AI Matches W2: Sat 5; Ita v Sam - Sco v Fij - Wal v NZ - Ire v SA - Fra v Aus : Sun; Eng v Arg

[Tichtheid]

That creepy smirk of Mackenzie still gives me the shivers.

Hell of a kicker, though

I've rated DMac for a long time.

Him hitting Nadolo into touch with a crunching tackle was brilliant.

[Tichtheid]

This just reminds me of how decent we can be with another head coach.

To be fair, it's also a lot to do with depth.

[Guy Smiley]

This just reminds me of how decent we can be with another head coach.

To be fair, it's also a lot to do with depth.

We've got depth... yes.

We've also got a muppet of a coach who wouldn't know depth if he drowned in it.

[Uncle fester]

Henshaw out, McCloskey starts, & Jimmy O'Brien goes to the bench, instead of the A game tonight.

I like McCloskey, big, powerful runner with some good skillz, he and Ringrose make a scary partnership, in fact.

To use a cricket analogy, he's an ODI guy, not a test cricket man.

[Tichtheid]

Henshaw out, McCloskey starts, & Jimmy O'Brien goes to the bench, instead of the A game tonight.

I like McCloskey, big, powerful runner with some good skillz, he and Ringrose make a scary partnership, in fact.

To use a cricket analogy, he's an ODI guy, not a test cricket man.

I'm not a huge fan of Henshaw, I think Farrell is better, Farrell single-handedly destroyed Edinburgh one terrible night, but I think McCloskey offers more than Farrell. Aki can be a bit of penalty magnet.

edit, btw, no idea about the cricket analogy, I don't follow it.

[Gumboot]

That'll do.

Entertaining game with some nice tries from both sides. Thought the NZ defence was generally well organised. Good effort from the pack to lay the platform for McKenzie and co. Thought Gardiner had a very strong game - must confess he hasn't really caught my eye before now.

Hope Cam Roigard starts against the Baabaas.

[Dan54]

That'll do.

Entertaining game with some nice tries from both sides. Thought the NZ defence was generally well organised. Good effort from the pack to lay the platform for McKenzie and co. Thought Gardiner had a very strong game - must confess he hasn't really caught my eye before now.

Hope Cam Roigard starts against the Baabaas.

I posted exactly same on PR Gumboot, Gardiner impressed the hell out of me, I am looking for a seat on his wagon, and will be watching him over next couple of years.

[fishfoodie]

That'll do.

Entertaining game with some nice tries from both sides. Thought the NZ defence was generally well organised. Good effort from the pack to lay the platform for McKenzie and co. Thought Gardiner had a very strong game - must confess he hasn't really caught my eye before now.

Hope Cam Roigard starts against the Baabaas.

Probably a good warm up game for the NZ fringe players, to get their eyes in.

Disappointing from an Irish perspective, but it illustrates why it would be good to get more A-Team games, because it was obvious from the get go that players & combinations hadn't played together enough, & there wasn't a consistent game plan, & as a result, the team was less than the sum of the parts

[Guy Smiley]

That'll do.

Entertaining game with some nice tries from both sides. Thought the NZ defence was generally well organised. Good effort from the pack to lay the platform for McKenzie and co. Thought Gardiner had a very strong game - must confess he hasn't really caught my eye before now.

Hope Cam Roigard starts against the Baabaas.

Yes... a lot to like there.

The stand out for me is the way the guys are playing together. I mentioned already... the influence of Clayton McMillan and the style of play his teams seem to have. He and Rangi have teamed up well. The BaaBaas game will be a meeting of NZ's coaching elite.

[Gumboot]

That'll do.

Entertaining game with some nice tries from both sides. Thought the NZ defence was generally well organised. Good effort from the pack to lay the platform for McKenzie and co. Thought Gardiner had a very strong game - must confess he hasn't really caught my eye before now.

Hope Cam Roigard starts against the Baabaas.

I posted exactly same on PR Gumboot, Gardiner impressed the hell out of me, I am looking for a seat on his wagon, and will be watching him over next couple of years.

Yep, count me on board that wagon as well, Dan.

[Tichtheid]

I've lost touch with Super Rugby over the last couple of years, I don't really know who is playing well in the NZ teams now. I tenuously say I'm a Highlanders fan, just because of the Scottish history, that's why I chose them as my team - up to three years ago I could list all of their players, but not now.


