Ireland Tour of New Zealand 2022

First topic message reminder :

In addition to three tests, Ireland are playing 2 non-test matches against NZ Māori.  Farrell plans to take an expanded squad as a result that will allow him see a few other non-regulars perform. The newer ones may only be required for the 2 NZ Māori matches

Assuming current injuries allow some players to travel, the touring squad will likely include most of the 6N picks plus some more - up to say 42 players.  
Ireland will likely win two of the matches and things will likely go to the third test to decide matters.

Forwards 22
7 Props - Furlong, Porter, Bealham, O’Toole, Loughman?
3 Hookers - Sheehan, Herring, Heffernan?
6 Locks - Ryan, Henderson, Beirne, Baird, Treadwell, J McCarthy?
6 B/rows - VdF, Conan, Coombes, Doris, O’Mahony, Timoney? Prendergast?
Backs 20
4 SH Gibson-Park, Murray, Casey
4 10s Sexton, Carbery, H Byrne?
5 Centres Aki, Henshaw, Ringrose, Hume? Frawley?
7 Back-threes - Keenan, Lowe, Hansen, Lowry? J O’Brien?

MichaelT wrote:

If Ireland dont win now its not down to the ref.

Never thought it would be down to the ref in the first place. Not scoring and not taking penalties when you're playing against 13 men for 5-6 minutes and 14 men for 20+ mins... that's what loses a game... and every one of my other comments were all about that. But again... game has moved on... so why don't we?

NZ will go into meltdown if the ABs lose, plenty to go though.

Handling errors aargghhh

More composure Ireland

Why does Keenan wear a glove on one hand only?

RDW wrote:Why does Keenan wear a glove on one hand only?

He is going for a game of golf after, don't want to forget his glove.

ABs have been so sloppy tonight - been a long time since I've seen them make so many basic errors

Big Michael Jackson fan

Kick the ball over the fecking bar.

....Phew!

RDW wrote:ABs have been so sloppy tonight - been a long time since I've seen them make so many basic errors

Yeah, this has been one of the worst NZ performances I've ever seen.

Duty281 wrote:

RDW wrote:ABs have been so sloppy tonight - been a long time since I've seen them make so many basic errors

Yeah, this has been one of the worst NZ performances I've ever seen.

Yeah it really is, not all pressure too.

Duty281 wrote:

RDW wrote:ABs have been so sloppy tonight - been a long time since I've seen them make so many basic errors

Yeah, this has been one of the worst NZ performances I've ever seen.

Ooofff. Another knock on.

Have to agree. Strange feeling watching this match. Coz your idea of who NZ are and what they can do... has had no relation to the actual players and performance on the pitch tonight.

Really need to go for record score now

Collapse2005 wrote:Really need to go for record score now

Just want to win by 1 point at this point. Don't care about how it looks.

Nos na Gaoithe wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

RDW wrote:ABs have been so sloppy tonight - been a long time since I've seen them make so many basic errors

Yeah, this has been one of the worst NZ performances I've ever seen.

Ooofff.  Another knock on.  

Have to agree.  Strange feeling watching this match.  Coz your idea of who NZ are and what they can do... has had no relation to the actual players and performance on the pitch tonight.

This is the weakest NZ rugby has ever been. Just look at some of the results in super rugby, tahs beating Crusaders etc.

Well done the Irish! O'Mahony looks like he's having the best day of his life

Why are the ABs taking quick taps in their 22? Done a few in the game, all bad decisions.

Yay.

Nos na Gaoithe wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Really need to go for record score now

Just want to win by 1 point at this point.  Don't care about how it looks.

We can celebrate now

Congratulations Ireland. Thoroughly deserved. Better team all game.

Ireland are a top side with Sexton at 10.

Fully deserved win for Ireland.

Sounds strange to say but I don't think Ireland have learned a huge amount tonight - we know when they're on it they're one of the best teams in the world. 117 years without a win in NZ - they'll very much take the win!

NZ on the other hand will have major concerns - that's one of the worst performances I've ever seen from them, and you can't say it's an anomaly based on the last 18 months.

Well done Ireland, first win in NZ.

