RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland
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@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Snowy there was a sizeable Irish fan contingent in Cardiff that day as they had banked on Ireland getting there as runners up in the pool. Alas, they choked that year, finishing 3rd behind Argentina and France.
They were singing “Allez les bleus” with gusto!
Yeah, point remains that it was effectively a "French" crowd and Barnes choked. The Allez les Bleus was indeed seriously loud. The roof was closed from memory?
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Yes. I have a feeling Christie's selection could be akin to Cane's omission in '19. Just hope not.
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@Snowy said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
The roof was closed from memory?
Yeah. I think it was.
But to be fair, the ABs didn't adapt to Barnes at all well and need to share a fair bit of the blame for that loss.
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@Duluth said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@taniwharugby said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
From what I have heard, this is not the first time Fozzie has been forced to drop a form player due to breach of protocol, at least he is consistent in that.
But that time he didn't make it public
That rumour about the other player missing out because of internal team protocols is so prevalent it might as well be said.. I think most people have heard it. ST missed selection during the Irish series last year for similar reasons but it was kept quiet
None of the journos asked so he didn't say, but he was asked directly here
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@Bones said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Not for me. I understand the thinking and decision
Really though? What is the actual defensive edge he has, any idea? It's been said a lot, but there hasn't been any substance put to it.
So, I need to say that 2023 Christie isn't playing well.
2021 2022 though, he was dynamite defensively - the Blues were setting up with a big gap around the scrum (in particular) and leaving Christie to fill the space with speed and terrier like defense. It was noticeably good. I did not have high expectations of him, but he played better than I expected by some margin in 21 and 22.
This year, not so much. But clearly Foz sees this at training... or something
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@Duluth said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
About ST last year? No, he was asked directly and gave an incoherent cover up answer
Oh I missed that one, unlike Foster to be incoherent
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Just caught the news on Telea. I rate Leicester but Telea's footwork is going to be missed big time. On the fence about Christie v Roigard. If Christie was in a similar vein of form I could get on board, but he hasn't been that great this campaign.
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
Well, fuck.
Talea better be injured, because the alternative is Foster has seen Leicester's highlight reel against a minnow and thought "a hattrick? we need some of that!". His attitude and mobility in defence is poor (to be nice about it). It reeks of a 2019 masterplan to smash England's lineout by having a size mismatch against wee Mac Hansen.
But the crowning turd in the waterpipe is the selection of Christie over Roigard. At SR it was no contest. So far at the RWC Roigard has displayed form that Christie's agent couldn't dream of.
In the current iteration of rugby, fast ball from rucks is basically the only way to defeat defensively competent teams - you need them back peddling and hopefully offside to give you time and space so they can't rush (or if they do, there's gaping holes). Christie takes too long to get to rucks. He takes too long to make up his mind. Invariably once he does it's a shit decision, followed by a shit pass. He can't kick as well. Can't snipe for shit. There's literally nothing he does as well as Roigard in a key position to allow us to make the most of our talent.
It's not overstating it to say if the game is in the balance in the final 20, Roigard could win it for us, Christie can't.
The Williams/ Newell bench looks like Ryan finally got his way. Hopefully that means more mobility and less dumb penalties/ cards from our props. Obviously our scrum won't be as good as a result.
Anyway, always leave on a high note so I am pleased to see EDG and Lomax fit to start.
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@antipodean Lomax better be 100% because the Boks match illustrated Newell isn't ready to play 60 minutes at this level.
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Christie can snipe but very seldom. I'm afraid the backline will also stutter. The 2 AB finds/weapons at this RWC out. ALB on bench. Ryan's 2 Crusader pups on bench (I don't mind Williams -potential-but Newell has been a bit raw and clumsy in open play). As for Telea-Foster must be happy he found an even slower winger. This will be a masterstroke or 2024 cannot come soon enough.
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At least we have the best 15 in NZ. Excellent exits await.
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@nostrildamus no need. They are going to run it out from behind their posts. Ireland won’t be expecting that 😬
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@Steven-Harris said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
It pains me to say I never been more confident of an impending All Black loss
Under Foster we have arrived at RWC QF 4 years later as a massive underdog.
Even against England in the 2019 RWC semi final there was reasonable degree of confidence the ABs would get the job doneHoping for the best expecting the worst
I would imagine that’s what many other supporters use to think when their team was taking on the All BlacksIt really is so disappointing
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@stodders said in RWC QF: All Blacks v Ireland:
@nostrildamus no need. They are going to run it out from behind their posts. Ireland won’t be expecting that 😬
I think a different Barrett tried that once from 15 when the ABs were under the pump and about to be booted out. Or maybe it was just a nightmare and I imagined it.
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Actually, slow clap for Foster. So many posts saying don't pick BB at 15 and yet I think I was the only one who mentioned it because Foster had sufficiently distracted you all at hooker, 9, wing, and bench. Well done, that man.
Although I have to say, Finau on the bench might have been useful. Looks to me like EB was a bit too early and they didn't even test him in a serious game. Perhaps he needed the airmiles. -
If Finlay was always going to play this QF why start Roigard last week, why not give Finlay as many minutes as possible. Yes he might be good in D but Cams boot, his ability to score points far outweigh Finlay’s pros. I just think he is severely short of minutes.
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@taniwharugby Ofa and Nepo maybe
