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Summer international rugby tours

Ireland started well - but couldn't finish and Carter just clipped away every opportunity he had (until the end).

Once the AB's got going Ireland had no chance of getting back in to the game.
 
*hands Brenda4PMS a hankie*

Never mind old chap - there's always next week.
 
Yep, Genia played a cracker....
Ireland are going to face an AB team that will be better over the next two games also. Tough times ahead for Ireland I fear.
 
Yep, Genia played a cracker....
Ireland are going to face an AB team that will be better over the next two games also. Tough times ahead for Ireland I fear.

Yeah Ireland look like they are going to get 3 kickings this summer.

Shame that North and Williams look done for the rest of this series. I wouldn't be surprised to see Phillips get cited as well, i couldn't quite see what happened but in the last minute it looked like he was throwing a few punches at somebody.
 
Wales have made four changes for Saturday's second Test against Australia at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium. Former captains Ryan Jones and Matthew Rees come into the pack along with Alun Wyn Jones, who skippered the midweek side to victory over the Brumbies, while Ashley Beck makes his first start at centre. Ryan Jones replaces the crocked Toby Faletau at No 8, Rees comes in for Ken Owens at hooker and Alun Wyn takes over from Luke Charteris at lock, with Scott Williams making way for Beck. Charteris and Williams drop to the bench, while Owens is omitted altogether, with Richard Hibbard prefered as hooking cover.

Rhys Webb get the nod ahead of fellow scrum-half Lloyd Williams for a subs spot, while in-form flanker Justin Tipuric also joins the replacements.
Rhys Priestland has held on to the No 10 jersey in the face of competition from James Hook, who has to settle for a seat on the bench.
George North has been passed fit to start on the wing, having picked up a dead leg in the first Test defeat in Brisbane.
"After the first Test Australia are obviously in the ascendancy, but the tour is not over by any means and we have all to play for on Saturday," said Wales caretaker head coach Rob Howley.

"We are bringing three very experienced players into the pack, all three made an impact from the bench during the first Test which has justified their selection in the starting line-up this weekend.
"We were also impressed with the performances of Ashley Beck, Justin Tipuric, Richard Hibbard and Rhys Webb on Tuesday night and they have each very much played themselves into the squad.
"Having played two matches now on Australian soil we have acclimatised and are ready for another huge challenge this Saturday in Melbourne."
Wales have also confirmed Aled Brew will return home, with a hip injury ruling the wing out of contention for the next fortnight.

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Ashley Beck, George North; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips;
Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Ryan Jones, Sam Warburton (capt),
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Paul James, Luke Charteris, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, James Hook, Scott Williams.

 
JUST two Munster players have been named in Ireland’s starting line-up to face New Zealand in Saturday’s second Test in Christchurch (8.35am Irish time)

Munster’s Conor Murray is retained at scrum-half in the Irish side to face the All-Blacks, while his provincial team-mate Donnacha Ryan is again named in the second-row.
However, there was disappointment for winger Simon Zebo and flanker Peter O’Mahony, who have to make do with places on the replacements bench having started the first Test in Auckland last Saturday.

In all, the Irish side shows four changes from the starting XV that took the field in the first test last weekend.

Gordon D’Arcy starts at inside centre in place of Keith Earls, who was not considered for selection due to a chest injury that he picked up in the first test.
Elsewhere in the backline, Andrew Trimble comes onto the left wing in place of Zebo, who is named in the replacements in place of Darren Cave.

Kevin McLaughlin, who came on in the second half of the first test, is named in the back row, with Peter O’Mahony swapping places to move into the replacements. Mike Ross comes back into the team in place of Declan Fitzpatrick at tight head, with Fitzpatrick moving to the replacements instead of Ronan Loughney.

Ireland Team & replacements v New Zealand, Steinlager Series, AMI Stadium, Christchurch, Saturday, June 16:
Rob Kearney (Leinster); Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster) Captain, Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster), Andrew Trimble ( Ulster); Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster); Cian Healy (Leinster), Rory Best (Ulster), Mike Ross (Leinster); Dan Touhy (Ulster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster); Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)
Replacements: Sean Cronin (Leinster), Declan Fitzpatrick (Ulster), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Simon Zebo (Munster)
 
I'm wondering when Kidney is going to get the boot

Yeah it certainly can't be long before the change is made. He took a punt by hoping for short term results and sticking with most of the old guard, as they didn't go his way i doubt he'll now get the time to bring through the next generation of Irish internationals.

Any idea who you'd like to see given the job mate?
 
The reason for that is that our world ranking is 8th, any lower and we have to qualify for the next World Cup. Even still we can't have really been expecting to beat the All Blacks at home ?

I'm not really sure what Kidney's thought processes are, why did O'Brien start at 7 even when Ferris was out last week ? What purpose does bringing ROG serve, when there's a couple of good young outhalves on the cusp of being good enough ? Why is O'Callaghan out there ? How is Murray still starting ?

Fitzpatrick looks like he can hang at this level, which is pleasing to see. Tuohy should be able to as well, but he needs to improve on last week. I'm not sure McLaughlin is up to this level either, he's solid enough player but not dynamic enough to play in the back row in todays game and not physical enough to play second row. He really falls between two stools.

Joe Schmidt would probably be everyones choice if Kidney did get the boot.
 
The reason for that is that our world ranking is 8th, any lower and we have to qualify for the next World Cup. Even still we can't have really been expecting to beat the All Blacks at home ?

I'm not really sure what Kidney's thought processes are, why did O'Brien start at 7 even when Ferris was out last week ? What purpose does bringing ROG serve, when there's a couple of good young outhalves on the cusp of being good enough ? Why is O'Callaghan out there ? How is Murray still starting ?

Fitzpatrick looks like he can hang at this level, which is pleasing to see. Tuohy should be able to as well, but he needs to improve on last week. I'm not sure McLaughlin is up to this level either, he's solid enough player but not dynamic enough to play in the back row in todays game and not physical enough to play second row. He really falls between two stools.

Joe Schmidt would probably be everyones choice if Kidney did get the boot.

Yeah, he left loads of good options that he should have been looking at back in Ireland. Thanks for the Slam, but cheerio Declan.
 
Does anyone think that any of the Northern Hemisphere teams will win a game in these 3 tours?
I cannot see Ireland beating the All Blacks. Boks played as badly as they were going to, so I think that Englands chance has gone.
This leaves Wales. Can they beat the Aussies?
 
Just for you Rafa
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I missed the Ireland game this morning (thanks Tramadol!) but I've been watching the last half hour of this Wales game. Tight stuff.

Time up, Aussies have a penalty to win it.
 
Unlucky Wales.

I though when Halfpenny got up and nailed the penalty after he was taken out in the air that they'd finish it out.
 
I was wearing a red hat & scarf Rafa and almost started chanting "bread of heaven" at one point.

Although, I also wanted to sing "If you tolerate the welsh - then your children will be next".

And the scarf & hat were Liverpool ones.
 
Well, I was almost proved wrong on all three occasions. Wales and Ireland were oh so close and if it not for the two early Boks tries, England would have been just as close.
Hats off to all three Northern hemisphere teams!!
 
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