RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2)
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@reprobate Our reserve props concern me. Ofa at tighthead is fine but not sure he's good enough on the other side. Angus as a scrummager is average. Ofa at TH and Big Karl would have been better bench options imo.
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@akan004 I agree, Iv'e thought this since the team was named. I would feel a lot safer with them coming on to close out a game, or even one of them with Owen Franks, especially against the likes of England.
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The teams from the 2018 test to compare with this weeks teams when they are named. The AB's could have as many as 8 personal and 2 positional changes in the starting xv from that game.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@akan004 I agree, Iv'e thought this since the team was named. I would feel a lot safer with them coming on to close out a game, or even one of them with Owen Franks, especially against the likes of England.
So you rate Marler and Genge that highly?
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@Bones Its more my worries about Ofa's inexperience at loosehead and Ta'avao's history of inconsistent scrummaging (they are both very tall for props 194 and 195) being targeted by experienced props getting under them and causing us problems and risking penalties. England seem to be aiming to start with Marler and Sinckler and then finish with Vunipola and Coles? Hopefully they prove me wrong and Angus scores the winning try in the final!
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@Daffy-Jaffy I have no problem with the rest of their games (carrying, defence, lineout) they are both excellent) it is only re the scrum. While I understand how they suit the desired game plan I was just a bit uncomfortable with leaving effectively our two best scrummagers (Franks and Karl T) at home. In Cron we trust I guess. Anyway Lets get past Ireland first before we worry about the Poms (he said taking a a deep breath and crossing his fingers).
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@Daffy-Jaffy I have no problem with the rest of their games (carrying, defence, lineout) they are both excellent) it is only re the scrum. While I understand how they suit the desired game plan I was just a bit uncomfortable with leaving effectively our two best scrummagers (Franks and Karl T) at home. In Cron we trust I guess. Anyway Lets get past Ireland first before we worry about the Poms (he said taking a a deep breath and crossing his fingers).
That said, Owen and Karl didn't do that much for us in Dublin last year!
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@Daffy-Jaffy I have no problem with the rest of their games (carrying, defence, lineout) they are both excellent) it is only re the scrum. While I understand how they suit the desired game plan I was just a bit uncomfortable with leaving effectively our two best scrummagers (Franks and Karl T) at home. In Cron we trust I guess. Anyway Lets get past Ireland first before we worry about the Poms (he said taking a a deep breath and crossing his fingers).
I can understand that, however I don't see Ta'avao and Tungafasi that far behind their peers if at all. Plus, just what is so great about Franks' scrummaging these days? Dare I say it, it's a bit of a myth these days...
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@Darren said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I think people have very short memories. Was only a few months ago that it was all doom and gloom. Now we beat the Boks, and a couple tier 2 nations and we are favorites again?
If the ABs lose on Sunday the last 4 years (especially Lions series onwards) will be revised pretty quickly. In 1999 at the QF stage we had smacked England in pool play following 3/4 good performances in the 3N. The general consensus was that the 1998 duldrums were a road bump and it was business as usual.
I worry the same thing this time. What passage of quality rugby have they played against strong opposition in the past 12 months? The Eden Park Bledisloe and 20 minutes against the Boks?
At least in 2003 there was a mountain of evidence to show they had turned the corner.
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@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@reprobate out of interest, what does the RM/BB axis have to do to be proven?
What more did Cullen need to do to look good as a centre?
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I personally think having Owens increases our chances of winning by about 5 %. Really couldn't have wanted for a better choice TBH.
I agree with the above that Ireland have no chance if Sexton doesn't last or has a mare.
I hope we have a fielding box kicks plan - if you do that part well, you get buckets of free possession from Ireland.
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I kind of sit on the fence a bit with this WC ,
A win or a disappointing exit would not surprise me that much,
I will always back us in, but im not over confident ,
England probably bother me more than Ireland , but lets get past this week first( fingers crossed ) before we talk about that
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@rotated said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@reprobate out of interest, what does the RM/BB axis have to do to be proven?
What more did Cullen need to do to look good as a centre?
Thanks reprobate. No idea what that has to do with it.
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@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@rotated said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@reprobate out of interest, what does the RM/BB axis have to do to be proven?
What more did Cullen need to do to look good as a centre?
Thanks reprobate. No idea what that has to do with it.
Cullen and the backline showed glimpses in 1999. It wasn't everyone's cup of tea but wasn't an unmitigated disaster... until it was.
Just like every other unconvnetional selection if they play well and win dual pivots will have proven itself, if they play poor and lose in the QF/SF then they won't have done enough. Simple really.
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@mofitzy_ said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@reprobate said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@mofitzy_ said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@reprobate said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Ireland are a good side, who lack depth at 10. We seem to think they're shit now because they were beaten by Japan and thumped by England before the WC. But both games no Sexton. You can't play 10 man rugby without a 10.
They lost to England and Wales this year in the 6N with Sexton, both significant losses on the scoreboard too. If you look at both games they were full strength or thereabouts yet were bullied.
Yep, is our form so much better? That Welsh game is why the Irish hate Gardner incidentally, 1 try each but Anscombe kicked 6 penalties.
When was the last time we lost 4 games in a calendar year? Agree that our form isn't brilliant but going on recent results they are in a worse position.
2009?
BTW ironically we can't lose 4 this year unless we win this week.
Edit: hang on. We've only lost once so far this year. Was thinking Welly v Bokke was a loss.
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@rotated said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@Darren said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
I think people have very short memories. Was only a few months ago that it was all doom and gloom. Now we beat the Boks, and a couple tier 2 nations and we are favorites again?
If the ABs lose on Sunday the last 4 years (especially Lions series onwards) will be revised pretty quickly. In 1999 at the QF stage we had smacked England in pool play following 3/4 good performances in the 3N. The general consensus was that the 1998 duldrums were a road bump and it was business as usual.
I worry the same thing this time. What passage of quality rugby have they played against strong opposition in the past 12 months? The Eden Park Bledisloe and 20 minutes against the Boks?
At least in 2003 there was a mountain of evidence to show they had turned the corner.
And how good had we looked 2004-2007?
History is an unreliable indicator of future performance.
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@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@Daffy-Jaffy said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@akan004 I agree, Iv'e thought this since the team was named. I would feel a lot safer with them coming on to close out a game, or even one of them with Owen Franks, especially against the likes of England.
So you rate Marler and Genge that highly?
I dont know Genge, but Marler definitely. I think hes an excellent scrummager now. 2015 horizontal joke scrummaging is a thing of the distant past. Quite good around the field when I last saw him (2017).
Actually, most of this post is based on 2 year old observations.
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@Rapido said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@Daffy-Jaffy said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@akan004 I agree, Iv'e thought this since the team was named. I would feel a lot safer with them coming on to close out a game, or even one of them with Owen Franks, especially against the likes of England.
So you rate Marler and Genge that highly?
I dont know Genge, but Marler definitely. I think hes an excellent scrummager now. 2015 horizontal joke scrummaging is a thing of the distant past. Quite good around the field when I last saw him (2017).
Actually, most of this post is based on 2 year old observations.
Marler is a good player, but there's no way he's streets ahead of Taavao.