Gardiner was very good tonight

[Raggs]

Only saw the first half, but it was very reminiscent of the ABs of a few years ago, when their physicality was simply off the scale, which made the rest of the game far simpler. Obviously some gorgeous tries, but so much of that stems from the physicality to start with. Teams no longer need to match that to be in with a chance to beat the regular ABs (since the ABs haven't had it), but just from the first half, it's very clear that it's still there bubbling under the surface.

[Ymx]

England (vs Argentina, Sunday)
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 13 caps)
14. Jack Nowell (VC) (Exeter Chiefs, 42 caps)
13. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 46 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (C) (Saracens, 97 caps)
11. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 13 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 117 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (VC) (Bristol Bears, 39 caps)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 37 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 52 caps)
4. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
5. Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 15 caps)
6. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 58 caps)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 41 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 64 caps)

Replacements:
16. Jack Singleton (Gloucester Rugby, 3 caps)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 70 caps)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
19. David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 14 caps)
21. Jack Willis (unattached, 4 caps)
22. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 3 caps)
23. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 48 caps)

[Certain Navigator]

That'll do.

Entertaining game with some nice tries from both sides. Thought the NZ defence was generally well organised. Good effort from the pack to lay the platform for McKenzie and co. Thought Gardiner had a very strong game - must confess he hasn't really caught my eye before now.

Hope Cam Roigard starts against the Baabaas.

Gardiner was probably the best Canterbury forward — certainly the most improved — throughout the NPC. Until the final, when he went awol. Playing at lock admittedly. Back at 6 today, he was much better.

[Ymx]

Argentina team:
JC Mallia; M Carreras, M Moroni, J de la Fuente, E Boffelli; S Carreras, G Bertranou;

T Gallo, J Montoya, F Gomez Kodela, M Alemanno, T Lavanini, JM Gonzalez, M Kremer, P Matera.

Replacements: I Ruiz, N Tetaz Chaparro, E Bello, L Paulos, F Isa, E Morales, Talbornoz, Morlando.

[Certain Navigator]

That'll do.

Entertaining game with some nice tries from both sides. Thought the NZ defence was generally well organised. Good effort from the pack to lay the platform for McKenzie and co. Thought Gardiner had a very strong game - must confess he hasn't really caught my eye before now.

Hope Cam Roigard starts against the Baabaas.

Yes... a lot to like there.

The stand out for me is the way the guys are playing together. I mentioned already... the influence of Clayton McMillan and the style of play his teams seem to have. He and Rangi have teamed up well. The BaaBaas game will be a meeting of NZ's coaching elite.

The McMillan-coached NZ Maori team that lost 30-24 to Ireland looked to have perfected the Foster 'style of play'.

[Guy Smiley]

Only saw the first half, but it was very reminiscent of the ABs of a few years ago, when their physicality was simply off the scale, which made the rest of the game far simpler. Obviously some gorgeous tries, but so much of that stems from the physicality to start with. Teams no longer need to match that to be in with a chance to beat the regular ABs (since the ABs haven't had it), but just from the first half, it's very clear that it's still there bubbling under the surface.

The better Super Rugby teams play strong forward packs.

It's just the ABs who have lost their way and it started under Hansen when Foster was his assistant.

[Tichtheid]

Only saw the first half, but it was very reminiscent of the ABs of a few years ago, when their physicality was simply off the scale, which made the rest of the game far simpler. Obviously some gorgeous tries, but so much of that stems from the physicality to start with. Teams no longer need to match that to be in with a chance to beat the regular ABs (since the ABs haven't had it), but just from the first half, it's very clear that it's still there bubbling under the surface.

The better Super Rugby teams play strong forward packs.

It's just the ABs who have lost their way and it started under Hansen when Foster was his assistant.

Certainly when I've seen the Crusaders dominating, it was behind a terrific pack

[Dan54]

That'll do.

Entertaining game with some nice tries from both sides. Thought the NZ defence was generally well organised. Good effort from the pack to lay the platform for McKenzie and co. Thought Gardiner had a very strong game - must confess he hasn't really caught my eye before now.

Hope Cam Roigard starts against the Baabaas.

I posted exactly same on PR Gumboot, Gardiner impressed the hell out of me, I am looking for a seat on his wagon, and will be watching him over next couple of years.

Yep, count me on board that wagon as well, Dan.

Ok, I'll bring the beers!

[Ymx]

It’s game day.

But not looking forward to the 3 hour plus drive there and back to Cardiff.

Bloody train strikes! Slack overpaid pricks, can’t get the services running now as the strikes were cancelled last minute.

[Slick]

It’s game day.

But not looking forward to the 3 hour plus drive there and back to Cardiff.

