Tour to NZ 2022

[Oldschoolsocks]

South African team for tomorrow's game against NZ has a very familiar look. It should certainly give us a good benchmark as to what level NZ are in World terms:

https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/lineups?ga ... gue=244293

Certainly looks to me as if Joe pointed the finger at the front five. Fascinating that no comment has been made whether concussion / injury played any part in second-row selection. When you're dropped in NZ, you're dropped.

If NZ win tomorrow, I will be very pleased. So, I suspect, will Faz

I believe Retallick has, what is known in medical circles, a fractured face or a mushed mush

[riocard911]

South African team for tomorrow's game against NZ has a very familiar look. It should certainly give us a good benchmark as to what level NZ are in World terms:

https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/lineups?ga ... gue=244293

Certainly looks to me as if Joe pointed the finger at the front five. Fascinating that no comment has been made whether concussion / injury played any part in second-row selection. When you're dropped in NZ, you're dropped.

If NZ win tomorrow, I will be very pleased. So, I suspect, will Faz

C'mon NZ! Knock the Boks off their perch!!!

[dropkick]

South African team for tomorrow's game against NZ has a very familiar look. It should certainly give us a good benchmark as to what level NZ are in World terms:

https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/lineups?ga ... gue=244293

Certainly looks to me as if Joe pointed the finger at the front five. Fascinating that no comment has been made whether concussion / injury played any part in second-row selection. When you're dropped in NZ, you're dropped.

If NZ win tomorrow, I will be very pleased. So, I suspect, will Faz

C'mon NZ! Knock the Boks off their perch!!!

I don't really mind but then I see articles like this (link below) and I find myself hoping for a NZ win.

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/boks-throw ... t-ireland/

[jezzer]

Just rewatched the first test and Scott Barrett put on a masterclass of backrow shenanigans that would make McCaw (or Alan Quinlan) blush. Without him - and a display of lazy running reminiscent of PE class at first period - NZ would have struggled to contain us far more than they did in the final 50 mins.

If the RC gets reffed like the first test was, NZ will have a real shout. But if the ruck is reffed well i could see it being a long day for the Kiwis.

[cormac]

Faf de Klerk sparked out in the first minute. Boks have gone for a 6-2 bench split too.

[Ruckedtobits]

If NZ are to sack Foster, it's difficult to see how they can do so before the end of the Rugby Championship. They follow up their second game against S A by playing Argentina, home & away and then Australia, home & away by the end of September.

The All Black's XV, specifically come to Europe after a game in Canada at the end of October with a designated second-string who will play the Barbarians on November 12th, whilst the NZ Senior Squad will play games against Wales, Scotland & England in successive weekends.

So, if they are to appoint a new coaching group, the likelihood is they will do so at the end of September and give the new Head Coach a seven-week lead time with about 45 / 50 players to prepare to come to Europe via Canada.

After November, the calendar is vacant until next August when they are rumoured to have scheduled two warm-up games in preparation for meeting France in the first Pool game of RWC2023, followed by Namibia, Italy & Uruguay.

Not a lot of time for Razor Robinson to get a revised NZ team playing like Crusaders so maybe they'll offer the poisoned chalice to Joe to take them through to World Cup 2023?

[OTT]

The machine who allows others do the fancy stuff, JVDF

Great clips here from the test series of our work horse.


https://twitter.com/bensmithrugby/statu ... O-vM249Nag

[Morf]

The machine who allows others do the fancy stuff, JVDF

Great clips here from the test series of our work horse.


https://twitter.com/bensmithrugby/statu ... O-vM249Nag

The absence of emotion tackling and getting cleared out over and over makes me worried what he could do if angered.

[Twist]

Old news at this stage but since it hasn't already been posted...

"Joe Schmidt promoted to attack coach as All Blacks confirm Ian Foster will stay on as coach for World Cup"

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 17466.html

[Ruckedtobits]

Probably the lowest profile member of the Irish Tour Party who appeared during each Test Match, his role is uncertain outside the close-knit Squad and coaching group. His CV makes fascinating reading and he has certainly got plenty of stars in his copybook along the way. Given the various elements of Improvement that the addition of each Coach has contributed to over the past two seasons, it is interesting to speculate just where and how Peter Wilkins adds to the sum of the parts.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_W ... ion_coach)

Is his key role defensive? Is his contribution on the selection of attacking options? Is his most valuable attribute on how Ireland link their defensive expertise to transition to attack? Connacht has looked a very capable attacking team over the past two seasons, but their defence has let them down in many key games. Has anybody figured out exactly what role Peter Wilkins has had during this extraordinary period of success?

So now we know that Pete Wilkins is Head Coach in Connacht. Given that Nucifora was present throughout the Tour, that can probably be considered a very successful interview.

Will be interesting to see whether there will be any discernable changes in Connacht patterns & tactics with their alterations in Titles among Coaching staff. Certainly, to my eye, this looks like a stronger Connacht Squad than last season

https://www.the42.ie/connacht-friend-di ... 8-Aug2022/

[Ruckedtobits]

Just dusted this thread off looking for indicators as to likely candidates for Emerging Tour. Nobody unexpectedly shows up but OH, THP & SR still appear to present the best opportunities. Selections for Emerging Ireland in these positions in particular will attract lots of attention.

[riocard911]

Xmas comes four days late this year:

"Tackling the All Blacks" - RTÉ One, December 29, 18.30

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/12/14/ta ... ir-on-rte/

Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!