Tour to NZ 2022

[Oldschool]

... it's fair to say that our fitness wasn't an issue which is encouraging for the test games.

?????????????!!!!!! We were totally pedestrian and catching our breath all day.

Overall it was like watching a 1990s Irish side in NZ all over again....nightmares!

NZM didn't score in the second half which is simply not consistent with the opposition lacking fitness.

[riocard911]

... it's fair to say that our fitness wasn't an issue which is encouraging for the test games.

?????????????!!!!!! We were totally pedestrian and catching our breath all day.

Overall it was like watching a 1990s Irish side in NZ all over again....nightmares!

Certainly Hamilton hasn't been the happiest of hunting grounds for the BIG in recent years.....

[CiaranIrl]

Who'll be called up at loosehead? Ed Byrne? Or Wycherley maybe?

[berliner]

Who'll be called up at loosehead? Ed Byrne? Or Wycherley maybe?

Or O'Sullivan or Dooley?

And it sounds borderline insane, but in the absence of immediately compelling candidates the Jack Boyle project will surely be put on fast forward later this year. This could be the last tour he gets to watch in his pyjamas.

[lummix]

What about warrick at ulster, he starts ahead of o Sullivan. I would say we will call up two props. I'd like to see Dooley rewarded for leaving Leinster for first team rugby.

[Theleinsterlad]

Jesus I’m really confused about some of the selections for the first test following the Māori match. How in gods name has treadwell got on the bench after his performance (still am baffled how he got on the plane seen as he is not even first choice in ulster and the likes of molony was left behind). Earls at wing is also a weird one. God when I look at the bench it looks a big drop off from the 1st 15. Funny to think Leinster normally has a stronger bench when playing

[Dave Cahill]

New Zealand v IRELAND:

Eden Park, Auckland, Saturday 2nd July, 2022, KO: 8.05am Irish Time

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 20 caps
14. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 96 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 42 caps
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 57 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 12 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 105 caps CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 17 caps

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 43 caps
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 7 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 57 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 30 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 43 caps
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 84 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 40 caps
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 17 caps

Replacements

16. Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 6 caps
17. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 23 caps
18. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 116 caps
19. Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 5 caps
20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 27 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 96 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 32 caps
23. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 37 caps

[hugonaut]

Ed Byrne on the way out to NZ according to Birch [source: https://twitter.com/bernardjackman/stat ... 2321681408 ]

Happy for Ed, he stood up to be counted in the second part of the year.

[lummix]

I hope earls knew he was playing Saturday and was minding himself against the marois as he looked completely shot and had agee 10 years overnight

[wixfjord]

Yeesh that starting 23 doesn't look great.

Could be a bit of a roasting coming.

[wixfjord]

What exactly is the logic of having Bealham as bench LH cover and Healy as bench TH cover?

Such a bizarre selection.

If Healy isn't fit, as it looks very much like he isn't just say that.

[Atlas]

What exactly is the logic of having Bealham as bench LH cover and Healy as bench TH cover?

Such a bizarre selection.

If Healy isn't fit, as it looks very much like he isn't just say that.

Yeah saw that too.... surely just a mix up in jersey number you would think.

[Laighin Break]

What exactly is the logic of having Bealham as bench LH cover and Healy as bench TH cover?

Such a bizarre selection.

If Healy isn't fit, as it looks very much like he isn't just say that.

Yeah saw that too.... surely just a mix up in jersey number you would think.

Faz commented specifically on Healy covering TH and Bealham cover LH. Does seem mad alright.

From The42
"Named at No18, Healy has been asked to cover loosehead and tighthead. “He can do both,” said Farrell, “as can Finlay Bealham (the other replacement prop). They are both training that way.”"

[Dave Cahill]

If Healy isn't fit, as it looks very much like he isn't just say that.

Mind games, we're lulling them into a valid sense of security - its a twist no one will expect

[Atlas]

The bench really is so poor. There is no impact there at all bar Aki.

The score could really could get away from us in the last quarter.

[ronk]

Picking Healy is easier than saying AN Other.

Byrne is flying out. He can replace Healy. Or Faz can make a late call to let Bealham cover loosehead and pick O'Toole.

This way he can give Healy a chance to recover and buy time to make a selection later without naming a player and then dropping him.

[ronk]

POM has had some good days against NZ so fingers crossed. Looks like Faz is responding to the Maori game by targeting the breakdown.

[Laighin Break]

Looks like the Ireland team have been training with some local team:

[wixfjord]

Picking Healy is easier than saying AN Other.

Byrne is flying out. He can replace Healy. Or Faz can make a late call to let Bealham cover loosehead and pick O'Toole.

This way he can give Healy a chance to recover and buy time to make a selection later without naming a player and then dropping him.

Grand but if Healy is fit (and it looks unlikely) he'll be covering LH on the bench and Bealham will be covering TH.

Just pick Healy at 17, Bealham at 18 and if Healy is injured then bring someone in.

[nc6000]

Looks like the Ireland team have been training with some local team:

https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/1 ... 6949457922

Counties Manukau