Bloody train strikes! Slack overpaid pricks, can’t get the services running now as the strikes were cancelled last minute.

I’d give it a few hours after the game before you try to leave the city!

[Paddington Bear]

It’s game day.

But not looking forward to the 3 hour plus drive there and back to Cardiff.

Bloody train strikes! Slack overpaid pricks, can’t get the services running now as the strikes were cancelled last minute.

If it’s any consolation the trains are usually a disaster on a game day in Cardiff anyway

[Uncle fester]

I like McCloskey, big, powerful runner with some good skillz, he and Ringrose make a scary partnership, in fact.

To use a cricket analogy, he's an ODI guy, not a test cricket man.

I'm not a huge fan of Henshaw, I think Farrell is better, Farrell single-handedly destroyed Edinburgh one terrible night, but I think McCloskey offers more than Farrell. Aki can be a bit of penalty magnet.

edit, btw, no idea about the cricket analogy, I don't follow it.

You talking about Chris Farrell? Chances are that he'll never play pro rugby for an Irish team ever again.

[Uncle fester]

Pretty good performance from NZ A last night. What struck me was how hungry they looked and the intensity they brought. The Irish players looked like they were prepping for a glorified training session.

[Tichtheid]

To use a cricket analogy, he's an ODI guy, not a test cricket man.

I'm not a huge fan of Henshaw, I think Farrell is better, Farrell single-handedly destroyed Edinburgh one terrible night, but I think McCloskey offers more than Farrell. Aki can be a bit of penalty magnet.

edit, btw, no idea about the cricket analogy, I don't follow it.

You talking about Chris Farrell? Chances are that he'll never play pro rugby for an Irish team ever again.

I didn't know about that story, I've only just looked it up.

Fuck him.

[Slick]

I'm not a huge fan of Henshaw, I think Farrell is better, Farrell single-handedly destroyed Edinburgh one terrible night, but I think McCloskey offers more than Farrell. Aki can be a bit of penalty magnet.

edit, btw, no idea about the cricket analogy, I don't follow it.

You talking about Chris Farrell? Chances are that he'll never play pro rugby for an Irish team ever again.

I didn't know about that story, I've only just looked it up.

Fuck him.

Never heard of that either, awful

[Slick]

We are so lucky to have Fiji in rugby. We should look after them so much better.

That just there with the Princess Royal was fantastic

[sturginho]

We are so lucky to have Fiji in rugby. We should look after them so much better.

That just there with the Princess Royal was fantastic

What happened?

[sturginho]

FFS

Italy saved by a knock on

[Slick]

We are so lucky to have Fiji in rugby. We should look after them so much better.

That just there with the Princess Royal was fantastic

What happened?

They shook her hand and then went down n one knee and clapped as a sign of respect

[Uncle fester]

I'm not a huge fan of Henshaw, I think Farrell is better, Farrell single-handedly destroyed Edinburgh one terrible night, but I think McCloskey offers more than Farrell. Aki can be a bit of penalty magnet.

edit, btw, no idea about the cricket analogy, I don't follow it.

You talking about Chris Farrell? Chances are that he'll never play pro rugby for an Irish team ever again.

I didn't know about that story, I've only just looked it up.

Fuck him.

Yep, even if he gets through the case, he's probably finished. McCloskey is effectively 4th choice for the 12 jersey but hope he has a stormer today.

[Slick]

Scotland didn’t look in the right frame of mind for this before KO, they certainly know there is a game on now. VdM look totally psyched out by them at the moment

[Jock42]

We are so lucky to have Fiji in rugby. We should look after them so much better.

That just there with the Princess Royal was fantastic

What happened?

They shook her hand and then went down n one knee and clapped as a sign of respect

I'm assuming the 2nd or 3rd Fijian in was a squaddie as he brought himself up to attention.

They're having a fucking good go here.

[Jock42]

Discipline non-fucking-existent.

[sturginho]

Italy score twice in a couple of minutes, Samoa must be really regretting that knock on

[Blackmac]

Discipline non-fucking-existent.

They are ill disciplined rabble these days and getting worse by the game.

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Dear lord, this is horrible so far

[Slick]

Discipline non-fucking-existent.

It’s absolutely shocking. No more than we deserve after seeing a few of them, including the captain, laughing and joking before the anthems etc.

Im furious here

[Uncle fester]

Toonie out?

[Jock42]

Toonie out?

Been on that wagon a while. Not going to beat you or SA next year so fuck all to lose imo.