RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland
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Gordon D’Arcy: All Blacks don’t know how to be underdogs and Ireland can exploit that
New Zealand have been lightly raced coming into Rugby World Cup quarter-final
Nugget 1:
"From a New Zealand perspective though it’s been all too easy, and I have my doubts about how beneficial it’s been for a group that has struggled consistently for form under Ian Foster to a point where they felt the need to parachute Joe Schmidt into the mix to try and bring direction and stability.
I know from experience that Joe instils confidence in players over time, but he hasn’t really had a great deal of that nor is he driving the ship. Ian Foster is still at the helm and from the outside looks keen to reinforce that at every opportunity in the media."
Nugget 2:
"This match is historic in many ways, Ireland the number one team desperate to break their quarter-final glass ceiling, New Zealand desperate to salvage respect at home to an unforgiving fan base that demands success; the winner more than likely to make a World Cup final.
Ireland have grown accustomed to the pressure that has come with being world number. They know they will have to be good, create and execute try scoring opportunities but there is a calmness about their approach.
This has been the most vocal I have seen any New Zealand team, they are worried about what can happen possibly a little bit more than they are confident of what they can do. The All Blacks do not know how to be the underdog. Ireland can exploit that discomfort."
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Look at Gary Ringrose! Ioane with better tackle stats (fewer misses for roughly the same attempted).
Papali'i hasn't missed a tackle.
Sexton and Mo'unga similar missed tackle stats, but Sexton is making far more tackles than Mo'unga.
Gibson-Park misses a fair amount too. Must be his early Kiwi training
Brett Igoe has got some great material on his X account. Looks at both Irish and NZ attack and defence strategies. Some great insights.
https://x.com/brettruganalyst/status/1711439400456933782?s=20
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@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
To any of the Irish posters on here, I've seen some talk about Irish fans countering the Haka. Will it be the Fields of Athenry or Zombie as the backing song to the Haka at the weekend do you think?
I personally dont give a rat's what they do. All the important stuff happens after the first whistle.
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Come on Foz you got this. Don't be conservative in the selections.
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@Frank said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Yeah, and this is based on the probably wrong assumption that we are actually leading and that Christie is going to pull off one miracle tackle after another that Roigard will somehow be unable to do.
To be clear we don't know what the scoreline is likely to be when Smith comes off and there's a risk Christie will fuck up as well. On balance, Roigard's the better bet.
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If Smith is going well and we are ahead I'd probably leave him on. No need to be robotic regarding subs.
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@booboo said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Derm-McCrum said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Apparently Jimmy O'Brien ate a Kimberley Mikado with his coffee this morning so it looks like he's not in the squad.
None of that makes any sense to me.
Ploise exploin ...
Eating biccies cos you're not in the squad. But it's ok - he squeezed onto the bench in the 23 geansaí so relax as you were.
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@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
To any of the Irish posters on here, I've seen some talk about Irish fans countering the Haka. Will it be the Fields of Athenry or Zombie as the backing song to the Haka at the weekend do you think?
How would we know? Besides it's not countering the haka - it's an Irish singalong that the NZ team dance to along with a beaudacious rapper.
Crowd Zombie feat/Aaron S. and the Unzedders
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@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@MiketheSnow Ryan was on the bench against Scotland. Henderson started.
So Ryan out, McCarthy in is the only change.
Leinster's Jimmy O'Brien is in the 23 instead of Henshaw or McCloskey - brings more versatility to the backline.
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The RWC 2019 Stumblers vs 2023 Hopers
Cian Healy vs Andrew Porter
Rory Best vs Dan Sheehan
Tadhg Furlong - same
Iain Henderson - same
James Ryan vs Tadgh Beirne
Peter O'Mahony - same
Josh van der Flier - same
CJ Stander vs Caelan DorisConor Murray - Jamison Gibson Park
Johnny Sexton - same
Jacob Stockdale vs Mack Hansen
Robbie Henshaw vs Bundee Aki
Garry Ringrose - same
Keith Earls vs James Lowe
Rob Kearney vs Hugo Keenan
Replacements
Niall Scannell vs Ronan Kelleher
Dave Kilcoyne - same
Andrew Porter vs Finlay Bealham
Tadhg Beirne vs Joe McCarthy
Rhys Ruddock vs Jack Conan
Luke McGrath vs Conor Murray
Joey Carbery vs Jack Crowley
Jordan Larmour vs Jimmy O'Brien -
Much amusement that Gregor Paul of the NZ Herald seems to have misunderstood the long-standing joke between Irish and SA fans about Josh van der Flier being from Wicklow in South Africa.
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@Derm-McCrum said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Much amusement that Gregor Paul of the NZ Herald seems to have misunderstood the long-standing joke between Irish and SA fans about Josh van der Flier being from Wicklow in South Africa.
The secret to reading Gregor Paul articles is to ensure you enjoy the fish'n'chips that they are wrapped around as the grease and torn paper will hopefully make the article a thoughtful but unfinished "what if" rather than something that should be put straight into the bin.
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You know you're up against it when one of your own legends is tipping the green machine:
Legendary centre Conrad Smith fears for the All Blacks against Ireland
Former New Zealand centre Conrad Smith feels Ireland are deserved favourites ahead of Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against the All Blacks in Paris.
"I’d love to think the All Blacks have got one in us to get one over the Irish, but it’s a game that if it was played 10 times, the All Blacks could win three or four."
He must have been speaking to @Dodge
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Mystic Meg is going with his heart, but his head is telling him differently:
‘The Pool has been massively harmful to us’ – All Blacks legend Justin Marshall concerned ahead of Ireland clash
All Blacks legend Justin Marshall thinks New Zealand’s pool preparation leaves them vulnerable ahead of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final clash against Ir...
When it came time to making a final prediction, the legendary scrum-half was reluctant to go against his home country, even as he acknowledged that he doesn’t know if they will be good enough to beat Ireland.
"My prediction is New Zealand and as you can see, I’m not totally convinced that is going to happen. I hope in my heart that New Zealand can find that performance, but Ireland are the best team in the world and the only way you can beat the best team in the world is to play out of your skin. New Zealand need to find that right now.”
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@PecoTrain said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Derm-McCrum said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Much amusement that Gregor Paul of the NZ Herald seems to have misunderstood the long-standing joke between Irish and SA fans about Josh van der Flier being from Wicklow in South Africa.
The secret to reading Gregor Paul articles is to ensure you enjoy the fish'n'chips that they are wrapped around as the grease and torn paper will hopefully make the article a thoughtful but unfinished "what if" rather than something that should be put straight into the bin.
Eating fish and chips off your mobile phone? Is that a New Zealand thing now? Pretty small portions.