Brilliant win.
Sets up for a great game next Saturday.
We still need to go up another notch or two.
Great to out that to rest now. Finally a win on New Zealand soil.
Fantastic.

Look forward to the final test.
C’mon Ireland. Great stuff.

Ireland are such a crap team. The only country they can beat consistently is New Zealand

Collapse2005 wrote:Ireland are a top side with Sexton at 10.

He really is a class act. Even at his age.
Some player.

Collapse2005 wrote:So anyway apparently Sexton will be selected at 10 on Saturday. He passed his post match HIAs.

I think we are going to win on Saturday.

Called it.

Old Man wrote:Well done Ireland, first win in NZ.

First ever loss for the ABs at this stadium

Collapse2005 wrote:

Nos na Gaoithe wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Really need to go for record score now

Just want to win by 1 point at this point.  Don't care about how it looks.

We can celebrate now

Yeah. Big achievement. Feels good to be going into a final game with a real chance of winning.

Think the NZers lost discipline when they found themselves off the pace in the first 20 mins. They need to tighten up and start like they mean it next week. That will make it a completely different game.

Congrats, Ireland.  Was sure they'd find a way to balls it up but, after the lack of composure of the first half, made NZ look very ordinary.

NZ's aura has gradually disappeared since England demolished them in 2019 (though Ireland made the first dent in Chicago before that). Teams no longer fear them. Between 2004-2019 a lot of sides were beaten by NZ before they'd even stepped on the pitch. Now anyone fancies taking on NZ and since that World Cup they've lost a further six times, including v Argentina. Three defeats in four now.

NZ were put under pressure and resorted to dirty and cynical play which made them look completely average. They did the same last week and got away with some, but not this week.

Did anyone count how many players NZ had on the pitch when they went to uncontested scrums? RC +YC =13 then lose a player to go uncontested right?

So they should have been down to 12?

Were they?

But great win for Ireland.

Yes grateful that in general the ref penalised NZ appropriately.

MrsP wrote:Did anyone count how many players NZ had on the pitch when they went to uncontested scrums? RC +YC =13 then lose a player to go uncontested right?

So they should have been down to 12?

Were they?

But great win for Ireland.

That's been highlighted on social media - the officiating team got it wrong. Should have been 12.

Stupid law, but it's still a.law!

Something else NZ got away with then, again! Is it time for world rugby to have a word before the NZRU starting trying to change the laws to work in their favour?

Btw Ireland fans - is there a concern that once again Ireland are looking like world beaters a year too early?

What do they need to do to avoid the mistakes of world cups past?

RDW wrote:Btw Ireland fans - is there a concern that once again Ireland are looking like world beaters a year too early?

What do they need to do to avoid the mistakes of world cups past?

I don't think that's the problem this time round. The clear feeling in Ireland up to this game was that the bubble had burst yet again on any inflated vision of Irish global domination... Most felt we were not the team we even thought we were (which was just about being a competitive top 4 team - not close to thinking we were World No. 1).

If there's something to worry about this time... it feels more like we've got a bit of a fragile mental and physical set-up under certain situations. The Post-Schmidt reaction has meant we sometimes tend to get drawn in to hectic (go-wide-too-quick) gameplans. Or (even more disturbingly) we tend to get beaten up on the gain-line and then the whole team and team-strategy suddenly looks a bit myopic, rigid and one-dimensional.

Think the attitude for the next 12 months will be about desperately trying to patch up weakspots in our player-depth and plan B tactics... rather than thinking we just have to get safely to the WC. Given the WC draw. No one in Ireland has very high expectations!

RDW wrote:Btw Ireland fans - is there a concern that once again Ireland are looking like world beaters a year too early?

What do they need to do to avoid the mistakes of world cups past?

Maybe but are you really going to say no to a win in NZ?

Collapse2005 wrote:

RDW wrote:Btw Ireland fans - is there a concern that once again Ireland are looking like world beaters a year too early?

What do they need to do to avoid the mistakes of world cups past?

Maybe but are you really going to say no to a win in NZ?

As a Scotsman I'd take any win over NZ

My 2nd question is definitely more of a pertinent one - what do Ireland need to do in the next 12 months?

