The Silver Fern

Fairly deent team that wasn't picked :

Z Sullivan/ Nanai seturo/ tatatavanawai Ennor / Rona
Miller/Fakatav
Ioase /segner / Suafua
Mcwhannel/ Gallagher
t Mafileo/ Ross
Ricatelli

We are also one of the dumbest teams in work rugby. Some stupid stuff in second half.

@W32 Pot.Kettle.Black.

@Jet I agree but it's not the kiwi way . We leave that stuff to rassie etc

Vai having a great game, especially at breakdown

Fuck Beauden

@Bones yeah was just about to say that also. He went backwards earlier when trying to enter a ruck,lol.

@nostrildamus Blackadder has been smashed every time he's taken it up

@Bones
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
ARs: Matt Carley (England) & Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Brian McNiece (Ireland)

@Higgins Alex Fidow as a number 8 ( where he's been playing his club rugby all season)

So Kalapu is now with Harbour. Who will be the locks ? Did Annandale play any club rugby this year?
Hamish Dalzell might play another season

@sparky Five off the top of my head would be Midfielder Xavi Taele (Auckland), Halfback Dylan Pledger (Otago), Flanker/ no. 8 Johnny Lee ( Canterbury), flanker Jeremiah Collins ( Wgn) and Blindside Andrew Smith ( Waikato )
Too early for super rugby but honourable mentions to the tight five guys : lock Tom Allen ( Hawkes Bay), tight head Josh Smith ( Hawkes Bay ) and hooker Vern Bason ( manawatu) although he will need to fix his lineout wobbles
All of our back three players used(which is usually a strength of kiwi rugby ),were pretty average at the tournament
Still a bit early also for first five Rico Simpson ( Auckland) but he's eligible next year again

Third place overall. I will take that after finishing 7th last year and 2019. Great effort.
Not sure what to make of this year's lot, they mixed the sublime with woeful at times. Seems to be a second half kind of team
I'm not sure why Collins the flanker was used so sparingly as he looked bloody good when he came on today

Great second half from our boys

Jeremiah Collins been giving a bit of go forward since he's come on and scores a great try with his power

NZ yellow carded due to a tip tackle on their hooker, will probably be upgraded to red. Irish player looks to have dislocated his shoulder

NZ 17 Ireland 12

Halftime Ireland 12 NZ 5

Every time we get in their half we make an error

30 mins gone , Ireland 7 NZ 0

Alot or errors by both sides so far

Stanley Solomon has been banned for the two matches: following his red card on Sunday against France :

Ireland v New Zealand – 19 July, 2024

Wellington v Taranaki, NPC warm-up – ­27 July, 2024