Whats your predicted score for the Ireland vs New Zealand rugby match on Saturday?
Low scoring game. Ireland have already said they will try to slow the game down and play out structured set pieces rather than running rugby. The ability of ABs to adapt to the calls and interpretations at scrum time will be important. It is a heavy duty forward pack picked today for NZ and I reckon we will be looking to roll over the Irish at the break down and contest line outs if the Irish decide to put the ball into touch. Look for Mils, Conrad, and Jane to pounce and convert any line break to points. Look for well rehearsed attacking sets off stolen Irish line out ball and any NZ scrum from any point on the paddock including attacking sets from the deep. Money Bill Williams to come off bench with fresh lungs and score his first try with power and pace. DC to spark up and remind us why he is the greatest 10 in the business, not just accuracy kicking goals put moving the game around the paddock and applying pressure in all the right places.
Dont write Ireland off. A team that has teams at the helm of the Magners league, Munster and Leinster topping both their ‘pools of death’ in the Heiniken cup and beat the World champs last year can’t be that bad. All thats happened this year is they stuttered in the first game at the new Lansdowne – which im putting down to the occasion and the fact they were expected to put a cricket score on the Boks – putting pressure on Ireland as favourites which any irish fan, or irish rugby fan will know doesnt sit nicely with Ireland teams. 2007 WC springs to mind after we beat Aus,SA – demolished england, talked up as a potential winner and crashed miserably. After that game the talk about the team being in ‘decline’ must of put some pressure on the team and management ahead of the Samoa game – but they played it smart and just went for a steady win – But the pressure must of got to the team at times as they looked fairly wobbley. However, come the All Black game – Ireland won’t have any press
