Ireland in NZ

[Dan54]

So now we have both squads actually named , we get to next stage of looking forward to games.

[Dan54]

All Blacks squad
Forwards: Dane Coles (Hurricanes, Wellington), Codie Taylor (Crusaders, Canterbury), Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs, Waikato), Aidan Ross (Chiefs, Bay of Plenty), George Bower (Crusaders, Otago), Nepo Laulala (Blues, Counties Manukau), Ofa Tuungafasi (Blues, Northland), Karl Tu’inukuafe (Blues, North Harbour), Angus Ta’avao (Chiefs, Auckland), Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders, Canterbury), Brodie Retallick (Chiefs, Hawke’s Bay), Scott Barrett (Crusaders, Taranaki), Josh Lord (Chiefs, Taranaki), Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs, Taranaki), Pita Gus Sowakula (Chiefs, Taranaki), Sam Cane (Chiefs, Bay of Plenty, c), Dalton Papalii (Blues, Counties Manukau), Ardie Savea (Hurricanes, Wellington), Akira Ioane (Blues, Auckland), Hoskins Sotutu (Blues, Counties Manukau)

Backs: Folau Fakatava (Highlanders, Hawke’s Bay), Aaron Smith (Highlanders, Manawatu), Finlay Christie (Blues, Tasman), Stephen Perofeta (Blues, Taranaki), Beauden Barrett (Blues, Taranaki), Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders, Canterbury), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Blues, Auckland), Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs, Waikato), Jack Goodhue (Crusaders, Northland), Rieko Ioane (Blues, Auckland), David Havili (Crusaders, Tasman), Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders, Tasman), Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes, Taranaki), Will Jordan (Crusaders, Tasman), Caleb Clarke (Blues, Auckland), Sevu Reece (Crusaders, Tasman)



Irish squad
Forwards: Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Gavin Coombes, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Dave Heffernan, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Peter O'Mahony, Tom O'Toole, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Nick Timoney, Kieran Treadwell, Josh van der Flier.

Backs: Bundee Aki, Harry Byrne, Joey Carbery, Craig Casey, Keith Earls, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, James Hume, Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Michael Lowry, Conor Murray, Jimmy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Jonathan Sexton (captain).

So we now know both squads and we can start to get excited.

[Ymx]

No James Lowe?

[fishfoodie]

No James Lowe?

[Ymx]

[Gumboot]

Maori All Blacks squad to be named at noon. I won't be tuning in until 11:59am.

[fishfoodie]

Far too many pensioners in the Irish squad

I'm all for giving players a sendoff, but; Sexton, Healy, O'Mahony, Murray, Earls, & debatably Hendo are only there for sentiment; & sentiment has fuckall place in Professional sport.

[OomStruisbaai]

You need experience players against the All Blacks. I am looking forward to this series. Can the Irish get a win against the All Blacks? That will be massive for them.

[Gumboot]

You need experience players against the All Blacks. I am looking forward to this series. Can the Irish get a win against the All Blacks? That will be massive for them.

They beat us more often than they lose these days.

[Uncle fester]

Far too many pensioners in the Irish squad

I'm all for giving players a sendoff, but; Sexton, Healy, O'Mahony, Murray, Earls, & debatably Hendo are only there for sentiment; & sentiment has fuckall place in Professional sport.

Baloucoune's injury is very unfortunate. Earls almost certainly a beneficiary of that.

We're looking pretty bare at LHP with Loughman being the backup to Healy.

Who on earth world you have ahead of Hendo? He's our first choice lock.

[Uncle fester]

You need experience players against the All Blacks. I am looking forward to this series. Can the Irish get a win against the All Blacks? That will be massive for them.

They beat us more often than they lose these days.

Nah, you'll win this handy enough.

[Gumboot]

We also have an ageing pack, with most of our match day starting and reserve forwards being 30+ years old. Battle of the dinosaurs?

[Dan54]

Maori All Blacks squad to be named at noon. I won't be tuning in until 11:59am.

Not on TV is it? I will check it out when I get home from golf.

[Gumboot]

Maori All Blacks squad to be named at noon. I won't be tuning in until 11:59am.

Not on TV is it? I will check it out when I get home from golf.

It's going to be live streamed on allblacks.com

https://www.allblacks.com/news/maori-al ... -streamed/

[Gumboot]

...or not...

