RugbyRebels

And kiwi fans on slightest bit concerned?

Only the slightest bit.

Foster has racked up an impressive number of “firsts” but it would still be a significant upset for Italy to get up on this one.

Capuozzo and DMac would be a cracker match up.


I would not take Italy lightly.

Never underestimate the ability of Foster's All Blacks In Name Only to fuck things up

Ireland showed how to do do it today

I think all the pressure is on NZ.

Italy just have free shot.

They don't need to get these they know they are massive underdogs.

If they lose they know they won't be thought less of than they did before.

Therefore they can just do what the can do

oldprussians wrote: ↑Mon Sep 25, 2023 2:22 pm I think all the pressure is on NZ.

Italy just have free shot.

They don't need to get these they know they are massive underdogs.

If they lose they know they won't be thought less of than they did before.

Therefore they can just do what the can do

Completely correct. All the pressure is on NZ.

We had better take it to them. Italy will fancy their chances.

Every single previous All Blacks test against Italy has occurred well within my own living memory.

This is the first time I have ever had the slightest most remote concern that perhaps there might be an upset.

We’ve played them 3 times since RWC2015 (so the current generation sort of). Average score has been NZ 60 v Italy 7 (aggregate 26 tries to 1). And now I’m not 100% sure we can win. WTF.

I dunno. I still think we will be closer to the average of our last results than we will be Italy beating us. I would buy a points diff spread at 25 I think.

Totally get your concerns though. If our passes don’t stick early and we get nervous then all bets may be off.

I think the issue for Italy is that they are good enough that the All Blacks are taking them seriously. Had you gone into this with the usual air of insouciance and assumed it was already won, then they could've put the wind up you. As it is, you're genuinely cautious about them, and so I don't think they'll come too close in the final calculations.

Puja

Well it seems most kiwis think they will win by 30-50 points

oldprussians wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 10:49 am Well it seems most kiwis think they will win by 30-50 points

TAB (the only legal bookie in NZ) is giving us a 31.5 point start.

This article seems confident, but the mere fact it got published is unusual.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/all-bl ... NDOPJZ3LU/

OK, so the cricket's going terribly (CWC warm-up, NZ v Pakistan. Pakistan are 151/2 off 29 overs) which suggests sporting results will be expected, predictable and not all upsetty.

Time for a bit of the ol' shut eye. See you all back here in 7 hours, 44 minutes.

Rumours abound that Richie Mo’unga is injured. Possibly out of the World Cup.

If so, B. Barrett to 10, D-Mac bench.

Lizard wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 12:57 pm Rumours abound that Richie Mo’unga is injured. Possibly out of the World Cup.

If so, B. Barrett to 10, D-Mac bench.

That should be the other way around.

That Italian 14 looks like a minor antagonist in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. I wonder what his Stand can do.

morepork wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 2:18 pm

Lizard wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 12:57 pm Rumours abound that Richie Mo’unga is injured. Possibly out of the World Cup.

If so, B. Barrett to 10, D-Mac bench.

That should be the other way around.

Looks like the rumours were wrong.

Telea did well to finish that after Italy's defence made that a bit harder than it could have been.

“A bit.”

I expected Italy to at least turn up today

Ross. S wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:30 pm I expected Italy to at least turn up today

The All Blacks needed to crush their spirit right at the start, which they did well.

It will be interesting to see if the ABs shut up shop a bit, or keep showing off their playbook.

Well, I'm respectfully enjoying this hidden in a storage room at work. I hope the ABs feckin go for it.

Lizard wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:32 pm

Ross. S wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:30 pm I expected Italy to at least turn up today

The All Blacks needed to crush their spirit right at the start, which they did well.

It will be interesting to see if the ABs shut up shop a bit, or keep showing off their playbook.

I hope they keep playing. Nobody likes to see embarrassing hammerings but its still better than turgid rugby. NZ still looking to play so theres hope

Is DMac on the bench?