney nor did I except in rebuttal. BM just criticised Joes selection that is all. You are the one making (incorrect) comparisons with Kidney. All that is being pointed out are the inconsistencies with Joes selections, even Kidney had dispensed with Darcy at the end of the 6ns. What would you like me to complain about for Kidney. Our Grandslam, our best ever World cup, beating a SH team away from home. The goals for Schmidt are clear in terms of what he has to achieve. What is wrong with having this expectation? Kidney is the past...only you or other blue rinsed brigade members seem to be obsessed with him.

This link would suggest that Kidney only gave Marshall a game after D'Arcy was injured,Schmidt has already given Marshall a game against superior opposition and he didn't wait til his hand was forced,that's being proactive not reactive.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/2013/0215/367990-darcy-is-ruled-out-of-6-nations/  

I don't want you to complain about anything for Kidney you made it clear that you believed the underachievement of his sides was more down to a decline in the talent available and bad luck with injuries.I simply ask that you be consistent and afford the same leeway to Schmidt,I lost patience with Kidney around the AI's 2010 so if things don't improve in the 6N and definitely by next years AI's I will be criticising Schmidt.that's being consistent in my standards.

...and absolutely nothing to do wit the consistency of the same players... good one.

Taylorman wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

ME-109 wrote:
But Bluemuff didn't bring up Kidney nor did I except in rebuttal. BM just criticised Joes selection that is all. You are the one making (incorrect) comparisons with Kidney. All that is being pointed out are the inconsistencies with Joes selections, even Kidney had dispensed with Darcy at the end of the 6ns. What would you like me to complain about for Kidney. Our Grandslam, our best ever World cup, beating a SH team away from home. The goals for Schmidt are clear in terms of what he has to achieve. What is wrong with having this expectation? Kidney is the past...only you or other blue rinsed brigade members seem to be obsessed with him.

This link would suggest that Kidney only gave Marshall a game after D'Arcy was injured,Schmidt has already given Marshall a game against superior opposition and he didn't wait til his hand was forced,that's being proactive not reactive.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/2013/0215/367990-darcy-is-ruled-out-of-6-nations/  

I don't want you to complain about anything for Kidney you made it clear that you believed the underachievement of his sides was more down to a decline in the talent available and bad luck with injuries.I simply ask that you be consistent and afford the same leeway to Schmidt,I lost patience with Kidney around the AI's 2010 so if things don't improve in the 6N and definitely by next years AI's I will be criticising Schmidt.that's being consistent in my standards.

...and absolutely nothing to do wit the consistency of the same players... good one.

I have no idea what you're trying to say here?

That's fair enough. I am fully behind Schmidt and he has two years to prove himself. I am happy to put the Redden thing down to learning experience...and he has always been a fan of Darcy so am not too bothered with that.,,,

Anyhow I fully believe we will win tomorrow...25-15.

What worries me is if we manage to exactly recreate Leinster at their very best... that still isn't good enough. I'm concerned that Schmidt is trying to recreate what he had there and not build something new. I hope that I am wrong- it must surely just be a short term solution?

I think we'll only see any benefit from the new coaching team in the Six Nations. I hope that we see guys from the other provinces integrated better, because there is definitely some talent out there we can use.

But Schmidt talking very highly of Paddy Jackson and Robbie Henshaw this week as players with a big future shows what may happen down the line.

That would be a concern but I think the 6ns should tell us more.

Ireland 35-17 New Zealand

Gordon D'Arcy hattrick- mark my words  

Has henshaw even been that good this season? I haven't watched every game but he hasn't looked as good as last year IMO. Maybe it's easier to make an impression from fullback though

Pace kills us.  Has been doing so now regularly for a number of seasons.  The Welsh game in last year's Six Nations is a prime example.  We used our pace in the first half to get a head start on them, then we faded badly as they felt they had nothing to lose and ran balls at high pace from everywhere.

It's Ireland's soft underbelly, they dread when a game opens up and becomes an offloading free for all.  They panic and crumble because there are players out there who don't trust each other and feel they have to think and do too much when the game gets hot - so systems collapse because individual players don't trust other players to do their job.

