6 Nations: England v Ireland - Our Favourite Bestest Neighbours - 17 March 2018

First topic message reminder :

I’ve always thought that England are a very good team and their fans are lovely and the most popular.

Feel free to add your own thoughts as we approach next weekend’s match as we travel over to visit them and celebrate with them.  And I’m sure that they’ll be as welcoming and fun-filled as they always are whenever we play them.  

As we all know, it’s only a game and sure it doesn’t matter who wins.....


Lovely England Team

Watson, May, Joseph, Te'o, Daly, Farrell, Wigglesworth, Simmonds, Haskell, Robshaw, Kruis, Itoje, Sinckler, Hartley, Mako

George, MArler, Cole, Launchbury, Armand, Care, Ford, Brown

Super Controlling Unbelievable Mauling Monster Yeti Irish Team

Kearney, Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale, Sexton Murray, Stander, Leavy, O'Mahony, Ryan, Henderson, Furlong, Best, Healy.

Reps: Cronin, McGrath, Porter, Toner, Murphy, Marmion, Carbery, Larmour.

Haven't seen it explicitly, but I assume Hartley is taking the armband back?

Do us proud boys, get some payback for last year, you can do it.

Should be a good auld fight on Paddy's Day sure enough.

I just hope the Irish lads have brought their barbed wire cudgels with them. If that English team get into a bit of pomp and splendour mood they may need some treatment when the ref ain't looking ...

after the TMO has been taken out by a sniper.

I can see us targeting Sexton and Murray, take one out of the equation and our chances will improve drastically.

I really hope the crowd get into Sextons kicking too, he has been so poor! 'Please do not respect the kicker.' should be displayed on the big screen too.

TightHEAD wrote:I can see us targeting Sexton and Murray, take one out of the equation and our chances will improve drastically.

I really hope the crowd get into Sextons kicking too, he has been so poor! 'Please do not respect the kicker.' should be displayed on the big screen too.

England spent 80 minutes in Dublin targeting Sexton last year and got no where. It was as if it was their only plan and it fell totally flat.

Its quite a cowardly tactic in the sense that you have already accepted that the opposition is better because they have X player rather than focusing on being better than your opponent which is a winners mentality.

The crowd has to play its part to spoil the party, all too often we respect visiting teams but we never get close to the same respect when we visit their grounds.

Encouraged by that lineup. Ford is unlucky given the ball he had to work with but Teo at twelve will be a focus.

If Kruis, Haskell, Sinkler & Hartley rekindle their physicality at the breakdown and England get their nose in front that is some bench to bring on.
No idea if Simmonds will be a success at no.8, looks at test level like a seven to me but if he can lurk amongst the backs could cause havoc.
Encouraging.

TightHEAD wrote:I can see us targeting Sexton and Murray, take one out of the equation and our chances will improve drastically.

I really hope the crowd get into Sextons kicking too, he has been so poor! 'Please do not respect the kicker.' should be displayed on the big screen too.

"Boo the scum please" would be a better party trick You could always claim a typo if the WR officials frowned on it. 'Sure we only meant boo the scrum, sir'

Seriously though, I am wondering what if anything Joe will now do to change his own gameplan and it seems certain Eddie is setting up his side to be confrontational and aggressive (taking the delicate man - Ford - off completely as he'll get in the way of all the spurting blood)

Will Joe now forgo the steely breakdown stuff and instead take it wide more quickly and do our own job of finding the weak spots out on the edges - with Kearney, Ringrose, Earls and Stockdale being in some good form.

Ireland Team & Replacements (v England, NatWest 6 Nations, Twickenham, Saturday, March 17, 2:45)

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 82 caps
14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 66 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 12 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 6 caps
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 8 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 72 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 63 caps
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 77 caps
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 110 caps Captain
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 22 caps
4. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 7 caps
5. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 37 caps
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 46 caps
7. Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 8 caps
8. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 22 caps

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary's College/Leinster) 60 caps
17. Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster) 46 caps
18. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 6 caps
19. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 57 caps
20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 19 caps
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 20 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 9 caps
23. Jordan Larmour (St Mary's College/Leinster) 2 caps

I have a friend of a friend who has made a right royal balls up!