[Gumboot]

Props
Tamaiti Williams - Ngāpuhi (Canterbury/Crusaders)
Ollie Norris - Ngāpuhi (Waikato/Chiefs)
Marcel Renata - Ngāti Whānaunga / Ngāi Takoto (Auckland/Blues)
Jermaine Ainsley* - Te Rārawa / Te Arawa (Otago/Highlanders)
Tyrel Lomax - Muaupoko / Ngāi Tūhoe (Tasman/Hurricanes)
Hookers
Leni Apisai - Ngāti Awa (Auckland)
Kurt Eklund - Ngāti Kahu (Bay of Plenty/Blues)
Tyrone Thompson* - Ngāi Tāmanuhiri / Ngāti Rangiwewehi (Hawke’s Bay/Chiefs)
Locks
Isaia Walker-Leawere - Ngāti Porou (Hawke's Bay/Hurricanes)
Manaaki Selby-Rickit - Ngāti Raukawa / Ngāti Tūwharetoa (Bay of Plenty/Highlanders)
Josh Dickson - Ngāi Tahu (Otago/Highlanders)
Loose Forwards
Reed Prinsep - Te Rārawa (Canterbury/Hurricanes)
Caleb Delany* - Ngāti Tūwharetoa (Wellington/Hurricanes)
Billy Harmon - Ngāi Tahu (Canterbury/Highlanders)
Te Kamaka (TK) Howden* - Ngāi Tūhoe (Manawatū/Hurricanes)
Cameron Suafoa* - Ngāpuhi (Auckland/Blues)

Half Backs
TJ Perenara* - Ngāti Rangitihi (Wellington/Hurricanes)
Brad Weber - Ngāti Porou (Hawke's Bay/Chiefs)
First Five
Josh Ioane - Te Rārawa (Otago/Chiefs)
Ruben Love* - Te Atiawa (Wellington/Hurricanes)
Midfield
Alex Nankivell - Ngāti Pikiao (Tasman/Chiefs)
Rameka Poihipi - Ngāti Whakaue (Canterbury/Chiefs)
Billy Proctor - Ngāi Te Rangi / Ngāpuhi (Wellington/Hurricanes)
Bailyn Sullivan* - Ngāti Kahungunu (Waikato/Hurricanes)
Outside Backs
Connor Garden-Bachop* - Ngāti Awa (Wellington/Highlanders)
Josh Moorby* - Ngāti Maniapoto (Northland/Hurricanes)
Zarn Sullivan* - Ngāti Kahungunu (Auckland/Blues)
Shaun Stevenson - Ngāpuhi (North Harbour/Chiefs)

[Guy Smiley]

You need experience players against the All Blacks. I am looking forward to this series. Can the Irish get a win against the All Blacks? That will be massive for them.

They beat us more often than they lose these days.

Nah, you'll win this handy enough.

I don't agree. Ireland are 3 wins from their last 5 against the ABs. Take the distortion of poor selections for the Soldier Field game out and they're still 50/50.

The ABs are hobbled with a coach who...

well he's a moron. No fresh ideas, still no settled selection policy, a very strong whiff of favourites getting the nod over merit and so far, a game day strategic approach that falls short. We have to apply fairness and give him a chance to demonstrate improvement on that last factor, but historic form suggests that will be unlikely.

The dark horse in this little drama will be Joe Schmidt and how much influence he will have on his role as selector. His knowledge of the Irish players will be an added bonus.

[Dan54]

They beat us more often than they lose these days.

Nah, you'll win this handy enough.

I don't agree. Ireland are 3 wins from their last 5 against the ABs. Take the distortion of poor selections for the Soldier Field game out and they're still 50/50.

The ABs are hobbled with a coach who...

well he's a moron. No fresh ideas, still no settled selection policy, a very strong whiff of favourites getting the nod over merit and so far, a game day strategic approach that falls short. We have to apply fairness and give him a chance to demonstrate improvement on that last factor, but historic form suggests that will be unlikely.

The dark horse in this little drama will be Joe Schmidt and how much influence he will have on his role as selector. His knowledge of the Irish players will be an added bonus.

Joe Schmidt doesn't come onto the panel until RC, c'mon Guy you know that!

[Guy Smiley]

Dan, I've just come off a week of nightshift. I either don't know or can't remember anything right now.

Anyway... forget the dark horse. ABs might win one test.

[Dan54]

Dan, I've just come off a week of nightshift. I either don't know or can't remember anything right now.

Anyway... forget the dark horse. ABs might win one test.

Lol I understand the brain doesn't always think really clearly after night shift mate.

[Gumboot]

Joe Schmidt doesn't come onto the panel until RC

More's the pity. Assume he's still closely involved in the Blues effort to defeat the evil empire this weekend?

[Dan54]

Joe Schmidt doesn't come onto the panel until RC

More's the pity. Assume he's still closely involved in the Blues effort to defeat the evil empire this weekend?

Yep, and I would think you have to have a panel start and finish any series?

[OomStruisbaai]

Far too many pensioners in the Irish squad

I'm all for giving players a sendoff, but; Sexton, Healy, O'Mahony, Murray, Earls, & debatably Hendo are only there for sentiment; & sentiment has fuckall place in Professional sport.

Baloucoune's injury is very unfortunate. Earls almost certainly a beneficiary of that.

We're looking pretty bare at LHP with Loughman being the backup to Healy.

Who on earth world you have ahead of Hendo? He's our first choice lock.

Hendo would be my first pick for Ireland against the All Blacks. He played himself out of his pants against the Stormers on the weekend and irritate the fuck out of all the Stormers players.

