Extra All Blacks edge for third Irish Test
At first glance, Saturday’s third New Zealand-Ireland rugby clash might seem like a dead Test with the All Blacks having already secured the series.
But with the home side stung after almost losing the second Test, and Ireland desperate to secure their first victory over the All Blacks after coming so close in Christchurch, the Hamilton game is anything but.
“We were disappointed we didn’t perform as well as we did the week before, but we were up against an Irish team that were up a step,” All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said.
“We’ve got to make sure that we progress.”
McCaw admits there’s been an extra edge to training since the 22-19 scare in Christchurch.
“We thought we had a good week last week but, in hindsight, it didn’t have the same feel as the week before,” he said.
“It certainly put everyone’s feet firmly on the ground.”
The Irish players looked deflated in Christchurch after failing to get the win, but assistant coach Les Kiss says they’re ready to face a hungrier All Blacks side.
“We’ve looked to ramp up the areas that we thought we were good in, and make sure we cover some of the areas where we gave them easy possession.
“If we can get on top of those things, it’ll be a good game.”
Ireland have made three changes to their starting team and the All Blacks six, though both teams had their hand forced by injuries.
The injury to All Blacks five-eighth Dan Carter is on paper the most notable, but Aaron Cruden confidently filled in for him in the World Cup and No.8 Kieran Read’s injury might be more significant.
Read’s power will be missed, but McCaw has confidence he can do the job at No.8.
“At the end of the day, apart from a little bit of stuff at set piece time, you don’t change your game a whole lot.”
© AAP 2013
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The Crowd Says (13) | Page 1 of Comments
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June 23rd 2012 @ 9:04am
moaman said | June 23rd 2012 @ 9:04am | Report comment
I am quite nervous about this one.Just watched the Baby Boks out-muscle NZ at Cape Town.Great Final!Congrats to RSA. In the end,NZ had no answer to the rolling maul and their game gradually disintegrated.The BBs played the ‘ol kick n chase game,dominated possession and upped their physicality in the 2nd half when it was needed.The Irish could take a leaf out of the same book;as always in rugby,when you dominate possession and defend well,you are always going to be damned hard to beat.
The ABs are essentially a 2nd string unit,no matter which way you look at it.Fortunately Ireland’s loose trio is also disrupted because I see that area to be a key ingredient in tonight’s result.RM may not be fully fit yet,but I can see that his performances from here on in are going to come more and more under the spotlight.There are some calls to try him at 6 ( and introduce a fetcher) but I don’t believe he is cut out to be a modern 6 or 8.So,for mine,the slide rule will be forever hovering on his no.7 game.If he doesn’t measure up then I believe he has to go-either temporarily,to work back to fitness and form,or……
Forecast is for cloudy,showery weather tonight.Ireland will be licking their chops.
June 23rd 2012 @ 10:27am
ohtani's jacket said | June 23rd 2012 @ 10:27am | Report comment
You worry too much before these tests, moaman
We wouldn’t have won last week with McCaw. He set up the winning play and secured the kick-off after we’d scored. His handling left him down, but his workrate was huge. The issue with him at eight is the kick-offs. He won’t be able to challenge in the air like Read does and he had some trouble taking them which led to two Ireland penalties from memory. The problem with McCaw is that I don’t think he can play every test. If he does that then he probably only has this year left in the tank.
June 23rd 2012 @ 9:32am
Pot Hale said | June 23rd 2012 @ 9:32am | Report comment
They will, moaman. Should be a great game.
My source in the travelling party tells me that two notices will be going up in the dressing room tomorrow – both courtesy of Mr S Hansen. “the Irish probably played the best as they could this week” and “”the All Blacks are expected to win every game … we wouldn’t want to change that expectation”.
The boys are quietly ready, it seems, to burst a couple more Kiwi bubbles of expectation….
Here’s hoping.
Congrats to the baby boks. Good to see the only team that beat them handily was Ireland.
June 25th 2012 @ 11:24am
SkinnyKid said | June 25th 2012 @ 11:24am | Report comment
hindsight?
