New Zealand v Ireland - 18/07/2026

[Leonormous Boozer]

Another test window where we don't show up in the biggest fixture.

It's an undeniable trend now. Just not at the level of the top 3 and don't look like we have anything in the blsquad to change that.

 

[Demfad]

Another test window where we don't show up in the biggest fixture.

It's an undeniable trend now. Just not at the level of the top 3 and don't look like we have anything in the blsquad to change that.

NZ have done a lot of work on defending Ireland in their 22. But the attack is poor. Keenan has to force a 2:1 and put Ballacoune in. The NZ suckered him into holding it.

 

[big ginger 8]

So many halfbreaks with Baloucoune running a support line and not even trying to get the ball to him.

 

[big ginger 8]

Missed that, why is Lomax allowed back on?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Just a knock on is madness there lol. Goalkeeper dive

 

[ajwffc]

Just a knock on is madness there lol. Goalkeeper dive

same as the one missed in the first half the other way

 

[big ginger 8]

That was a clear linebreak what is he talking about?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

same as the one missed in the first half the other way

On Prendergast?

 

[ajwffc]

On Prendergast?

might have been him who just put the arm out in the 22

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

might have been him who just put the arm out in the 22

If it's the one I'm thinking of I think it was more of a case of an offload from a ruck situation and Sam wasn't going for the ball at all.

Thought it was a miss at the time (and we've had a call here and there Sheehan had a very dubious turnover pen) but that was egregious.

All in all, officiating has been strange / poor. Ireland are worse but I think it's made it harder.

Seperately, the BP system for this comp is silly when you're not in the same group as the team you're playing. There's not a whole lot of incentive for NZ to stop us scoring for a 4 try BP here. Straight points difference or the the Top 14 system makes a lot more sense.

 

[ajwffc]

If it's the one I'm thinking of I think it was more of a case of an offload from a ruck situation and Sam wasn't going for the ball at all.

Thought it was a miss at the time (and we've had a call here and there Sheehan had a very dubious turnover pen) but that was egregious.

All in all, officiating has been strange / poor. Ireland are worse but I think it's made it harder.

Seperately, the BP system for this comp is silly when you're not in the same group as the team you're playing. There's not a whole lot of incentive for NZ to stop us scoring for a 4 try BP here. Straight points difference or the the Top 14 system makes a lot more sense.

just to the left of the posts

about he officiating i think the refs have let a lot go in most of the games to try and keep a free flowing game

 

[dirty harry]

Thats a disgraceful ref decisions, called the pen before players hit the ground, kiwo defender wasnt on the ball he was on the floor

 

[O’Doyle Rules]

Completely agree - I think the lack of pace is killing this Ireland team, to the point where I wonder if we can truly ever win a World Cup without it.

Im not overly disappointed with the result - if the 2023 vintage took 40 here then not sure why it would be different with a worse team.

It’s just amazing how much reducing your error count can improve your performance. NZ haven’t been too flashy here - they’ve just had excellent skills. The worrying thing is (maybe due to lack of pace) that Ireland rely on a intricate passing game - if we have so many errors then the gameplan falls apart and we don’t have the pace to try something else.

 

[dirty harry]

Completely agree - I think the lack of pace is killing this Ireland team, to the point where I wonder if we can truly ever win a World Cup without it.

Im not overly disappointed with the result - if the 2023 vintage took 40 here then not sure why it would be different with a worse team.

It’s just amazing how much reducing your error count can improve your performance. NZ haven’t been too flashy here - they’ve just had excellent skills. The worrying thing is (maybe due to lack of pace) that Ireland rely on a intricate passing game - if we have so many errors then the gameplan falls apart and we don’t have the pace to try something else.

Agree here, NZ were good at everything, but were not pushed to take any risks or have to try too hard, felt like 2nd gear

 

[O’Doyle Rules]

If Ireland can improve on the silly mistakes, then they’ll be much more competitive. They’re their own worst enemy at the moment.