He has acquired two box tickets for the game on Saturday (£300+ face value) but he is due to get married on the same day.

Any takers?




If so the wedding is being held at 2:30pm at Leatherhead registrar Office, the bride is 5ft 8", 29 years old, brown eyes and dark hair.

Bit more optimistic after seeing the team.

Farrell has a superior record vs Ireland than Ford anyway.

I like what Jones is trying with combinations in general.

Still not sure Haskell is right but if he brings beast mode we'll see.

I don't mind Hartley being reinstated because it means Farrell isn't captain anymore.

I don't think hooker will be the most decisive role anyway.

Much more optimistic seeing those changes. Game on.

TightHEAD wrote:I have a friend of a friend who has made a right royal balls up!

He has acquired two box tickets for the game on Saturday (£300+ face value) but he is due to get married on the same day.

Any takers?




If so the wedding is being held at 2:30pm at Leatherhead registrar Office, the bride is 5ft 8", 29 years old, brown eyes and dark hair.

I think I heard that joke nearly every year for the last 5 years when this fixture comes around.

Just this fixture?

Nevermind the joke...I'll take the offer!

I'm hoping Kearney holds out and has one more BIG game this season. Then he can be let out to grass for the rest of the Provincial season with an extra helping of oats each day.

SecretFly wrote:Nevermind the joke...I'll take the offer!

She's a size 22, no sense of humor (like most 606ers!) and doesn't shave her legs, pits etc.!

Perfect!!!!

Sold.

Back 5 of the Irish pack has some unbelievable physicality - Ryan and Henderson will be a real challenge and we can't get counter rucked off the ball as easily as we did against Scotland, that's for sure

Looking at those two side I genuinely feel for England fans and hope they stay away on Saturday.

It could be a miserable afternoon at HQ for the men in white. :

One area where England may have an advantage is experience on the bench (assuming we don't get blown away as Rodders suggests!)

If England can get ahead before the benches come on, we'll finish with a very experienced team that can hopefully close the game out. Ireland will have quite an inexperienced side trying to chase a game, and it could get ragged.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Murray and Sexton play the 80, especially if it's tight.

Yeh its really depressing having three backrowers in the backrow, I was hoping he'd put Marler or Te'o in there!

rodders wrote:Looking at those two side I genuinely feel for England fans and hope they stay away on Saturday.

It could be a miserable afternoon at HQ for the men in white. :

Unlike you to be so optimistic Rodders?

On paper, the England side is better imo.

Unfortuantly for us....We're not in form and don't seem to have a game plan, both things the Irish have.

I can't see this one being a pretty game.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:On paper, the England side is better imo.

Unfortuantly for us....We're not in form and don't seem to have a game plan, both things the Irish have.

I can't see this one being a pretty game.

Really
Inferior front row, inferior backrow, inferior half backs
Only place I would England in front is the back three

Interesting changes, seems a little panicked now though. I wonder if they'll work or the new starters will look just as flat as the old ones.

Golden wrote:

rodders wrote:Looking at those two side I genuinely feel for England fans and hope they stay away on Saturday.

It could be a miserable afternoon at HQ for the men in white. :

Unlike you to be so optimistic Rodders?

Donal Lenihan hacked my account

Seems to be a bit of complacency from Irish fans, hopefully the Irish team does likewise.

Sgt Pooly well we have to see it as a positive if Ireland don't know what England's gameplan is!

geoff999rugby wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:On paper, the England side is better imo.

Unfortuantly for us....We're not in form and don't seem to have a game plan, both things the Irish have.

I can't see this one being a pretty game.

