It’s fantastic for Hawkes Bay’s Israel Dagg to get a start for he was easily the fullback of the Super 14 this year. Add Rocokoco and Jane to the mix, and that’s a superstar back three.
If the weather’s good and Ireland kick too much, as British sides generally do, we may be witness to the ushering in of a new era – the age of Israel may begin at Yarrow Stadium.
His vision not only allows fine strikes at slightly ajar defences, with powerful running. He can alo drop the ball to his foot into good space. With flying wingers on either side, they may combine magically.
Please O’Gara, kick too much!
Looking inside, Conrad Smith, or the Stone Eel as I like to call him, slips into gaps that only he could squeeze through and places runners into holes with soft and silky hands.
And then there’s Benson Stanley, nephew of ‘Smokin Joe’, one of the all time best centres I’ve ever seen. Judging from that pedigree and his capable crunches and crashes, this All Blacks backline should be able to break the Irish backline.
But will the Irish forward pack allow them front foot ball?
Scrum time is always a great indication of how clean or scrappy the game will be: the messier the scrum, the messier ruck and maul time will be. Discipline must be enforced at ruck time.
It’s disappointing watching a game where spirit destroying tactics like killing the ball and repeat offences are not harshly dealt with.
Now back to the battle of the brawn.
As Ireland have already completed the 6 Nations, I expect them to be a stronger unit, at least until the All Black forwards find their rhythm. The longer Ireland control this facet, the better their chance of winning.
I look forward to seeing how the Franks brothers crack into their work, as well as Boric’s return to the black jersey. Along with Thorn, Kino, Mealamu, Read and McCaw, they will be forceful and effective and looking to play a dynamic game at pace.
It’s their job to feed a deadly backline with tasty quick ball.
Ireland will have to be defensively on their game if they want to control the tempo, and extremely protective of the ball when they have it.
The worst thing they can do is kick poorly and allow the All Blacks broken play opportunities.
Ireland always has the fire in the belly to be competitive, but when they’re pressured, that fire turns into frustration and emotion, which has lost them many a game. To win this game, that passion must be balanced with composure.
Pothale
Guest
Grovel? I don't do grovelling, johnno. I think you mean something else. Switch allegiance to the All Blacks? They're too black for my liking, I prefer a bit of colour like South Africa or Paraguay. But the Wallabies still have my No 2 vote.
johnno42
Guest
pothale has it occurred to you that you might be pumpin for a loser here?? perhaps if you swapped allegiance to a southern team (all blacks) you might not have to grovel repeatedly
Pothale
Guest
And I see Heaslip has been cited. "He got sent off for a knee. It's before the judiciary and I've been told not to talk too much about it. The issue was dealt with by what the ref saw," McCaw said. "I guess the disappointing part is it put them under pressure. When they were down to 14 the game was over after that really. But I guess that's what happens - it makes it hard on your team when ill-discipline gets in the way." The All Blacks captain sums it up neatly.
Derm
Roar Guru
No excuses. Ireland lost. NZ won again. It was over as a match when Heaslip had his stupid moment of madness after 13 minutes. I've no doubt he'll be cited to boot, so won't play again. Even worse, Muldoon got a fractured shoulder and Mick O'Driscoll is also gone with an injury. So team is now bust for any further matches. Australia will be loving it. Whatever about the NZ Maori. At least I was right in saying that with the bench empty, Dan Touhy would come on and run over a few guys to score a try. But that was about it. Ireland got some nice tries, but it was killed off even before O'Gara nanaged tio get himself carded. ABs looked very pacy and I like the look of your man Dagg - lovely runner, soft hands and skill. He'll give Mils a run for his money for a starting spot. As Cian Healy observed, NZ has a conveyor belt of players of this calibre, Ireland gets to pick one in a thousand, in contrast Not sure how much ABs learned from such a one-sided contest. Oh well. Sigh. Have to wait till another day.
johnno42
Guest
well bro... its just how these NH blokes get their jollies....
Jerry
Guest
"Man shaming"? Someone's been spending a bit of time on the Planet Rugby board, I see...
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
It was a veritable man shaming. And Heaslip got his just desserts - he's a nasty player and was lucky to avoid punishment for eye gouging Brussow in November.
Tutu
Guest
Wait don't tell me it was the refs fault! No Richie was cheating, The ABs were off side all night. We had players out with injury.......... Bloody rain was falling horizontally, The moon and planets weren't aligned. Lets face facts here, an Injury depleted ABs beat an Injury depleted Ireland and they did it in emphatic fashion. The game was all but over by the 30 minute mark. The second 40 while slightly more competitive was still 28-21 in the ABs favour who by this time had used everyone off the bench, any team who makes this many changes will struggle to maintain composure. If I was the Irish coach I'd be putting Heaslip on the first plane home, actually I'd make the thug pay for his own ticket. It was a blight on the game and his team payed dearly for it.
Jerry
Guest
Not humiliated by any means (except for Heaslip and ROG) but still not many positives to take from it. If they can keep up that sort of intensity, ball control and good short passing game against Aus, they'll compete well. But the reality is they scored all their points against a team that was already 30 points up and the last 3 tries after the bench had been emptied.
johnno42
Guest
i think the fact that they didnt throw in the towel early deserves mention and perhaps that might save pothole from a sliver of humiliation... d'ya think?
Jerry
Guest
That's probably taking it a bit far Johnno - they didn't give in and showed some heart, but the game had zero intensity in the second half, so there's not much positive that either team can really take from it.
johnno42
Guest
congratulations pothale, your boys did well in the end
Jerry
Guest
Well, Heaslip went for Ferocity but without any Composure, and just like that we've had a training run from that moment on. Shame.
Jerry
Guest
Pothale, please. Do I have to remind you that "Ireland has never beaten the All Blacks"?
Short-Blind.
Guest
And then you awoke from your dream.......to the harsh reality of 3 NH losses. Seriously good luck Pothale, as I have 3/4 Irish ancestry I will be supporting them against the Blacks. Go the Irish!
johnno42
Guest
i dunno about "exploded" but he sure did run off at the mouth... 96 - 97 - 98 - 99 change hands Pothale
pothale
Guest
Mount Pothale! Thanks for the chuckle, VC. You're right, thought, these Australians will never learn, will they? It's going to be a four star day - I can feel it in me water. Ireland by 20 points on New Zealand as O'Driscoll has another dizzy spell and has to be taken off after 35 minutes when two New Zealand players run round him in circles causing another bout of vertigo. With no backs left on the bench, Gloucester import, Dan Tuohy makes his debut on the wing and promptly runs over Cory Jane to score a try - twice. As the whole of Ireland continues to sleep on a Saturday morning unaware of the small victory being achieved on their behalf on the other side of the world, a small explosion is heard from a house somewhere in the wilds of Westmeath as Mount Pothale erupts for a second time in 24 hours. England to follow up mid-morning with a demolishing of the Aussie front row and tries aplenty. France to turn up and play the Boks off the park And finally Mr Kellock & Co to doon the Argies. A Rhapsody in Oval.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
"If the weather’s good and Ireland kick too much, as British sides generally do..." I think Mount Pothale just exploded.