Japan RWC

[big mervyn]

We're going to do it. Rory Best has been at the helm for historic moments for Ireland and this will be another one.

He has also been at the helm for Ireland’s only defeat to Italy in the 6 Nations, only defeat against Japan and biggest hiding from England.

Jamie Heaslip was captain for the Italy defeat.

[justinr73]

Greetings from Tokyo.
The weather is cooler and showery. May suit Ireland a bit.We have nothing to lose and I expect a mighty effort from a full strength team. Unlike four years ago.

I’ve never been to NZ but I don’t think it tends to be too warm and dry there does it?

[big mervyn]

Greetings from Tokyo.
The weather is cooler and showery. May suit Ireland a bit.We have nothing to lose and I expect a mighty effort from a full strength team. Unlike four years ago.

I’ve never been to NZ but I don’t think it tends to be too warm and dry there does it?

Maybe we've reverted to the tried and tested "they don't like it up 'em" strategy?

[Fintan]

Greetings from Tokyo.
The weather is cooler and showery. May suit Ireland a bit.We have nothing to lose and I expect a mighty effort from a full strength team. Unlike four years ago.

I’ve never been to NZ but I don’t think it tends to be too warm and dry there does it?

Really depends on which part of New Zealand you are talking about.
North Island is a lot warmer than the South.

[Evil Kiwi]

I can't see an Ireland victory at all. It might be a different story if they were actually playing well. You can't just play gutsy and win against the ABs on this stage. You have to out skill them.

[justinr73]

Greetings from Tokyo.
The weather is cooler and showery. May suit Ireland a bit.We have nothing to lose and I expect a mighty effort from a full strength team. Unlike four years ago.

I’ve never been to NZ but I don’t think it tends to be too warm and dry there does it?

Really depends on which part of New Zealand you are talking about.
North Island is a lot warmer than the South.

Thanks for that, Michael Fish.

[Dublin4]

Rain tonight but dry for the match.
We commiserated with AB fans today on having to return home on Sunday

[Big Smoke Culchie]

Greetings from Tokyo.
The weather is cooler and showery. May suit Ireland a bit.We have nothing to lose and I expect a mighty effort from a full strength team. Unlike four years ago.

I’ve never been to NZ but I don’t think it tends to be too warm and dry there does it?

Really depends on which part of New Zealand you are talking about.
North Island is a lot warmer than the South.

Thanks for that, Michael Fish.

It pisses out of the sky in NZ during the winter. Dunneden and Christchirch get it the worst, but Wellington isnt far behind with the added benefit of a howling wind that never seems to let up. It will just feel like a plesant spring night for the ABs.

[TopPoster]

Doesn’t matter a feck what the weather is like, they are going to get hammered.

[Shan]

We're going to do it. Rory Best has been at the helm for historic moments for Ireland and this will be another one.

He has also been at the helm for Ireland’s only defeat to Italy in the 6 Nations, only defeat against Japan and biggest hiding from England.

He wasn't at the helm against Italy but even if he had been it would have been another historic one. Losing a RWC 1/4 final is not historic for Ireland but winning one is.

[Shan]

Doesn’t matter a feck what the weather is like, they are going to get hammered.

Don't think we'll hammer NZ. Winning margin will be single digit.

[againstthehead]

mmmm, interesting game

Ireland: fairly disjointed of late. No real form and generally only win the 'big' games at home. Solid enough looking XV with not a lot off the bench. If the pack really front up and can dominate either the lineout or scrumtime and dominate the collisions then that's a big part of it. The half-backs need to be perfection with the boot and the rush defense needs to be on point.

All blacks: Certainly nowhere near as good a side as the last RWC and have a few newbies who haven't been tested on an occasion like this. Rattallick could be rusty. Scrum can be got at. Mohunga is inexperienced in the black 10 and the back 3 although super exciting are very inexperienced as a unit.
In additon, they haven't realy had a game since SA. Is that an advantage or disadvantage?

My head would say NZ by about 12 pts. But if ireland really turn up then I wouldn't be too surprised to see Ireland sneaking it with a big performance from Sexton and Murray.

[Cockatrice]

All Blacks have it all to lose... it’s in their heads that Ireland are a bogey team and if they go back to being chokers then I see Ireland upsetting the odds.

Let’s face it Ireland are shyte one dimensional boring and past their sell by date strangely I see them turning up and the ABs struggling. In saying all that I hope the AB take them apart and show what rugby should be...

[justinr73]

In Barney’s in Cologne.

The Guinness is decent enough.

[againstthehead]

All Blacks have it all to lose... it’s in their heads that Ireland are a bogey team and if they go back to being chokers then I see Ireland upsetting the odds.

Let’s face it Ireland are shyte one dimensional boring and past their sell by date strangely I see them turning up and the ABs struggling. In saying all that I hope the AB take them apart and show what rugby should be...

Mmm, don't know about a bogey team. Couple of wins on end of season tours I don't think has affected confidence too much. I just think ABs have a few new units which can be targetted. But they have had a week off so could play at a ferocious intensity.

England looking very decent. Even if Ireland win, I would expect them to get smashed by england.