New Zealand 66 vs Ireland 28 FT

[ranger]

Mind you "rugbywriter" (yeah right) says that Jimmys not our best.....yawwwwwwwwwn.

To be fair to Piri, he may have a big arse, but he set up a beaut of a try. He put Boric in the gap and then no looked a perfect ball in.
Thats the value of Piri, hes a playmaker. I'm not saying Cowan isn't the best option, but Weepu deserves his spot

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

well if today doesn't serve as motivation for the next game, there's no hope for us. First proper game in Lansdowne, the players won't want it to be another tanking from the All Blacks.

Well generally there's been less crap directed our way from Ireland fans than other NH nations over the years (I know, I've been on this forum 5 years!) and I feel that if we have to lose to one from up there, it should be you guys. At full strength of course!

Take pride in four tries guys.

 

[MunsterMan]

My dad kept telling me he thinks Ireland are playing crap and the AB's were playing well.

I don't see it though (granted I stopped watching somewhere in the first half after Ireland were down to 13 men).

I think if they had not been infected with lunacy and thuggery, playing with 15 men they would have given the ABs quite a run for their money.

I'd like to think that, but the All Blacks were 10-0 up. Fair enough the offense was committed when we were 5 metres out and McCaw was killing what could easily have been try scoring ball, but then again it could not have been. Hopefully our coaches eyes will have been opened and we will get closer to the best team we can pick out of the squad we brought. Buckley, Touhy, Reddan, Sexton and Murphy starting and we will give Australia a run for their money. Need to call up a backrow first though, only 3 left now.

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

To be fair to Piri, he may have a big arse, but he set up a beaut of a try. He put Boric in the gap and then no looked a perfect ball in.
Thats the value of Piri, hes a playmaker. I'm not saying Cowan isn't the best option, but Weepu deserves his spot

Totally, Weepu deserves his spot, was just arguing against the foolish ramblings this week that Cowan was sooooooooooooo bad that he doesn't deserve a Highlanders jersey let alone an All Blacks one.

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

I would estimate the score as being more like 46-28 had Ireland kept 15 men and not suffered the morale drop from that and O'Gara.

 

[munstermuffin]

Is Weepu signed up to stay or is there still rumours about him going to France.

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

Is Weepu signed up to stay or is there still rumours about him going to France.

Recently decided to stay here. He turned down more money as he loves being in New Zealand. I respect guys from any country who feel that way. Jimmy did the same for NZ$330,000 a season for 2 years (about 2 years ago).

 

[munstermuffin]

Agreed with that like money is good but no mmoney can replace the buzz of international rugby.

 

[Feicarsinn]

For Oz I'd go with:
1) Healy
2) Cronin
3) Buckley
4) O'Callaghan
5) Tuohy
6) Muldoon
7) Jennings
8) Wallace
9) Reddan
10) Sexton
11) Trimble
12) D'arcy
13) O'Driscoll
14) Bowe
15) Murphy

Let's play it quick and loose and see how we do. We got taught a lesson today, hopefully it will stand to us. I'm still banking on a tour from hell though.

 

[Peat]

I'd like to think that, but the All Blacks were 10-0 up. Fair enough the offense was committed when we were 5 metres out and McCaw was killing what could easily have been try scoring ball, but then again it could not have been. Hopefully our coaches eyes will have been opened and we will get closer to the best team we can pick out of the squad we brought. Buckley, Touhy, Reddan, Sexton and Murphy starting and we will give Australia a run for their money. Need to call up a backrow first though, only 3 left now.

Is Muldoon's injury bad?

I'd call up Roger Wilson as a like for like (or close as you're gonna get) for Heaslip, assuming he gets banned... which surely he must.

 

[MunsterMan]

I would estimate the score as being more like 46-28 had Ireland kept 15 men and not suffered the morale drop from that and O'Gara.

Think you are being harsh there on Ireland. IF ,and it's a big pointless, who cares if, (but I wasn't the one who brought it up ) Heaslip had turned the other way and looked for a pass, McCaw was minimum conceding a penalty, quite possibly a yellow too considering we were camped on your 5m line. Could have changed the whole game and made it a much more cagey affair and not the very open game it turned out to be. 28-23 All Blacks is about on the money I reckon.

 

[MunsterMan]

Muldoon has a broken arm I think I heard from the commentator?? :S

Good call on shifting Wallace to 8, Henry doesn't have the power to play 8 at this level but is a good enough footballer to play 6/7. I'd call up Roger Wilson or James Coughlan at the same time, maybe even both.

 

[munstermuffin]

For Oz I'd go with:
1) Healy
2) Cronin
3) Buckley
4) O'Callaghan
5) Tuohy
6) Muldoon
7) Jennings
8) Wallace
9) Reddan
10) Sexton
11) Trimble
12) D'arcy
13) O'Driscoll
14) Bowe
15) Murphy

Let's play it quick and loose and see how we do. We got taught a lesson today, hopefully it will stand to us. I'm still banking on a tour from hell though.

Muldoon broke his arm but can't see any replacement called.
6. Jennings? 7. Wallace and 8. Henry is all I can think of as well we dont have any other option only Niall Ronan.

Maybe call Quinlan out

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

My first stab at predicting a What If? score for the full 15 men was going to be 38-28, but I thought the All Blacks fans would've been anti-me too much as a kiss-ass if I'd said it. I think 28-23 is a bit overly optimistic, but it's just fun guessing. What are other peoples guesstimates?

 

[munstermuffin]

I think vs Aus,

Hayes will probably be brought in.
Flannery possibly will be recalled.
Tuohy will replace O'Driscoll if he injured
Backrow is a problem
I think O'Leary will be kept but Sexton comes in and possibly Murphy in for Kearney

 

[MunsterMan]

Henry is not anywhere near an internaional 8, one thing getting an armchair ride behind an Ulster scrum, big difference at this level. Wallace/Wilson/Coughlan for 8.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Jennings is far from a 6, you'd be better to stick Wally on the blindside than him. Without Muldoon our options do become quite limited. Perhaps Neil Best deserves a callup? If nothing else he'll add aggression.

 

[munstermuffin]

MunsterMan the only thing is Kidney views him as a international 8 (Henry) otherwise he wouldn't be selected.

 

[Peat]

Much as I like Henry, I think he's more a 6 than an 8 at this level... 6. Henry 7. Jennings 8. Wallace looks the best from what you've got.

If O'Driscoll is injured, does this mean Ryan Caldwell is going to get called up? This really is last man standing here...

 

[lance2010]

Hey Funny to see Carter change his boots from the silver adidas back to black during the game lol