[OomStruisbaai]

You need experience players against the All Blacks. I am looking forward to this series. Can the Irish get a win against the All Blacks? That will be massive for them.

They beat us more often than they lose these days.

Beating the All Blacks at home count for nothing going to NZ.

Ireland won't win trying to play Leinster ball. They'll need to take a leaf from Jake White plan against Leinster. Strong defense back with dominating 1st phase.

[Monk]

this must be the AB squad of the lowest quality I have ever seen

also have been playing a bit of rugby-lite in the oz/kiwi/islands comp

would not be surprised if Ireland did a job on them

[Gumboot]

We don't stand a chance.

[PornDog]

Far too many pensioners in the Irish squad

I'm all for giving players a sendoff, but; Sexton, Healy, O'Mahony, Murray, Earls, & debatably Hendo are only there for sentiment; & sentiment has fuckall place in Professional sport.

Sexton may be a geriatric, but he's there because he's by far and away the best 10 we have available. Hendo? What the fuck are you snorting man? Best lock in the country at the moment.

O'Mahony's a very frustrating player to me, but he does always seem to perform against NZ. I probably wouldn't bring him, but I'm not too upset that he's included - would be a good captain of the dirt trackers (but he'll bench in the tests at worst). Murray should probably be 7th in the sh pecking order (2 Connacht, 2 Ulster, 1 Leinster and 1 Munster SH ahead of him) - he's a shadow of his former self (passing accuracy, boxkick accuracy, speed to ruck and speed of decision making are all way down) and the best of his former self doesn't suit the style of game we want to play. I love Earls, but yeah he's past it - probably wouldn't be travelling if Balacoune, Stockdale or Conway were fit.

[Gumboot]

If the plan is to keep Ardie at 8, why pick both Sotutu and Sowakula? And where does Akira fit into all this, given he's really a number eight at heart?

[Thor Sedan]

I'm going to watching this series in the UK - with 3 Irish guys....1 of whom is a complete a**e when Ireland win (so has been pretty arsey recently).

Not looking forward to it.

[Ymx]

So it sounds like both are having well aged teams.

Though, I’d say with the Irish, their geriatrics still have form, whereas not sure about our ones (Coles, Cane, retallick …)

[Monk]

Over the last fortnight the Irish forwards have learnt a lot

I reckon they will be pretty sharp going into the series

[Snooze]

I'm going to watching this series in the UK - with 3 Irish guys....1 of whom is a complete a**e when Ireland win (so has been pretty arsey recently).

Not looking forward to it.

Same here, sort of. My Irish bro' in law arrives into town on July 1st and we'll stay up to midnight (Vancouver time) to watch these. He is the same as your mate when they win (we were in Chicago together and that was a night from hell for me ). I'm a tad nervous as I agree with Guy.

[JM2K6]

Beating NZ in NZ is a huge step up but there's no reason to believe it's impossible for this Irish side against this NZ side. Really looking forward to this tour.

[Guy Smiley]

Worth bearing in mind is that there's two extra games against the Maori All Blacks to contend with... virtually two more tests.

[OomStruisbaai]

Should be a good time to play Crusaders.

[convoluted]

Was a bit 'meh' about the Maori games 'til the squad popped up.
Grunty forwards and decisive backs -- introducing Josh Moorby to the NH.

Irish might drop all 5 games.

[Uncle fester]

They beat us more often than they lose these days.

Nah, you'll win this handy enough.

I don't agree. Ireland are 3 wins from their last 5 against the ABs. Take the distortion of poor selections for the Soldier Field game out and they're still 50/50.

The ABs are hobbled with a coach who...

well he's a moron. No fresh ideas, still no settled selection policy, a very strong whiff of favourites getting the nod over merit and so far, a game day strategic approach that falls short. We have to apply fairness and give him a chance to demonstrate improvement on that last factor, but historic form suggests that will be unlikely.

The dark horse in this little drama will be Joe Schmidt and how much influence he will have on his role as selector. His knowledge of the Irish players will be an added bonus.

End of a long hard season. Players are in bits.
And it's in NZ.

[Dan54]

will be an added bonus.

End of a long hard season. Players are in bits.
And it's in NZ.
[/quote]

Almost sounds like ABs in Ireland last year?

[lemonhead]

Mocker baiting aside lads, we'd bite the hand off for a solitary test win.

End of season all three provinces still in knockout contention ended on a massive downer. Hopefully can keep it competitive.

[Ymx]

Well, I think it’s going to be very tough for our team. I hope our boys can handle the overall physicality and intensity you will bring.

I watch the Supe compared to NH rugby and scratch my head as to how most rucks in Supe are basically not contended. And so we often fall over when there’s ferocious disruption to our rucks, and combined with a blitz defence.

We have the worst coaching set up since I can remember. Who knows what records we will achieve this time. Argentina loss recently. Not many teams left who haven’t beaten us. I think Foster will be setting his targets for 22 on biggest ever loss margin. 22 points.