That might gradually change over time as Schmidt tries to bed down the idea of a more collective team confidence.  But the Catch 22 on that deal is that you have to learn how to win again to help the collective confidence along.

New Zealand and Australia were never going to be the ideal opponents for a confident beginning to the term of a new coach.

So........... New Zealand will certainly bring pace and creativity to their game at some point in the 80 (and they're much better at it even than Wales) so we could easily fall asunder again and let them have their cricket score.

I'm tying to feel more confident for the team this time round but my instincts are again leaning to a comfortable New Zealand win.  The talk in camp seems to be all centred around psycological plasters to shore up some hope that passion might do it.  Passion could do it, but technique and time is what Schmidt has.  Unfortunately, this game is just way too early for him.

Notch wrote:Ireland 35-17 New Zealand

Gordon D'Arcy hattrick- mark my words  

Hah

Ireland by 10, history being made today

I knew that come match day, I would be all confident again. Ireland by 3

Afternoon All  

Excited? Nervous? I'm the former. I really hope this is a good game after the standard Welsh and Scottish matches.

Notch - we all know that if there's gonna be an Irish hat trick, it'll be Tommy's doing  

Come on Ireland!  

Good to see some more optimism from the Irish camp. Getting nervous now as this record means a lot and the team deserves to win it but nothing is given and NZ has to earn the win. Savea is going to play?

Not nervous at all here Cari, anything within 20 points of the AB's will be a result for me. Just want to see Ireland play some dynamic rugby to be honest.

Are Ireland playing in white today or is that just their underwear they're running around in?

Sonia says "...Good luck" to Joe Schmidt and he says "Need some". Now I appreciate Joe's honesty, but that doesn't sound positive.

Actually just saw then Savea and Sexton passed fit so that is pleasing.

I am still really peeved that D'Arcy gets to start.

Ireland look just like England with that big, white o2 kit. Not a good omen...

Good luck Ireland!  

Nachos Jones wrote:I am still really peeved that D'Arcy gets to start.

Bit late now Nachos  

Looks like Ireland will be the All Whites today.

Sonia: "How do you beat the All Blacks"
Hansen: "Play better than them".

Well there's insight for you... 

Yeah I know its too late Cari but it still peeves me. Just cant see BOD and D'Arcy stopping Nonu and Smith, 10 years ago maybe but not now.

Well let's hope they can play like it's 2003.

The game hasn't sold out then, or is everyone still at the bar?

I guess its pretty much a farewell game for D'Arcy though so I hope he plays well.

Cari wrote:Well let's hope they can play like it's 2003.

The game hasn't sold out then, or is everyone still at the bar?

It's become a bloody nuisance problem with new fancy stadiums in Ireland...the late,late walk in with pints in hands. Grand stuff for the atmosphere but don't blame fans I suppose, blame the architects for making backstage much too comfortable

Well that Kiwi player's beard is much bigger than D'Arcy's so they have an advantage already...

Bit of a young guns look to the ABs. McCaw aiming for a record 13 the win over Ireland.
Luatua and perenara ones to watch and never dismiss a very cheeky, fendy Cory Jane, dagg will be happy to have his wingman and partner in crime back, the two go back a while.

Awh POM getting all emotional  

POM looks up for it...

Some of those Irish boys are looking nervous...hopefully they can turn those nerves into courage.

Haka...cmon cian...perenara looks ready to go! Cmon ABs

Crowd seem up for it anyway

Love a bit of Nige.

Who was that bringing the ball on?

Give it to em seanie

Great work from best

Hee hee POM showing some passion

SOB says sit down!

D'Arcy held by the beard...

Sexton cruden match up will be interesting. First of many perhaps.

Great start

You know if Ireland can play like this for the full 80...this could be an awesome game!  

good start by Ireland . try coming up

MURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Looks like a try

WOoooooo

I'd say that's a try given the reaction from the players.  Matthews reckon it could be a knock on, but it's given so feck it!

YES IRELAND!!!!! 

Great stuff from Connor Murray

I really hope that Ireland can maintain this sort of play now. Come on Ireland - BELIEVE!!!!

Shocking TMO decision.... shocking

Well that should never have been.given but keep going Ireland.

silence for the kick . now that's respect