Think the Irish public and media need to realise that there is a clear gap between the top 3 and chasing pack now (although I’d say Scotland and England, even more so than Ireland now, are capable of beating them on a given day - no coincidence those teams have pace).

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Yeah no real complaints. Think a better ref just sees NZ win with a BP in a different way.

We can't switch momentum if we are struggling in attack and that's why we can't compete against top teams.

Better than France in the 6n but I just don't think we have the tools to make the improvements needed.

Thought Sam P had his best game for Ireland without perfect conditions. Defended well, low error count, looks like a kid who is making the improvements needed.

NZ look very clean. It'll be interesting to see how they get on vs SA. Probably the only benchmark games they'll have the rest of the year unless they get a full bore France in the finals weekend in Autumn.

 

[Stade Rochelais]

Completely agree - I think the lack of pace is killing this Ireland team, to the point where I wonder if we can truly ever win a World Cup without it.

Im not overly disappointed with the result - if the 2023 vintage took 40 here then not sure why it would be different with a worse team.

It’s just amazing how much reducing your error count can improve your performance. NZ haven’t been too flashy here - they’ve just had excellent skills. The worrying thing is (maybe due to lack of pace) that Ireland rely on a intricate passing game - if we have so many errors then the gameplan falls apart and we don’t have the pace to try something else.

French proverb: Don't put the cart before the horse!

To win a World Cup, you must first focus on winning the Six Nations tournament, of which France is the two-time defending champion (2025 and 2026).

Furthermore, how is it that you are ranked higher than France in the IRB rankings? There are arrangements between Ireland and the IRB; it's normal, given that its headquarters are in Dublin.

 

[big ginger 8]

Obviously the backs pace is an easy place to look. Beyond TOB and Crowley I'm not sure which realistic options will come in and up the pace.

I think however we have to stop using Beirne at 6 at this stage. He's a class player and obviously there are injuries that have led to him being there but I think we should be looking to use Baird, Conan, Aherne, Izuchukwu or Prendergast there instead.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Think the Irish public and media need to realise that there is a clear gap between the top 3 and chasing pack now (although I’d say Scotland and England, even more so than Ireland now, are capable of beating them on a given day - no coincidence those teams have pace).

Agree with that, weird situation because we're so dominant head to head vs them but I reckon the top 3 are more worried about those two.

 

[Demfad]

Improved defensively in 2nd half. But A a comprehensive loss but an improved performance.
Not going to comment on Gardner except this. In a tournament where bonus points will be crucial. He must allow that scrum at the end: the knock on occurred at 79:56. He was thinking "good game lads" and a nice time to blow up. But he can't do that if a bonus point is within a try for either team.
Good to see NZ back with the fearsome relentless attack and they were very efficient.
A lot to take from it from both teams. Especially Ireland. How do we win a match like that?

 

[O’Doyle Rules]

Agree here, NZ were good at everything, but were not pushed to take any risks or have to try too hard, felt like 2nd gear

Its amazing how just simple catch pass = “wow amazing skills”

 

[Demfad]

same as the one missed in the first half the other way

I think thats why he doesn't give the yellow with the line break and the two on one! He was remembering the first half one.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Furthermore, how is it that you are ranked higher than France in the IRB rankings? There are arrangements between Ireland and the IRB; it's normal, given that its headquarters are in Dublin.

The rankings are literally just maths based on results. France have lost to NZ x4, SA and most importantly England and Scotland in the last 18 months.

Ireland have lost to NZ x2, France x2 and SA but don't lose as many ranking points because the games are against higher ranked sides.

No one thinks Ireland are better but France haven't done their job to get ahead yet.

 

[Demfad]

Agree with that, weird situation because we're so dominant head to head vs them but I reckon the top 3 are more worried about those two.

