Spring Tour: New Zealand vs Ireland - 3rd Test. (23/6/2012, 07:35 GMT)

[smartcooky]

Looking back at 1973, Ireland had their best ever opportunity to beat the All Blacks, a last gasp try by Tom Grace in the right wing corner to level the match at 10-10; the All Blacks were saved from defeat when Barry McGann missed the conversion by inches. Last week was their second best ever opportunity to beat the All Blacks, but Irish fans should keep their eyes on the prize; the 107 year drought may well end on Saturday.

It will a better opportunity going into a match, to end the run of losses, than ever before. They have shown that they can foot it with the world cup holders, and now they face what I believe is a weaker team; no Read, no Carter, an out of form McCaw playing out of position and a new boy in the vital position of openside flanker. I expect that the Irish forwards will have the edge over the All Black pack, and that is something that no team has had in a while. To top it off, the weather forecast for Hamilton is shite!!!

If the record does go, then I will be gutted, any All Black supporter should be, but I will be pleased for some of the older Irish players, especially Brian O'Driscoll. This will be his 12th match for Ireland against the All Blacks in 12 years. No other Irish player has played in that many tests against us, and it would be a fitting way to end the career of someone who is IMO the greatest centre to ever play the game.

 

[big ginger 8]

Yeah potentially his last ever test against N.Z. and the day he equals Smit's record for most tests as captain would be brilliant. Maybe a bit weird to use it and specially here but "tiocfaidh ár lá" whatever about it's I.R.A. connections it does simply mean our day will come. Hope it's this Saturday.

 

[admartian]

^ Pretty much how i'll feel if the Irish win. I quite like the irish team; and BOD is a class guy.

 

[coonor]

Atleast Wallace is on form, the question is can he transfer that form onto the international level? It's quite worrying that Declan Kidney brought no back up 12s (up to his standard) and thus had to bring some on over and straight into the team after 1 injury. The pack is again is very good decision. SOB is continuing to develop into a top 7 and has had 2 very good games in that position. McLaughlin had a very good match last week and adds another option to the line out in Heaslips absence and POM looked very impressive off the bench last week so hopefully he can make a similar impact. In the backs, Murray was never going to be dropped after scoring a try last week, his base movements and passes are far too slow though. It seems that BOD is actually quite reluctant to move to 12. Maybe he feels that as he gets older, the last thing he wants to do is change position. He's in great form at 13 (as always) lets leave it that way. Bit surprised that Ferg has started every game but he played well last week, although Trimble probably deserves another chance.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Looking back at 1973, Ireland had their best ever opportunity to beat the All Blacks, a last gasp try by Tom Grace in the right wing corner to level the match at 10-10; the All Blacks were saved from defeat when Barry McGann missed the conversion by inches. Last week was their second best ever opportunity to beat the All Blacks, but Irish fans should keep their eyes on the prize; the 107 year drought may well end on Saturday.

It will a better opportunity going into a match, to end the run of losses, than ever before. They have shown that they can foot it with the world cup holders, and now they face what I believe is a weaker team; no Read, no Carter, an out of form McCaw playing out of position and a new boy in the vital position of openside flanker. I expect that the Irish forwards will have the edge over the All Black pack, and that is something that no team has had in a while. To top it off, the weather forecast for Hamilton is shite!!!

If the record does go, then I will be gutted, any All Black supporter should be, but I will be pleased for some of the older Irish players, especially Brian O'Driscoll. This will be his 12th match for Ireland against the All Blacks in 12 years. No other Irish player has played in that many tests against us, and it would be a fitting way to end the career of someone who is IMO the greatest centre to ever play the game.

The battle of the back row will certainly be interesting. Both sides are effectively fielding completely new units compared to what would have been in place 12 months ago. The losses of Kaino and Ferris effectively cancel each other out, while much the same can be said for Jamie Heaslip and Kieran Reid. At 7 Sean O'Brien has bossed McCaw this entire series, so it's not surprising to see Sam Cane, who had a very good debut, come in. I'm not convinced by McCaw at 8. In my opinion he's not enough of a threat with ball in hand for that roll. Against that we're starting with Peter O'Mahony, who will be playing only his second match for Ireland at 8 (his first test game). At 6 it's a battle of two players who haven't really been judged as being up to international standard in the past. Both are in their mid to late 20's and have fewer than 10 caps each. Admittedly, McLaughlin's career has been blighted by a lot of injuries, but prior to last week's match he had an awful lot of critics. In that match however he was exceptional.

