Australia Tour Squad

[Banquo]

Maori AB's just stuffed Ireland 'a'. Think these games are all going to be tricky in the SH.

As prefaced, Ireland are a very decent side and well organised- but NZ have again raised the bar for speed of thought and deed. Ireland looked good with the ball, but without it…they’ll need to think again.

[Epaminondas Pules]

And the ABs are perfect for killing mistakes and turning 7 into 21. That said they look weak in parts. Their centres look poor (by their standards) and backline as a whole looks disjointed. Again by their standards.

[Banquo]

And the ABs are perfect for killing mistakes and turning 7 into 21. That said they look weak in parts. Their centres look poor (by their standards) and backline as a whole looks disjointed. Again by their standards.

Aye, not a vintage AB team, but front five is very good and they will get better. Midfield were ok I thought with Ioane looking handy. Ireland will be disappointed

[Epaminondas Pules]

And the ABs are perfect for killing mistakes and turning 7 into 21. That said they look weak in parts. Their centres look poor (by their standards) and backline as a whole looks disjointed. Again by their standards.

Aye, not a vintage AB team, but front five is very good and they will get better. Midfield were ok I thought with Ioane looking handy. Ireland will be disappointed

They made mincemeat of Ireland in that middle spell, but they look suboptimal to me. If Reiko is the answer at 13 I think they’re asking the wrong questions. It feels like there struggling to find their backline balance. Lots of good players but not on the right places. Nice problem to have mind.

[Banquo]

And the ABs are perfect for killing mistakes and turning 7 into 21. That said they look weak in parts. Their centres look poor (by their standards) and backline as a whole looks disjointed. Again by their standards.

Aye, not a vintage AB team, but front five is very good and they will get better. Midfield were ok I thought with Ioane looking handy. Ireland will be disappointed

They made mincemeat of Ireland in that middle spell, but they look suboptimal to me. If Reiko is the answer at 13 I think they’re asking the wrong questions. It feels like there struggling to find their backline balance. Lots of good players but not on the right places. Nice problem to have mind.

as I said not vintage, but midfield did a decent job- agreed Ioane is probably a better wing tho. First time I'd seen Tupaea, haven't watched any super rugby for a while. Perhaps I should

[Epaminondas Pules]

He’s decent. Gives a lot of backchat to opposing players but makes good interventions.

[Banquo]

He’s decent. Gives a lot of backchat to opposing players but makes good interventions.

Yes I thought he went well yesterday. Both gave Ireland a few issues. Ireland I think were surprised at the pace and intensity of NZ attacks for some reason.

[Epaminondas Pules]

He’s decent. Gives a lot of backchat to opposing players but makes good interventions.

Yes I thought he went well yesterday. Both gave Ireland a few issues. Ireland I think were surprised at the pace and intensity of NZ attacks for some reason.

Was odd that Ireland seemed shell shocked when the ABs hit the gas. That said they’re not the first and won’t be the last. Ireland started to well, but then their execution dropped and once they gave the wife beater a run in they were always going to be on the end of a hiding.

Maybe if Barrett had seen red for what was a blatant red then Ireland could have got more respectability in it, but they got blown away in the middle.

[Cameo]

He’s decent. Gives a lot of backchat to opposing players but makes good interventions.

Yes I thought he went well yesterday. Both gave Ireland a few issues. Ireland I think were surprised at the pace and intensity of NZ attacks for some reason.

Was odd that Ireland seemed shell shocked when the ABs hit the gas. That said they’re not the first and won’t be the last. Ireland started to well, but then their execution dropped and once they gave the wife beater a run in they were always going to be on the end of a hiding.

Maybe if Barrett had seen red for what was a blatant red then Ireland could have got more respectability in it, but they got blown away in the middle.

Was that Barrett incident not with about 4 mins to go?

It was a bit of an odd game - I think you lot might be surprised by Reiko at some point. Lethal in the right circumstances. The backline isn't quite right but COVID this week didn't help that. It probably doesn't help having two such evenly matched 10s either.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Yeah my bad it was later than I thought, not that it would have changed anything really.

And agreed. It feels like Foster isn’t quite sure what the right lineup is. Fabulous halfbacks and back three options as ever. Do feel the midfield options are all sub optimal in some regard. Tup looks the best fit to date in recent games.

[Banquo]

Yes I thought he went well yesterday. Both gave Ireland a few issues. Ireland I think were surprised at the pace and intensity of NZ attacks for some reason.

Was odd that Ireland seemed shell shocked when the ABs hit the gas. That said they’re not the first and won’t be the last. Ireland started to well, but then their execution dropped and once they gave the wife beater a run in they were always going to be on the end of a hiding.

Maybe if Barrett had seen red for what was a blatant red then Ireland could have got more respectability in it, but they got blown away in the middle.

Was that Barrett incident not with about 4 mins to go?

It was a bit of an odd game - I think you lot might be surprised by Reiko at some point. Lethal in the right circumstances. The backline isn't quite right but COVID this week didn't help that. It probably doesn't help having two such evenly matched 10s either.

I think Rieko is an excellent runner. Whether he's best at 13 is another thing.