So much so that Rassie started the Bulls team against Scotland?
The top 3 take Ireland seriously, which means you get nothing if your standard drops.
We almost got back within a score. I hope the breakdown is not reffed like that going forward.

 

[Stade Rochelais]

The rankings are literally just maths based on results. France have lost to NZ x4, SA and most importantly England and Scotland in the last 18 months.

Ireland have lost to NZ x2, France x2 and SA but don't lose as many ranking points because the games are against higher ranked sides.

No one thinks Ireland are better but France haven't done their job to get ahead yet.

That's what you say.

I'm not the only one who's noticed it; Ireland almost never loses points in the IRB rankings, even when they suffer a string of defeats, unlike France.
The rankings are rigged to allow Ireland to stay ahead of France. Why is that?

Finally, I did my own calculations. Logically, France should be tied on points with New Zealand, closely followed by Ireland, since the latter lost twice to France in 2025 and 2026.

You have been culturally favored in the name of belonging.

 

[Demfad]

The rankings are literally just maths based on results. France have lost to NZ x4, SA and most importantly England and Scotland in the last 18 months.

Ireland have lost to NZ x2, France x2 and SA but don't lose as many ranking points because the games are against higher ranked sides.

No one thinks Ireland are better but France haven't done their job to get ahead yet.

The only tangible time the rankings count is for a world cup draw. Except in 2023 where the rankings used were the rankings taken at the end of the 2019 RWC. (We can blame Japan for that one). We needn't have worried as Wales and England stayed in the top 4 instead of Ireland and France and Fiji kept Scotland out of the top 8 resulting in very even Pools and Quarter Finals.

Edit: We can pretend blame Japan because they started their covid lockdown early due to the first wave starting in Asia, and they argued that rankings taken in 2020 (still too late) would count other nations improvement while Japan could not play. This was after their own world cup and adter them being shafter by the ridiculous scheduling in 2015 so they were owed.

 

[Demfad]

That's what you say.

I'm not the only one who's noticed it; Ireland almost never loses points in the IRB rankings, even when they suffer a string of defeats, unlike France.
The rankings are rigged to allow Ireland to stay ahead of France. Why is that?

Finally, I did my own calculations. Logically, France should be tied on points with New Zealand, closely followed by Ireland, since the latter lost twice to France in 2025 and 2026.

You have been culturally favored in the name of belonging.

The results and calculations for the rankings are there to see on the World Rugby website. Assuming you are serious, I suggest you look at the results, get out your crayon and tot them up, and then remove your tin foil hat.
If you feel any calculation has been made incorrectly or you can explain how the rankings culturally favour Irieland then tell us. Otherwise we must assume that you are bullsh1tting.
https://www.world.rugby/rankings

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

That's what you say.

I'm not the only one who's noticed it; Ireland almost never loses points in the IRB rankings, even when they suffer a string of defeats, unlike France.
The rankings are rigged to allow Ireland to stay ahead of France. Why is that?

Finally, I did my own calculations. Logically, France should be tied on points with New Zealand, closely followed by Ireland, since the latter lost twice to France in 2025 and 2026.

You have been culturally favored in the name of belonging.

Live feed of you doing your equations.

There is zero subjectivity in the rankings.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

So much so that Rassie started the Bulls team against Scotland?
The top 3 take Ireland seriously, which means you get nothing if your standard drops.
We almost got back within a score. I hope the breakdown is not reffed like that going forward.

Don't know why but I thought the first post I replied to said Argentina.

Them and England lose tonnes of matches vs mid tier teams but have a level on their day to get close or occasionally beat the top 3. We have lost 6 in a row by double digits.

Scotland can turn a match into a turkey shoot if allowed but only France will really fall foul of that, and to be seen but I reckon it won't be common after this year.

 

[dirty harry]

Its amazing how just simple catch pass = “wow amazing skills”

I mean, thats easy in training, a difficult skill under pressure, unbeleivably hars at international level