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.

Leinster winning 12-10 in Italy

What a game this is. Well played Ireland in the first half.

If Ireland win this game being the last game seeing it is the last game of the year for NZ. Then this will go down as the last game of the season sindrome. It was the last game of the year when England beat them last year.

Just keep it up Ireland that is all i have too say. Keep it up.

Should have gone for a dg.

I can't believe this - an unwell child has meant that my trip to watch the game hasn't got off the ground. In fact, I've only just switched on and seen...THIS. As a superstitious man, perhaps I shall never be able to watch Ireland in person again!

Bring back Kidney!

What a game. Going mad cheering Ireland on!

I cant believe I turned down two tickets for this game.

Brilliant surface. A rarity this AIs. And the abs will need every bit of it.

Pundits on the Beeb saying they don't know when the Kiwis were last 19-0 down in a game. I'm still afraid of complacency though - Ireland can't let the Kiwis come back early on if at all. Whoever scores first in the second half will be key.

Sounds like Best really has broken his arm too  

Support for the ball carrier and getting to the rucks has gotten slow in the last 10 minutes of the half. Need to improve on that

Looks as if Ireland are playing well because of the foundations previously built by Declan Kidney.

Please let this continue.

I do, however, remember England starting off at a barnstorming rate against the All Blacks in 1997. At the end, we were a bit lucky to hang on to a 26-26 draw. The All Blacks came back from 20-3 at half time.

For that matter, I remember what Leinster did to Saints in the Heineken.

Get some more points, boys! You are probably going to need them!

Did we only give away the one penalty? Amazing discipline if so.

HELL YEAH! No-one beats Ireland 22 times in a row!!  

We just need to keep attacking, keep up the intensity.

The Saint wrote:Looks as if Ireland are playing well because of the foundations previously built by Declan Kidney.

ha! no one taking that bait today

Ireland can hold on..

You have put this sort of performance on before just not against SH opposition.

Just keep it up and you win

Hope Wales can take some inspiration from this for next week

If Ireland can manage to keep going and win they will move to 5th in the rankings ahead of France and Wales, it won't be enough to catch England and OZ though.

There's a few England players thinking "Hey, I remember that happening to us"

Jeezus what a first half. No virus's or bugs , NZ are just getting smashed at the breakdown. Ireland have played with such intensity they look a totally different team to the one that played so badly last week. Need to keep it up and get a few more scores early.  

Would love to be in the Aviva, must be utterly electric.

mein gott, they are discussing the english worldcup win...

Quick lets talk about ENGLAND!

God bless the BBC

Biltong wrote:If Ireland can manage to keep going and win they will move to 5th in the rankings ahead of France and Wales, it won't be enough to catch England and OZ though.

Almost anything we write here is going to sound like the kiss of death.

Woodward to his credit saying we should focus on today's game. Absolutely right and good to hear. Come on Ireland!

Doc

lol that virus thing will never die will it. Omg

If you can hold on, which I hope you can just enjoy it.

The Saint wrote:It's no coincedence that when teams do actually beat NZ, which very rarely happens, it's because the opposition have shocked them early on with an extreme instensity and built a big lead early on which NZ could not fully recover from. I think Ireland will win this!

Unfortunately its no coincidence that we've never beaten the all blacks either - we have to keep this going, no actually we need to go up a gear again. We were here last summer for 70 odd minutes. I'm not sure if we can do this for 80 minutes but we'll see...

We need to go for the juggler - score at least 10-15 points.

Hope Paul O'Connel gave his 'manic fookin aggression' speech at half time?

Cmon ABs. Cmon Ireland. Commentators mentioned the Irish forwards were walking a bit. Fitness will count here as the pace turns up. ABs just need more accuracy. Less kicking short. Ball in hand. Schmidt's mum in N z will be confused!

Always go for the juggler. Annoying gits throwing their balls about. 40 minutes to go.

Id still make NZ favorites to come back and win to be honest. 2001 Ireland were 21-7 up at half time and then got hammered.

McCaw looks scarily focused. I actually think that point about team's being scared of the ABs but then turning this into a positive sometimes happens, particularly with France.

Sob forces macaw to hold on

Why are you targeting Juggler?

wolfball wrote:mein gott, they are discussing the english worldcup win...

Think it's in SCW's contract every time he's on TV they must talk about that. Self serving egotist.

Biltong wrote:If Ireland can manage to keep going and win they will move to 5th in the rankings ahead of France and Wales, it won't be enough to catch England and OZ though.

Balls to the rankings! If we win this I want Ireland to withdraw from International rugby!

Rugby Fan wrote:

Biltong wrote:If Ireland can manage to keep going and win they will move to 5th in the rankings ahead of France and Wales, it won't be enough to catch England and OZ though.

Almost anything we write here is going to sound like the kiss of death.

are you a superstitious bloke mate?

justified sinner wrote:

wolfball wrote:mein gott, they are discussing the english worldcup win...

Think it's in SCW's contract every time he's on TV they must talk about that. Self serving egotist.

He didn't bring it up. He was asked about it and he said lets focus on this as its much more important now!
Sit down.

Nigel's having communication problems, so there's a bit of a lull...Chilli looking a lot more relaxed than he did before the first half kicked off. Good to see, if Ireland can relax a bit, but stay focussed and confident, then they can hang on.

Irish loosies have tgd better. We need mess am on.

Usually I don't support a NH side against the SH teams, but I will support Ireland in this match, the passion they are playing with is fantastic

All I can say is that this kiwi side as proven 3 games on the spin are not the greatest sporting side ever. Marginally the best rugby side s the best tag I can give them..

No disrespect to Ireland. Now come on and finish the job..

That was a knock in by Healy surely?

Biltong wrote:

Rugby Fan wrote:

Biltong wrote:If Ireland can manage to keep going and win they will move to 5th in the rankings ahead of France and Wales, it won't be enough to catch England and OZ though.

Almost anything we write here is going to sound like the kiss of death.

are you a superstitious bloke mate?

Kiss of death...kiss of death...kiss of death:D 

I wonder does Luke Romano know who Paul OConnell is now.

Irish indiscipline starting to creep in though...don't give them points lads FFS! If you're going to lose, do it cause they scored more tries.

Good old Nigel

Quality ref

mystiroakey wrote:All I can say is that this kiwi side as proven 3 games on the spin are not the greatest sporting side ever. Marginally the best rugby side s the best tag I can give them..

No disrespect to Ireland. Now come on and finish the job..

Best ever mysti...even than the Spanish wendyball side. Who never have to keep winning after they've won it all.

YES! What an intercept by Tommy!  

Giving away penalties now