Really
Inferior front row, inferior backrow, inferior half backs
Only place I would England in front is the back three

I'd take your halfbacks, POM and Furlong with both sides on form. I don't think the Ireland team has better players, but they are certainly more cohesive as a unit.

As long as we win the 'moral victory' I'll be a happy little Tigthhead.

I understand why Ford has been dropped but the England 9, 10 & 12 are hardly an inspiring selection. There isn't a second playmaker anywhere in the backs and I'm not convinced Farrell is creative enough to be the only one, he's not as good as Sexton in that regard. It's basically the same 9,10,12 axis (swap Wigglesworth for much superior Murray) who started the first Lions test last summer, and that was ditched after less than a full game due to not being creative enough. But I guess our options are limited based on previous results and who has been around the squad.

I do prefer the forwards though. Only hope that if we do actually get some decent quicker ball then EJ's not frightened to change things after 30 minutes like he has done in the past if we're not making decent use of it.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:On paper, the England side is better imo.

Unfortuantly for us....We're not in form and don't seem to have a game plan, both things the Irish have.

I can't see this one being a pretty game.

Really
Inferior front row, inferior backrow, inferior half backs
Only place I would England in front is the back three

I'd take your halfbacks, POM and Furlong with both sides on form. I don't think the Ireland team has better players, but they are certainly more cohesive as a unit.

Surely you would take the Ireland backrow? England's backrow has been quite poor compared to Ireland's.

B91212 wrote:I understand why Ford has been dropped but the England 9, 10 & 12 are hardly an inspiring selection. There isn't a second playmaker anywhere in the backs and I'm not convinced Farrell is creative enough to be the only one, he's not as good as Sexton in that regard. It's basically the same 9,10,12 axis (swap Wigglesworth for much superior Murray) who started the first Lions test last summer, and that was ditched after less than a full game due to not being creative enough. But I guess our options are limited based on previous results and who has been around the squad.

I do prefer the forwards though. Only hope that if we do actually get some decent quicker ball then EJ's not frightened to change things after 30 minutes like he has done in the past if we're not making decent use of it.

True there's no extra playmaker but no ickle Ford to protect in defence. Not till later on in the game.

Farrell generally performs better than Ford vs Ireland anyway. Farrell's record vs Sexton as 10 v 10 is pretty good even though it's not just those two on the pitch.

There might be no other playmaker but the centres has more balance now.

B91212 wrote:I understand why Ford has been dropped but the England 9, 10 & 12 are hardly an inspiring selection.

Looks like damage limitation to me. Eddie is out to deny Ireland the bonus point.

beshocked wrote:

True there's no extra playmaker but no ickle Ford to protect in defence. Not till later on in the game.

Farrell generally performs better than Ford vs Ireland anyway. Farrell's record vs Sexton as 10 v 10 is pretty good even though it's not just those two on the pitch.

There might be no other playmaker but the centres has more balance now.

Farrell was quite poor v Ireland last year I thought.

I think Selecting Teo at 12 probably takes England's back 3 out of the game which will be to Ireland's advantage.

rodders wrote:

B91212 wrote:I understand why Ford has been dropped but the England 9, 10 & 12 are hardly an inspiring selection.

Looks like damage limitation to me. Eddie is out to deny Ireland the bonus point.

Not sure about denying the bonus point win but agree that it seems like a damage limitation selection in those positions. Try and win the game by kicking penalties?

Collapse2005 wrote:I think Selecting Teo at 12 probably takes England's back 3 out of the game which will be to Ireland's advantage.  

I actually think that England's back 3 will see plenty of ball due to Murray & Sexton's poor kicking games......



I couldn't even type that with a straight face.

I see the touch judge has been replaced.
Whoops Eddie

B91212 wrote:

rodders wrote:

B91212 wrote:I understand why Ford has been dropped but the England 9, 10 & 12 are hardly an inspiring selection.

Looks like damage limitation to me. Eddie is out to deny Ireland the bonus point.

