[RWC2023 QF2] Ireland vs New Zealand (14/10/2023)

[AngloScotsHybrid]

I'd kill to have O'Mahony in the England team. Exactly what we need.

Very good player who just oozes 'don't mess with me or my mates'. Brilliant line out jumper too, but without being so tall that it compromises his other work.

He's just nails. Always said that him and Flannery were 2 blokes I really wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley.

So what if his bantz isn't down at Haskell's level?

I was surprised to see on Saturday that Blair Kinghorn is a lot taller than O'Mahoney.

 

[retired9]

Everytime I go on social media I see videos of Ireland fans celebrating and singing Zombie. Is there a danger that Ireland, or at least their fans, think they have already won this world cup?

It would make the AB's victory all the more hilarious let's be honest.... Is Irish Arrogance a thing yet?

 

[Grizwald]

I find it difficult to judge where NZ really are. They got by France, then a canter through the pool. France have done the same so both might be not as battled hardened as their pool B opponents. Ireland finishing up with Scotland has given them a certain amount of cadence going into the quarters. Given the numbers at the Scotland game it will probably feel like an Irish home game.

I don't think NZ are to be underestimated, if they click like in that first half against SA in the Championship it will be a hell of a game. Ireland have been really consistent and on the back of a long winning streak I think they'll win by 5-7 points.

 

[Saintjay]

Love POM love his alleged weird obsession with his lawn. Equally I'd love England to be quick witted enough to not butcher a three on two let alone quick witted enough for some sledging.

Loads of good sledges in cricket / rugby.

The 'Why are you so fat' and 'How's the wife and my kids' being classics.

 

[SteveAustin794582]

RugbyPass (a NZ TV rugby discussion show) was saying that NZ shouldn't try to attack wide like Scotland did, as it just didn't work. So i guess that taking into account the lack of success the Saffas had in going straight up the middle, then it leaves NZ with just the long kicking game? Personally that is how I would play it, kick long for the touch lines, or even straight down the middle if we must.

This is Ireland's game to lose, I simply can't see anywhere NZ can beat them if it's a battle of "game plans". NZ will not get many chances to launch attacks, the game will not be loose enough, and pushing the attack will play into Ireland's hands. Ireland could win this in a canter similar to the Scotland game. A bit worried about it to tell the truth.

The set-pieces will be equal, scrum and line-out. The Irish back plays will consistently get Ireland over the advantage line. NZ don't have anything to offer from phase play, and should mix it up with chip kicks, grubber kicks, and occasional bombs. The messier that NZ can make the game the better for them. This is also applicable at the break-down too. NZ will need to aim to triple-tackle somewhere in each phase in order to slow down Irish ball, timing this correctly would really frustrate the Irish. Schmidt needs to add his valuable knowledge here.

If James Lowe is out, that will be huge, one of Ireland's 3 most important players imo. Ireland also have been playing their top team consistently and I think they won't be as fresh as NZ. The easy wins NZ had are exactly what they needed in order to gain confidence in attack, a confidence that will be needed. On the other hand, I expect NZ to give at least one yellow card away.

Final score: Ireland 34 - NZ 12. It's a big call, never picked the AB's to lose by such a margin before, but we simply haven't had the right coach since 2017 (Hansen's final years were akin to Brando's character in Apocalypse Now, grown rotten in his all consuming power).

 

[IT157]

Ireland's adventure in this World Cup will end on Saturday October 14, 2023.
The All-Black will not make the same mistakes as South Africa.
The only chance for Ireland to reach the semi-final is for Wayne Barnes to be the central referee and the two linesmen to be Chris Busby, Joy Neville and the video consultants to be Irish native Brian MacNeice.
I am never wrong in my predictions.

Yeah you are. When your predictions are wrong you just change the narrative.

e.g. well that team would have made the final if it were not that for that dastardly ref!

 

[O’Doyle Rules]

All this talk of NZ revenge. Think Ireland will be equally as pumped to revenge 2019.

Think this game is a 50/50 - maybe 60/40 as it will be a home game for Ireland

 

[Reiser99]

I don't think Ireland's back injuries matter too much. Ireland will win up front, their pack is too good. I don't think NZ's pack is good enough right now and over 80 minutes will get ground down.