June 23rd 2012 @ 11:09am
Uncle Argyle said | June 23rd 2012 @ 11:09am | Report comment
An Australian & Irish win has a lovely ring to it. Good luck Ireland
June 23rd 2012 @ 11:41am
moaman said | June 23rd 2012 @ 11:41am | Report comment
OJ/POT ; I know that RM’s all round game was huge last week-the 4 knocks-on apart-but it is the balance of the backrow that is out of kilter if he is not performing his key roles,particularly at the breakdown.It may be true OJ that I worry too much–I told a friend I don’t recall ever having been bothered by Ireland before.My first view of them was as a young fella on the 1972-73 tour…the epic draw at Lansdowne Rd.I agree,McCaw’s battered body won’t last too much longer if every game sees him looking as beaten up as he appeared last saturday!
Pot Hale–As I mentioned last week,I found it regrettable the noises Wynne Gray,Rattue & co were making in the media.They are not representative imo and their utterances should be taken with a grain of salt. I’m surprised anyone can understand SHansen without an interpreter! Tell you what though,I’d prefer a coach who says what he thinks-even if it is cocky–to the usual double-speak we fans are subjected to.I don’t like him giving the opposition ammo,but hey! Can’t have it both ways.
ps If Ireland win–will it be regarded as a ‘Ben Horne’-style “ambush”??
June 24th 2012 @ 5:41pm
ohtani's jacket said | June 24th 2012 @ 5:41pm | Report comment
What did I tell you about being too worried? Didn’t really answer any of our pre-match questions but will have given the selectors a bit of food for thought. Was impressed with Romano. I thought he took his opportunity by the horns.
June 24th 2012 @ 6:12pm
moaman said | June 24th 2012 @ 6:12pm | Report comment
-Cruden’s hold-up that preceded the flicked offload to Williams for his 1st and NZ’s 2nd try was sublime.
-Cane played like it was his birthright …Messam put away a dodgy start with his handling and grew as the game went on
-RM was immense! How good was Gear’s try? (My daughter texted me from an Irish pub in Wellinton that it was Lomu-esque)
I could go on but you get my drift
Suffice to say the future doesn’t look too bleak.
June 23rd 2012 @ 12:52pm
defunkt said | June 23rd 2012 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
Yep with Kieran Read and Dan Carter out (both frequently referred to as ‘best player in the world right now’ at different times) and wholesale change on both wings (still missing Jane and Kahui) this side is looking pretty makeshift. I struggle to see them dealing out much of a ‘backlash’ and, especially with the forecast, Ireland should really fancy their chances.
June 23rd 2012 @ 1:11pm
dcnz said | June 23rd 2012 @ 1:11pm | Report comment
This is Chiefs territory bros, we have Cane, Cruden and Sonny Bill on the paddock. they wont want to lose at home. Isnt Ireland without Heaslip, right, so game over…
June 23rd 2012 @ 3:01pm
West said | June 23rd 2012 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
Truth is all blacks where casual in there last match, even the Haka was poor. They expected another walk in the park. Mentally soft, hard mindset to break. they knew it, yea sure they won by points but lost the game. I’d expect a different team on the field today, with a different attitude.
June 24th 2012 @ 12:47am
Ben S said | June 24th 2012 @ 12:47am | Report comment
I thought Carter and McCaw looked really, really pumped coming out of the tunnel.
June 23rd 2012 @ 3:17pm
chuck said | June 23rd 2012 @ 3:17pm | Report comment
I’m feeling quite confident about these new blokes in this A/B its all about trust and Steve Hansen has given these blokes huge responsibilities that he has faith in them to do the job 107 years to defend this nightmare that Ireland cant shake off glory for them if they succeed and a job well done if the A/B keep their record in place .
Do I see a back lash by the A/B they be throwing the kitchen sink at them McCaw is not too happy man after his performance l
last week he be wanting to rectify that and lead from the front like always I must say we cant wallow on players that are out with injuries
nor has Hansen this is a All black team not 2nd stringers they in a full on test and people should respect these players wearing that black jersey with the mana it has even if they are only guardians too it.
CONGRADULATION TO THE BABY BOKS .