Not sure about denying the bonus point win but agree that it seems like a damage limitation selection in those positions. Try and win the game by kicking penalties?

I think Ford gets a bit more stick than he deserves regarding his defence. He doesn't miss that many tackles and although he's never going to knock people back he generally holds up the attacker until others arrive. Plenty of other sides hide their 10 in defence (Russell, Cipriani) but neither Tigers or England do so he can't be that bad there.

I agree that the centres have a better defensive balance but if we do actually win a breakdown (unlikely I know) then I can't see the ball getting out wide without unless it's with poor slow motion passing that allows the Irish defence to have a cup of tea and a chat before drifting and easily snuffing the attack out, or a maybe a cross field kick.

Collapse2005 wrote:

beshocked wrote:

True there's no extra playmaker but no ickle Ford to protect in defence. Not till later on in the game.

Farrell generally performs better than Ford vs Ireland anyway. Farrell's record vs Sexton as 10 v 10 is pretty good even though it's not just those two on the pitch.

There might be no other playmaker but the centres has more balance now.

Farrell was quite poor v Ireland last year I thought.

I think Selecting Teo at 12 probably takes England's back 3 out of the game which will be to Ireland's advantage.  

Not talking about Farrell's 1 loss to Ireland. I am talking about his multiple victories.

B91212 wrote:

rodders wrote:

B91212 wrote:I understand why Ford has been dropped but the England 9, 10 & 12 are hardly an inspiring selection.

Looks like damage limitation to me. Eddie is out to deny Ireland the bonus point.

Not sure about denying the bonus point win but agree that it seems like a damage limitation selection in those positions. Try and win the game by kicking penalties?

Now Eddies favorite touch judge got the chop they might not get any

beshocked wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

beshocked wrote:

True there's no extra playmaker but no ickle Ford to protect in defence. Not till later on in the game.

Farrell generally performs better than Ford vs Ireland anyway. Farrell's record vs Sexton as 10 v 10 is pretty good even though it's not just those two on the pitch.

There might be no other playmaker but the centres has more balance now.

Farrell was quite poor v Ireland last year I thought.

I think Selecting Teo at 12 probably takes England's back 3 out of the game which will be to Ireland's advantage.  

Not talking about Farrell's 1 loss to Ireland. I am talking about his multiple victories.

Multiple? I thought he had only faced Ireland twice in the 6n?

Collapse2005 wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:On paper, the England side is better imo.

Unfortuantly for us....We're not in form and don't seem to have a game plan, both things the Irish have.

I can't see this one being a pretty game.

Really
Inferior front row, inferior backrow, inferior half backs
Only place I would England in front is the back three

I'd take your halfbacks, POM and Furlong with both sides on form. I don't think the Ireland team has better players, but they are certainly more cohesive as a unit.

Surely you would take the Ireland backrow? England's backrow has been quite poor compared to Ireland's.

POM....as mentioned. Stander is decent but not a fantastic 8 imo, I like him at 6. If Lawes was playing you'd have a clear advantage, I don't rate him in the back row at all.

Farrell has played against Ireland 6 times

http://en.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/player/82092.html?class=1;template=results;type=player

Surely we'll be more physical and combative.

I hope kruis and Itoje can tell for their dynamic duo tag.

Can we have the Haskell from Australia 2 years ago please.

Well we've lost twice. Both times we could have lost. It's despondency all round from England fans and a how many will we win by from a lot of irish. Can't help but feel england will put in a performance.

They need to put in a performance 7.5

No 7&1/2 wrote:Well we've lost twice. Both times we could have lost. It's despondency all round from England fans and a how many will we win by from a lot of irish. Can't help but feel england will put in a performance.

Ireland are not as good as people make out and England are not as bad as people make out....close game...one score...home advantage will probably swing it....but I hope not!

You stick a fit Billy in that pack and I'd have us winning by 10+ tbh...he's been sorely missed.

Kruis brings us physicality and quality basics, I really hope he brings the best out of Itoje.