Surely Carbery needs to start some games in the autumn - there's still so much reliance on Sexton

Good win Ireland, congratulations

ABs need to do some soul searching because that effort tonight was unacceptable

ebop wrote:Good win Ireland, congratulations

ABs need to do some soul searching and the only silver lining of that sh1t show is that teams will hopefully start taking them lightly

It will be interesting to see how Ireland handle the final test remembering how they threw away a series win in SA during the Coetzee debacle.

Galted wrote:

ebop wrote:Good win Ireland, congratulations

ABs need to do some soul searching and the only silver lining of that sh1t show is that teams will hopefully start taking them lightly

It will be interesting to see how Ireland handle the final test remembering how they threw away a series win in SA during the Coetzee debacle.

To be honest, after watching the ABs tonight, they’re there for the taking and I wouldn’t usually admit to that. Good luck to them and I don’t even think they need it, lol

RDW wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

RDW wrote:Btw Ireland fans - is there a concern that once again Ireland are looking like world beaters a year too early?

What do they need to do to avoid the mistakes of world cups past?

Maybe but are you really going to say no to a win in NZ?

As a Scotsman I'd take any win over NZ

My 2nd question is definitely more of a pertinent one - what do Ireland need to do in the next 12 months?

Surely Carbery needs to start some games in the autumn - there's still so much reliance on Sexton

Yeah I’d like to see Carbery given more game time in the autumn. Also like to see more of Craig Casey.
Would like to see Baloucoune and maybe Stockdale/Larmor on the other wing.
Give Hume more game time to.

Mix it up a bit. Still got the autumn and 6 nations before the World Cup. Give newish players a run out.

See what works before the WC.

I'm with West is best there. I'd personally start Carberry in 2 matches this autumn and 2 of the 6 nations as well. I'd like to see Hume and Baloucoune feature as well.

Duty281 wrote:NZ's aura has gradually disappeared since England demolished them in 2019 (though Ireland made the first dent in Chicago before that). Teams no longer fear them. Between 2004-2019 a lot of sides were beaten by NZ before they'd even stepped on the pitch. Now anyone fancies taking on NZ and since that World Cup they've lost a further six times, including v Argentina. Three defeats in four now.

I think it was before England beating them in 2019. Ever since the 2015 world cup and losing McCaw, Woodcock, Carter, Nonu, Conrad Smith. Also SBW, Kaino, Kieran Read too since. The players now are just not the same level.

Everyone else has caught up too mind, better coaching and systems in place, especially up here. Benefits of professionalism/ where the money is.

Andy Farrell has now been involved, in some fashion, with six wins over the All Blacks: England in 2012, the Lions in 2017, and the four Irish wins.

Rugby Fan wrote:Andy Farrell has now been involved, in some fashion, with six wins over the All Blacks: England in 2012, the Lions in 2017, and the four Irish wins.

Sexton has 5 wins and a draw v NZ. Very few 10s have ever achieved that.

Really really crazy decision not to bring him on the Lions tour. Bet Gatland regrets that.

Not going to read back here either, but congratulations to the Irish guys on here. Commiserations to any NZ supporters.

The team for the second game against the Maori :

15. Michael Lowry 14. Jordan Larmour 13. Keith Earls CAPTAIN 12. Stuart McCloskey 11. Jimmy O’Brien 10. Ciaran Frawley 9. Craig Casey
1. Jeremy Loughman 2. Niall Scannell 3. Tom O’Toole 4. Joe McCarthy 5. Kieran Treadwell 6. Cian Prendergast 7. Nick Timoney 8. Gavin Coombes
Replacements
16. Rob Herring 17. Ed Byrne 18. Finlay Bealham 19. Ryan Baird 20. Jack Conan 21. Conor Murray 22. Joey Carbery 23. Mack Hansen

A very inexperienced side, and so plenty of opportunity to learn. It feels like Farrell has been forced into this by injuries, but that is what happens at World Cups and what has caused problems in the past. Not convinced by Earls at 13, but the best of luck to him in first game as captain. As an Ulster fan great to see Big Stu getting a game, his performances this season warrant it, and excited to see Lowery at full back.

Two wins on this tour is a seriously impressive return. Also to lose the first two games and then win the second two shows serious character.

Very happy for Keith Earls in particular, nice win as captain to add to his long list of achievements.