RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland
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@chimoaus TBF, given the higher intensity games they have had to play, they have been forced to largely play thier best team more, whereas we have had 3 opposed traning runs, no requirement to play the top side.
Which adds to the tackle stats shown up there as well, Ireland have been tested on defence by handy attack structures, we havent, well not for a month.
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@george33 Liam Napier’s latest article looks like a summary of this thread 😂.
I think @george33 suggested Fainga’anuku was a potential surprise starter further up the thread and Napier goes with:
“If Telea is ruled out the All Blacks will turn to Leicester Fainga’anuku’s powerful presence after he impressed from the left wing to claim four tries against Namibia and Uruguay.”
Nobody from the AB camp suggested there was a problem with Telea this week. So did Napier shoe horn the Telea injury (conjecture) on the back of George’s suggestion that Leicester may be selected? Interesting 😉
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@stodders hahahaha. From Napier again:
“The main point of contention in the reserves appears at halfback where Finlay Christie could be a surprise inclusion over Cam Roigard.”
Napier’s/Fern’s possible AB team:
Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett
Dane Coles, Ofa Tuʻungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Sam Whitelock, Dalton Papali’i, Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown
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FWIW, I can maybe see some logic in Leicester being the bench option covering several positions at a stretch. But I would be surprised if he makes the 23 given what happened to him last year in the Ireland series and based on hits outs against Uruguay and Namibia.
If Telea is injured and LF is chosen, Clarke has fallen a long way.
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With Irelands kicking game, BB best station himself behind LF, as that is where they will be kicking it all day.
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@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@stodders hahahaha. From Napier again:
“The main point of contention in the reserves appears at halfback where Finlay Christie could be a surprise inclusion over Cam Roigard.”
Napier’s/Fern’s possible AB team:
Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett
Dane Coles, Ofa Tuʻungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Sam Whitelock, Dalton Papali’i, Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown
Sadly it wouldn’t be a surprise inclusion really. Just a disappointing one.
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Telea has been excellent in his appearances. Would be a bad loss. I’m not seeing a lot of Internet talk about this though. Just Liam aka George.
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@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@george33 Liam Napier’s latest article looks like a summary of this thread 😂.
I think @george33 suggested Fainga’anuku was a potential surprise starter further up the thread and Napier goes with:
“If Telea is ruled out the All Blacks will turn to Leicester Fainga’anuku’s powerful presence after he impressed from the left wing to claim four tries against Namibia and Uruguay.”
Nobody from the AB camp suggested there was a problem with Telea this week. So did Napier shoe horn the Telea injury (conjecture) on the back of George’s suggestion that Leicester may be selected? Interesting 😉
I think it was me , George said no he isn’t in the 23, from memory,
I heard yesterday morning telea has a niggle .
And Christie would be on the bench .
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@kiwiinmelb I never said leister was in 23, Talea but if rumours r true and he's picked up a niggle then he most likely will,unless they go back to Clarke
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@george33 not sure which is the more disappointing news for AB fans. Potentially losing your premier attacking winger, or the coaches potentially selecting the no 9 in the match day squad nobody is that enamoured with over the young tyro who has made every post a winner so far. Must be part of the master plan I guess 🙄
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@stodders well we will find out, only thing must be experience on Finlay's side mite get him over the line ,as for Talea if he's out that's huge loss , Leister is quality but makes alot of errors and I worry about his pace and slowness to turn and chase at test level big matches, If I'm correct he played Ireland last season then basically disappeared after that series, and the other bench rumour Newell over Nepo just can't see it ,both De Groot and Lomax haven't played significant minutes for a while now, must b temptation to start Ofa,Nepo with De Groot,Lomax on bench,still think Newell is a way off yet at test level big matches, ok to look good against minnows ,Ireland different beast
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@chimoaus said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
That is very interesting to see just how many minutes the Ireland top team have had. Shows how important their core players are but also shows why they are so well drilled and organised, they play a shitload of minutes together which simply can't be earnt on the training field.
To labour the point, 14 of the 23 are from Leinster so they play a lot together all year. That number would have been higher if Ryan was fit.