[Banquo]

He’s decent. Gives a lot of backchat to opposing players but makes good interventions.

Yes I thought he went well yesterday. Both gave Ireland a few issues. Ireland I think were surprised at the pace and intensity of NZ attacks for some reason.

Was odd that Ireland seemed shell shocked when the ABs hit the gas. That said they’re not the first and won’t be the last. Ireland started to well, but then their execution dropped and once they gave the wife beater a run in they were always going to be on the end of a hiding.

Maybe if Barrett had seen red for what was a blatant red then Ireland could have got more respectability in it, but they got blown away in the middle.

It always surprises me when folks are surprised by a different level of intensity - its not a secret . Mind its easier said than done obviously.

[Spiffy]

Was odd that Ireland seemed shell shocked when the ABs hit the gas. That said they’re not the first and won’t be the last. Ireland started to well, but then their execution dropped and once they gave the wife beater a run in they were always going to be on the end of a hiding.

Maybe if Barrett had seen red for what was a blatant red then Ireland could have got more respectability in it, but they got blown away in the middle.

Was that Barrett incident not with about 4 mins to go?

It was a bit of an odd game - I think you lot might be surprised by Reiko at some point. Lethal in the right circumstances. The backline isn't quite right but COVID this week didn't help that. It probably doesn't help having two such evenly matched 10s either.

I think Rieko is an excellent runner. Whether he's best at 13 is another thing.

If you have not been watching a lot of Super Rugby, Ioane has been playing 13 all year and certainly has improved as a centre, especially in the rugby intelligence department and in defence. He is not exactly nailed on but has the chance to make the shirt his own. His real speed is a useful asset for any team in midfield. I think he will do very well.

[Banquo]

Was that Barrett incident not with about 4 mins to go?

It was a bit of an odd game - I think you lot might be surprised by Reiko at some point. Lethal in the right circumstances. The backline isn't quite right but COVID this week didn't help that. It probably doesn't help having two such evenly matched 10s either.

I think Rieko is an excellent runner. Whether he's best at 13 is another thing.

If you have not been watching a lot of Super Rugby, Ioane has been playing 13 all year and certainly has improved as a centre, especially in the rugby intelligence department and in defence. He is not exactly nailed on but has the chance to make the shirt his own. His real speed is a useful asset for any team in midfield. I think he will do very well.

I thought he went ok, just EP was saying he wasn’t very good fit at 13 generally

[Epaminondas Pules]

The super rugby season has shown him to have glimpses of good, obviously his pace covers some weaknesses, but he’s also got glaring weaknesses. He looks a quality left win playing centre.

He did play there at school, but looked even more a winger back then.

[Spiffy]

The super rugby season has shown him to have glimpses of good, obviously his pace covers some weaknesses, but he’s also got glaring weaknesses. He looks a quality left win playing centre.

He did play there at school, but looked even more a winger back then.

What are the glaring weaknesses?

[Epaminondas Pules]

The super rugby season has shown him to have glimpses of good, obviously his pace covers some weaknesses, but he’s also got glaring weaknesses. He looks a quality left win playing centre.

He did play there at school, but looked even more a winger back then.

What are the glaring weaknesses?

Hands, decision making in attack and defence, positioning. He compensated for some of this with his pace and is improving, but looks a long way from a centre. Give him an outside arc and he’s going to look great, but he looks like a left wing.

[fivepointer]

Tom Curry will play no further part in England’s tour Down Under after sustaining a concussion.

He will fly home this week.

[Raggs]

Bollocks. Don't care about others opinions but he is one of our world class players.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Tom Curry will play no further part in England’s tour Down Under after sustaining a concussion.

He will fly home this week.

Seems a very sensible response to a head knock. That's good to see.

[Puja]

Tom Curry will play no further part in England’s tour Down Under after sustaining a concussion.

He will fly home this week.

I think there was a massive failure of care with him. Everyone and their mother could see he was potentially stunned after that tackle on Kerevi and they let him carry on for another 20 minutes rather than giving him an immediate HIA. Might still've been out of the tour, but wouldn't have placed him at further risk of damage. Someone needs shooting for that.

Puja

[Shiny]

Tom Curry will play no further part in England’s tour Down Under after sustaining a concussion.

He will fly home this week.

Any guesses on who Eddie will pick as a replacement (someone who can cover 8 hopefully).

[FKAS]

Tom Curry will play no further part in England’s tour Down Under after sustaining a concussion.

He will fly home this week.

I think there was a massive failure of care with him. Everyone and their mother could see he was potentially stunned after that tackle on Kerevi and they let him carry on for another 20 minutes rather than giving him an immediate HIA. Might still've been out of the tour, but wouldn't have placed him at further risk of damage. Someone needs shooting for that.

Puja

Seems to be a problem prevailant in rugby. Not the only case this weekend.

[Banquo]

Takeaway Curry and we are much weaker, as shown on Saturday- bad luck for him and suspect he needs some proper monitoring for a while.

As FKAS says, not the only case; the Irish reserve hooker was ko'd with his first tackle, got up, visibly staggered like a drunk boxer, yet was allowed to play on for at least 5 minutes. Shocker.

[Oakboy]

Presumably, Underhill gets to start?