Who Would a Loss Hurt The Most

Ok Ireland and England play the last warm up game this weekend and both will be going into the game on the back of two poor games:

Ireland - were far worse than the final scoreline suggested against France

England - Whilst thet created enough chances their finishing was shocking which begs another question over the centre pairing and Fluteys ommision.

So as topic said who would a loss hurt the most this weekend.

Ireland would go into the WC on the back of 4 losses not a vert good stat and if the manner of defeat this weekend is like last week could it do more damage.

England, if they lose would go in on he back of two defeats but they could and should of beaten Us if they had taken their chances. So will Jonno be happy if the knowledge that at least they are creating chances and with someone like Ashton in the side some of them will at least be finished.

Ireland need a win more. England can find form quickly as they did last WC. IMO Ireland are more a confidence team and need to deliver on their promise. A loss at home would be very bad for Ireland.

Ireland.

Look at the draw....the Irish must target Australia to avoid a 1/4 v SA. They would likely face Wales/Fiji. They need a convincing win as they play USA next and then Aus.

Meanwhile England will probably cruise their group - I had thought Argentina might give them a run but after their perf in Cardiff I think England can be confident of a 1/4 v France. Scotland could upset them but unlikely.

Both need a win and I think the players and management will be very worried about getting injuries at this late stage.
So do they wrap key players in cotton wool or do they go for a morale boosting win.

For Ireland a win would be nice but it's not the be all and end all.

It's far more important that Bowe, Wallace and Murphy finally get some time in the team. Add to them Murray, Boss and Ferris who again need more pre-season time and the team for Saturday will still have a very experimental look to it. IMO that's still the right thing to do as it's the RWC that's important not a one-off warm-up between two teams hoping not to get injured.

I'm not sure how important momentum is anyway. Generally the All Blacks have had it going into every RWC haven't they? So I'd say both teams will be looking for a performance first, no injuries second and a win third.

A win would be nice?!!!!

I am sorry i think it i absolutely vital that Ireland win well, it is far too late in the day for try outs or perfromances.....win ugly just win,...momentum vital in tournaments and next game v USA and then Aus. Win that and you avoid Boks in the 1/4s!!

This should be a wonderful match. There is no difference in how much either team need this win.

A loss this weekend will really rattle the faith and confidence going into the world cup.

Gatts wrote:A win would be nice?!!!!

I am sorry i think it i absolutely vital that Ireland win well, it is far too late in the day for try outs or perfromances.....win ugly just win,...momentum vital in tournaments and next game v USA and then Aus. Win that and you avoid Boks in the 1/4s!!

So you would be happy for key players to put their bodies on the line for this win and risk missing the Australia game?

IMO the Australia and Italy games are the games that Ireland should be targetting to win at all costs with their best available team. The England game is simply a build-up to that to ensure Kidney has all his playing options available and in match condition.

i really cant see which way this is going to go! but my heart as always will go with my celtic cousins and overall i hope for a good game and a good advert for NH rugby! what time ko?

A win is what both teams will be after but I agree with others that there are more important issues for both. England need a chance to give more of the squad a run out, Ireland have similar needs.

Ireland will want it more possibly but performances from individuals and pairings will be more important than the result unless one of them gets mullered which is also a possibility if Ireland click.

Don't have much confidence in England right now, no attacking capability.

where is the game played?

Dublin

Definitely Ireland.

Well, it is unlikely that we will meet england in the RWC, so if this loss will bring irrevocable psychological trauma and irrepirable damage to their confidence, it will be good for us if Ireland loses.

If it is not going to cause them any issues, then it doesn;t really matter does it?

Not sustaining injuries is more important to both sides in my view.

Ireland have already lost a zillion matches this season and I really don't see how one victory will change anything hugely. You don't get momentum from one win, so I don't think either side can really pretend there's going to be some massive psychological effect from this game. It's still a warm-up game after all, and both sides should treat it as such.

Gatts wrote:Ireland.

Look at the draw....the Irish must target Australia to avoid a 1/4 v SA. They would likely face Wales/Fiji. They need a convincing win as they play USA next and then Aus.