 

[Jaguares]

I just see a man who speaks the truth tbh

Say the truth to Bundee Aki and James Lowe too. Both couldn't make the All Blacks squad neither

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Say the truth to Bundee Aki and James Lowe too. Both couldn't make the All Blacks squad neither

I say it all the time

 

[O’Doyle Rules]

I think we need 2/3 of the back 3. Not keen on earls but nobody else. Hendo if anything offers more than Ryan. They'll put Baird on the bench.

 

[SteveAustin794582]

I don't think Ireland's back injuries matter too much. Ireland will win up front, their pack is too good. I don't think NZ's pack is good enough right now and over 80 minutes will get ground down.

Disagree, the Irish pack are good enough to hold their own but they do not dominate. Their main function is to recycle the ball consistently so that the opposition forwards are tied up, and then they go to the backs and run their plays in depth.

 

[Jaguares]

I say it all the time

I mean, O'Mahony saying that to his teammates

 

[Smurfy]

All this talk of NZ revenge. Think Ireland will be equally as pumped to revenge 2019.

Think this game is a 50/50 - maybe 60/40 as it will be a home game for Ireland

I'd imagine the Irish players couldn't give a tuppeny toss about 2019. They don't strike me as a side that feeds off that sort of emotive stimulation. Actually they come across as very cold blooded and ruthless. Very unIrish in fact.

 

[Musichead]

Peter O'Mahony is the most nasty player in international rugby. What he said to Duhan van der Merwe last game, "You are not good enough to be a Springbok" and what he said to Sam Cane last year: "You are a shitt* Richie McCaw"

The lad is a bonehead, he doesn't represent the true values of this sport

Funnily they have 4 Kiwis and 2 Aussies in their team. Say to Bundee Aki or James Lowe that they weren't good enough to play for NZ

Its the truth, cane isnt a Mc caw and VDM olays for scots because he want selected for the boks. Truth hurts.

 

[IT157]

I'd imagine the Irish players couldn't give a tuppeny toss about 2019. They don't strike me as a side that feeds off that sort of emotive stimulation. Actually they come across as very cold blooded and ruthless. Very unIrish in fact.

Must be all their imports having a positive impact. Including the coach.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

i have to say....most kiwis i know didnt really get the insult....Richie is one of the best rugby players in history...almost everyone is **** compared to him....sure you say your **** compared to something that us already ****

 

[40/20]

Love POM love his alleged weird obsession with his lawn. Equally I'd love England to be quick witted enough to not butcher a three on two let alone quick witted enough for some sledging.

Loads of good sledges in cricket / rugby.

The 'Why are you so fat' and 'How's the wife and my kids' being classics.

Yep classics. And the alleged retorts were even better I reckon...

"Why are you so fat" - Because every time I f**k your wife she gives me a biscuit
"How's the wife and my kids" - Wife's doing ok, kids are a bit retarded

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Schmidt is our one chance here. When Schmidt first came in, in a part time role, his job was to study the opposition. I don't know if he retained that role after becoming a full time assistant, but I'm hoping he has. Schmidt as the analyst of the Irish is the one thing that gives me some hope.

And that isn't because I think the Irish have a lot of weaknesses we can exploit, it's more because this all blacks team isn't good enough to just focus on their own game; they need to do whatever they need to do to beat the specific opposition, and they need to understand they need to do it exceptionally well. By focusing on the opposition they might finally realise the opposition is better than them.

And I'm hoping we've been working out how to beat Ireland for some time now, not just the last week

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Schmidt is our one chance here. When Schmidt first came in, in a part time role, his job was to study the opposition. I don't know if he retained that role after becoming a full time assistant, but I'm hoping he has. Schmidt as the analyst of the Irish is the one thing that gives me some hope.

And that isn't because I think the Irish have a lot of weaknesses we can exploit, it's more because this all blacks team isn't good enough to just focus on their own game; they need to do whatever they need to do to beat the specific opposition, and they need to understand they need to do it exceptionally well. By focusing on the opposition they might finally realise the opposition is better than them.

my pessimistic reply...didnt he have the job of opposition analyst when we lost to Ireland at home last year?...and that was when things would have been much more similar to when he left them so should have had a bit of existing knowledge