Ireland v England - Match Thread

[GunsGerms]

First topic message reminder :

I know I am two weeks early but Ireland v England on Sunday 1st March will possibly be the 6 nations decider as both teams are the only two teams still undefeated in the 6 nations so far this year.

There are many different angles, plots and sub plots to this game. Here are some of the many things at stake:

Reaburn Shield:

Ireland have held it for 4 consecutive games having defeated previous holders SA in November.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raeburn_Shield

3rd place in rankings:



Triple Crown:

Only Ireland and England can still win this trophy and with due respect to Scotland and Wales who Ireland have yet to play to win it would be some achievement this year.

Grand Slam:

Only Ireland and England and win the slam.

6 nations title:
Obviously France and Wales are still in the running with only one loss but the bookies have Ireland and England as favorites at this point.

Millennium Trophy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Trophy

Eye on the WC:
The earliest Ireland and England could possibly meet at the WC is the Semi finals if they both win their pools and their quarter finals or both come runner up and win their quarters. Either way I think other fixtures such England v Wales and Ireland v France were more important for each nations WC preparations.

Ireland need one more win to tie their record of 10 sucessive wins.

Head to head record:
Overall: England 74 wins Ireland 46 wins
6Nations: England 7 wins Ireland 8 wins

Who is going to win and why?
http://www.espn.co.uk/six-nations-2015/rugby/story/256583.html
Phil Vickery predicts an England win.

Teams:

England:

Ireland:

[nathan]

Didn't expect to see that, well done ireland

[wolfball]

Ross, good on you, have really pulled this one out of the bag

[Geordie]

I really don't think Nowell is justifying may being dropped.

[nathan]

How was ireland not in at the side?!?!

[quinsforever]

bench. now. bring on the biguns

[Hood83]

Think that should of been our put in. Big reason seems to be Ireland have kicked far better, Ford and Youngs have kicked too far. That plus Ireland far better at the ruck rucking past the ball. Now the scrum's gone, what are out options really?

[Golden]

[Nachos Jones]

That looks a try to me...

[Geordie]

Game over

[wolfball]

HENSHAW

[nathan]

I'm sorry, but that is a load of Poopie. We should of had a penalty on the other side for an Ireland player blast entry going in at the side

[Golden]

Time for Healy and Moore me thinks

Beaut of a conversion

[quinsforever]

this is ridiculous. that wasnt a high tackle. hence no kick would have been tried.

[majesticimperialman]

England will be very lucky to come back from this.

[nathan]

Oh and Goode has to do better there

[Hood83]

Alex Goode, oh dear. Great catch though. Really thought Ireland wouldn't kick as much as they have but I suppose if it aint broke, why fix it. England have been very very poor and very much second best.

[wolfball]

this is ridiculous. that wasnt a high tackle. hence no kick would have been tried.

Ah now Quins, I thought there would be no winge about the reffing? Well worth the lead

[Golden]

Was Sexton injured?

[Gwlad]

Ireland turning the great game into Gaylick football

[Breadvan]

The kicking game weapon we knew would hurt Eng has absolutely hammered us. Ireland ripping us a new one with it...

[nathan]

Sorry for sexton, he's my man of the match to be honest. His tactile kicking has been immense

[Geordie]

Come on guys don't blame the ref....we have been utterly pathetic today deserve to lose. Fair play Ireland.

[Nachos Jones]

Tom Youngs really is thick.

[Hood83]

Alex Goode, oh dear.  Great catch though. Really thought Ireland wouldn't kick as much as they have but I suppose if it aint broke, why fix it. England have been very very poor and very much second best.

[majesticimperialman]

England second best by a long way.

[nobbled]

Ireland the best by far this game.
Better kicking
Better line out
Better scrum
Better fullback
Other than that we're doing fine

[Cowshot]

Penalty count and possession must be awful. We're being outplayed by a very slick Irish machine...

[wolfball]

I love Sexton, such a complete, obsessive player, so annoyed about being taken off like any great would...

[formerly known as Sam]

Joseph has an arm up around the neck of the Irish runner. Whether they should have got that far considering the number of Irish players off their feet at the breakdown for the turnover.

Lovely kick and touch down for Ireland though.

Very frustrating as an England fan.

[Gwlad]

England are handing this to ireland while bending over at the same time

[Sgt_Pooly]

Ireland are possibly the most boring team in Int rugby, bloody effective though.

[nathan]

Come on guys don't blame the ref....we have been utterly pathetic today deserve to lose.  Fair play Ireland.  

He's made some daft decisions, some big ones.

But I fairly place the loss at our own feet, we haven't managed the kicking well

[jbeadlesbigrighthand]

How is Alex Goode international class?

What does he actually being to the team? Slow, no power, not great in the air. I just don't understand how he keeps getting in the squad.

[Golden]

Ross has done very well considering his last outing against Marler

[Geordie]

Come on guys don't blame the ref....we have been utterly pathetic today deserve to lose.  Fair play Ireland.  

He's made some daft decisions, some big ones.

But I fairly place the loss at our own feet, we haven't managed the kicking well

Mate we've been amateurish... And clueless.

[nathan]

Ross has done very well considering his last outing against Marler

Yeah been impressed with him today

[quinsforever]

How is Alex Goode international class?

What does he actually being to the team? Slow, no power, not great in the air. I just don't understand how he keeps getting in the squad.

bomber should have played watson at 15, and may and nowell on the wings. or even nowell at fb and may and watson on the wings. bombers shows foolish loyalty to certain players who have never delivered at international level.

[formerly known as Sam]

Tom Youngs is on and the scrum starts moving forward. Maybe that'll help dispel some myths.

[Sgt_Pooly]

What myth?

[quinsforever]

my bbc feed is wierdly slow. i'm reading comments on here about things that havent happened yet on my computer!

[Gwlad]

Good to see Haskell's short resurgence is over….get the buffoon off and bring Croft on.

[Golden]

Best did very well to catch Nowell there.

England bring a winger on to clean up the breakdown.....

[Sgt_Pooly]

Don't worry Croft is on, we needed another winger.....

[Geordie]

Dear god this is painful to watch

[lostinwales]

Ireland are possibly the most boring team in Int rugby, bloody effective though.

Yep, ruthless, efficient, very very destructive, but it does make for a dull experience watching. I think we'd all settle for a win playing like that though

[nathan]

Did we not get any advantage for the knock on?

[Sgt_Pooly]

Ireland are possibly the most boring team in Int rugby, bloody effective though.

Yep, ruthless, efficient, very very destructive, but it does make for a dull experience watching. I think we'd all settle for a win playing like that though

Very hard to watch but it works.

[Hood83]

Tom Croft? No thanks

[lostinwales]

I was just thinking our kicking games are just the same. Irish kick the ball and an Irish guy catches. We kick the ball and an Irish guy catches.... *sigh...

[Golden]

Madigan hasnt been very sympathetic to his team mates so far. Passes too fast and kicks to far.

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