Meanwhile England will probably cruise their group - I had thought Argentina might give them a run but after their perf in Cardiff I think England can be confident of a 1/4 v France. Scotland could upset them but unlikely.

dont underestimate either teams.

although england SHOULD win the group thats not always the case- you have to remember that was the pumas first proper international this season and they didnt look half bad-forwards will give england a tough time.

likewise english fans always talk about wales just wanting to beat the english- i am sure the scots would love nothing more than to stick it in englands face and win the match

welshy, everyone wants to beat England, it's the same for SH as well as NH teams, it just comes with the territory. If you told any of the other 5 Nations they would only win one game it would always be the England one they would choose. It's very flattering really.

aitchw wrote:welshy, everyone wants to beat England, it's the same for SH as well as NH teams, it just comes with the territory. If you told any of the other 5 Nations they would only win one game it would always be the England one they would choose. It's very flattering really.

Not true. We are sick of beating you! Would prefer a win over France.

HURLEY_BURLEY wrote:

aitchw wrote:welshy, everyone wants to beat England, it's the same for SH as well as NH teams, it just comes with the territory. If you told any of the other 5 Nations they would only win one game it would always be the England one they would choose. It's very flattering really.

Not true. We are sick of beating you! Would prefer a win over France.

That's right mate, kick them when they are down. and then kick them even more.

biltongbek wrote:

HURLEY_BURLEY wrote:

aitchw wrote:welshy, everyone wants to beat England, it's the same for SH as well as NH teams, it just comes with the territory. If you told any of the other 5 Nations they would only win one game it would always be the England one they would choose. It's very flattering really.

Not true. We are sick of beating you! Would prefer a win over France.

That's right mate, kick them when they are down. and then kick them even more.

I don't know what you're laughing at. Its your turn in a few weeks. Though you may dodge a green bullet if we hockey Oz in our group.

(Plse note my confidence levels rise the more we are written off! Planetrugby have us as "Whats not" this week. )

Bizarre playing a warm up game AFTER world cup squad selection. If England lose AND suffer injuries then the morale of the replacement players will be low after being initially dropped & byebye world cup.

It's a cruel, cruel world. I'll just go off and sulk.

aitchw wrote:It's a cruel, cruel world. I'll just go off and sulk.

Well you kinda asked for it.

HURLEY_BURLEY wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

HURLEY_BURLEY wrote:

aitchw wrote:welshy, everyone wants to beat England, it's the same for SH as well as NH teams, it just comes with the territory. If you told any of the other 5 Nations they would only win one game it would always be the England one they would choose. It's very flattering really.

Not true. We are sick of beating you! Would prefer a win over France.

That's right mate, kick them when they are down. and then kick them even more.

I don't know what you're laughing at. Its your turn in a few weeks. Though you may dodge a green bullet if we hockey Oz in our group.

(Plse note my confidence levels rise the more we are written off! Planetrugby have us as "Whats not" this week. )

Don't know who you've been listening to mate, but it is us that are being written off, have you not read the posts on here.

But, having said that, I pay no heed to these warnings Sir. I live in a bubble, and my bubble is my safe place, and in there the Irish won't beat us

Ah no Biltong, you are back in the saddle after last week. Its just the newly-confident Welsh boys who are writing you off!
Us Irish like our underdogs tag thank you very much. Beating England this weekend shouldn't change that..

Yeah, the horse went lame, so had to walk for a while.

I dont think Ive seen any "underdog" tags flying round from said Irish....

that said, after the royal beating we hand S.Africa, I wouldnt even imagine they'll get past Namibia easily, those 2 for the battle of bottom of the pool id say.

True Comfort - they may in fact struggle to field a team once Wales are finished with them. Biltong - clean them boots lad, you may get the nod yet.

Perhaps the much vaunted strength in depth can help S.Africa this World Cup, unfortunately for them, I dont see them getting out of the group. Its shame they didnt have Wales last to build up a head of steam.....


FACT

(saying "FACT" after something you've written makes whatever you say genuinely factual right?)

That's nonsense...




FACT