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Ireland v New Zealand

I agree with this in area's.
-Yes he dictates players minutes and positions (Although I don't think he could make the 'Wallace Call' at Munster or Leinster)
-When he started there was a buzz but I fear the buzz has gone stale and well he is being a bit too rigid
-Kidney picked his assistants but I was more refferring to the men above Kidney. Just an example with made up wages.
(If Earls on 30k and Kearney on 50k, then the IRFU will want Kearney involved more than Earls. This I can confirm is 100% fact. Not on them 2 players but the value for contract issue.)
- You say Kidney brought in some players mentioned but here I will scroll
Healy had to be included as Horan wasn't 100% and well whoever came in had momentu to take over.
Heaslip was there before Kidney and well he was only no.8 naturally available. (Leamy still had injury issues)
T.O'L was another that had too occur as it'd make no sense - T.O'L > Strings for Munster and Strings > TOL for Ire. Lets not forget it was DK who dropped Strings for Munster too.
Sexton was a call everyone was making and DK was under pressure to make that call
Bowe is the 1 case DK deserves massive credit as well as The Ospreys
Kearney and Fitzgearld were there before DK
 
Just to address a few of those points:

As far as I recall, Kearney, Bowe, Fitzgerald and Heaslip failed to make the World Cup squad just 9 months before Kidney took over. O'Sullivan didn't fully trust them and although they had been capped before Kidney took over, it was Kidney who made them integral parts of the team.

The player management programme limits the amount of minutes players can play. In Leinster's case, there have been a few occasions this year where the game has been in the balance (Cardiff and Galsgow immediately spring to mind) and after 60 minutes the bench has been emptied due to this. I don't have a problem limiting the amount of games the internationals play but I think mandating that players can must be replaced after set number of minutes is a step too far.

Back to the game, I haven't been so pessimistic about Ireland's chances in a long time. Our only hope is that New Zealand underestimate Ireland as much as the Irish public do!
 
No I agree they were not in the World Cup Squad but Eddie used them in following 6Nations. And I agree Kidney has made them important squad members (and I'm not saying it was only because of this) but he didn't have alot of options.
Don't get me wrong I'm a massive DK fan but the DK that performed his magic at Munster and the style he used at Munster (which was the style that got him the job) seems to be abandoned.
 
Getting ready for this game in the only way kiwis know how-



I think Ireland are being a little over pessimistic about this game, I predict Ireland losing by only 10 points.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm getting rather optimistic about this one. Our backrow should bring enough intensity through Heaslip, who'll surely be on a mission, Wallace and the beastly Stephen Ferris. If we can get get those guys running at the Blacks and hitting the ruck hard we can create a good platform from which Sexton and the men out wide can operate.

Kearney needs to attack the line with alot more ambition than he has shown recently. Contrary to what some people say, I think he's quite a good attacker who just hasn't had much of a chance to come into the game recently, along with the rest of our immensely talented back three(All capped Lions before we forget).

Our kicking from hand has to be spot on. Seriously,a few misplaced punts and the likes of Gear and Jane can cause us alot of problems. When we kick, which should be rarely enough if we want to compete on a level playing field, we have to be pin point accurate.

New Zealand have a truly excellent drift defence so our best chance of breaking through the cover is a quick change of direction in attack. If Fitzgerald and Bowe can come inside their opposite numbers they have the skills to create something special.

The midfield is going to be absolutely key. It's two great combinations going up against each other. With Sexton operating at 10 Nonu probably wont be as effective in running down that channel as he was the last time the All Blacks came to Dublin but he'll still be a mighty threat. An immense physical presence. D'arcy will have to be at his best to take on the challenge. Conrad Smith has to have the most intelligent game of any SH centre at the moment. The only man who'd have a comparable rugby brain is his opposite number today. Hopefully it'll be a classic matchup and the team that wins the midfield will be able to control the wide game.

We've got to be razor sharp in defence. If and when the All Blacks get a turn over we've got to be on them straight away. If we dose off we're screwed. However, if we can keep our composure after a turn over and shut their counter attacks down we will have taken away one of their most potent weapons.


No doubt it's a massive ask, but we're going to do it sometime. Might as well be today...
 
Aviva stadiumlooking a little more populated than against SA (never saw Samoa natch)
 
Not a bad start by Ireland,
Lineout looking strong, and competing well at the breakdown
 
Ireland looking able to conpete where we could not last week

AB's still look awesome though
 
Ireland get caught going into the cookie jar. DC makes em pay NZ 3 IRE 0.
 
Gear comin up with a big defensive play. One on one rip as Ireland looked good.

3-3
 
Sexton gets his first kick of the night - he'll get the rest now :D

They should take Reddan off at halftime, it's only been 12minutes but his distribution has been poor as anything. Hospital pass to BOD there, which isn't what you want from your 9
 
Irish decide to give the ball to BOD to kick and he puts it out on a full. ABs happy to accept an invitation into Trish half. DC makes it 6-3
 
Irish running very well. Beautiful set piece move off the scrum from Ireland.
 
Ireland are impressing me a lot!
Making a lot of breaks, Reddan with a lovely break, but his chip is charged down, and Bowe almost got away but was tap tackled


Cronin on for Best, shame to see him go off injured, but it strengthens Ireland a bit
 

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