It's an area that we need to get the upper hand in should we look to challenge the All Blacks on the weekend. Doing that is obviously easier said than done, as there isn't much between the two units and I'd probably favour the All Blacks to come out on top. If they do, and their outside backs are given the freedom they were given in the first test, it could be a long evening for the Irish.

 

[big ginger 8]

I am a bit annoyed Cronin and Reddan haven't been given a chance although of course Best is key to us and Kidney loves Murray. Also Kiss was apparently bigging Murray up this week. Whatever about his other faults I do think Murray is an excellent covering tackler.

 

[coonor]

With the back rows being so close, dominance will depend on who gains the upper hand in the front 5 and set piece. Who ever lays the base first will be able to dictate the game and it's pace. The key to beating New Zealand is not allowing the, to control the games speed. They have a great ability of upping the game when they like and if you allow them to do this winning is virtually impossible. We simply can't play the game on the All Blacks terms!

 

[Feicarsinn]

With the back rows being so close, dominance will depend on who gains the upper hand in the front 5 and set piece. Who ever lays the base first will be able to dictate the game and it's pace. The key to beating New Zealand is not allowing the, to control the games speed. They have a great ability of upping the game when they like and if you allow them to do this winning is virtually impossible. We simply can't play the game on the All Blacks terms!

You make a good point there. The scrum will be vital on the weekend. Personally I haven't really been impressed with the New Zealand front row as a scrummaging unit this series. They were unable to take advantage of Declan Fitzpatrick in the first test and certainly came off second best last week , most notably when Ben Franks came on. We must target the scrum again this week from the word go.

 

[admartian]

I like to imagine that teams from the British Isles always have a medieval battle-like speech, rousing the players made before the game; that always ends in a battle cry and the team running out and some banner men in tow.

Yeah, that's what you guys do.

"For history! For Guinness, and-for-IRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANDD!!!"

 

[Feicarsinn]

I like to imagine that teams from the British Isles always have a medieval battle-like speech, rousing the players made before the game; that always ends in a battle cry and the team running out and some banner men in tow.

Yeah, that's what you guys do.

"For history! For Guinness, and-for-IRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANDD!!!"

See manic aggression video I guess.

 

[big ginger 8]

Nah that's only with PO'C ****ing manic aggression put the fear of God into ya and all that BO'D's while no less passionite is a different style from what I've seen.

Feic wouldn't expect the scrum to be as good this week. I believe Romano is a proper tighthead lock and they haven't really been playing one before. A lot was down to the backrpw's looking up and N.Z. rarely make the same mistake two weeks in a row. Also B. Franks' shoulder was injured after Heaslip ran into him.

 

[SelimNiai]

I like to imagine that teams from the British Isles always have a medieval battle-like speech, rousing the players made before the game; that always ends in a battle cry and the team running out and some banner men in tow.

Yeah, that's what you guys do.

"For history! For Guinness, and-for-IRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANDD!!!"

Just saw Bravehart then? :lol:

 

[admartian]

Just saw Bravehart then? :lol:

Close.

Have just completed back to back seasons of Game of Thrones.

(that show is depressing btw. it's like the author went - "What? so you want bad guys winning huh? Ill give you bad guys...")

 

[SelimNiai]

Close.

Have just completed back to back seasons of Game of Thrones.

(that show is depressing btw. it's like the author went - "What? so you want bad guys winning huh? Ill give you bad guys...")

Not seen it, not my bag

 

[TRF_Olyy]

More like
"So...you really like that character, huh? How about....I KILL THEM ALL"

 

[admartian]

More like
"So...you really like that character, huh? How about....I KILL THEM ALL"

lol yeah more accurate.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Oh, here we go then....

 

[coonor]

Whoever gets the upper hand in the scrum will be benefitted greatly by Poite. Everyone knows that the side who get the shove on will be basically certain of a penalty from Poite!

Whats McCaws base control like?

 

[big ginger 8]

True I actually imagine PO'C is like a a young but ginger Robert Baratheon.

 

[Peat]

This reminds me that I want to write an essay detailing how Lord of the Rings is in fact an allegory for rugby teams trying to beat the All Blacks (represented by the Nazgul).