2014 Six Nations: England vs Ireland (Round 3)

[Ragey Erasmus]

I think Zebo got a lot more attention from that foot flick he did I believe in the last 6N.

 

[Groundhog]

Zebo's a character and the younger fans love him. Perfectly nice guy and what he does off the field has no bearing on his merit as a player unless it impacts the province. Yes he's a showboater but if he can back it up with performance who cares. He was poor in the seasons opening few games but that's no reason to put him in the firing line. Everyone has off form periods and apart from that he's being excellent.
The amount of rap such a young player gets is ridiculous. He got an easy walk into Ireland, but he has improved and his defence is a LOT better of recent. Bags of pace, great feet, outstanding under the high ball and a great finisher. Any other ****les and problems in his game can and will be coached out. He's a great athlete.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I couldn't care less if Simon Zebo blasts music from his car loudly. Anyone who goes to the RDS can see Cian Healy's jeep and hear it a mile away! I suspect the reason Zebo isn't in the squad is due to his workrate.

On his tries at the weekend, they were well finished but was passing the ball in both instances the better option? That's how it seemed to me, certainly for his first score. Perhaps his decision making is an issue.

For what it's worth, I'd love to see him in the squad.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Didn't someone say one of the things Schmidt has to to Zebo/everyone is that he hates celebrations after scoring a try - which is what Zebo went on to do after scoring on the weekend.
Is he really that dumb, or does he just not want to play for Ireland? :huh:

 

[munstermuffin]

If Zebo is in poor form now I'm happy he's with Munster as he's scoring. I think his reputation upsets people as he didn't overly celebrate either of his 2 tries. Also if anyone has watched Munster lately they'll see Zebo is hungry for ball and popping up all over. And Hugh Cahill massively over hyped Zebo arrival at ground. It wasn't crazy as if it was a guard would've had him off road. And personally I think some are reading too much media and not watching. Zebo has popped up all over the place and is playing well.
I don't mind Schmidt not selecting him as the team is a winning team and I'd have been reluctant to change much. Also maybe Joe doesn't trust Zebo to be a part of his gameplan yet which is fair too. But anyone who says Zebo isn't playing well obviously hasn't watched him. But playing well and enough to oust 2 wingers in position for Ireland are 2 different things.
Also his off field antics have calmed hugely all round but again anyone who knows Munster knows that

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

http://balls.ie/rugby/rog-englands-backs-wouldnt-get-ireland-squad/

To be fair Danny Care would make the bench!

Whatever your opinion of RO'G is you can't say he's not maximising his post retirement earning potential.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

http://balls.ie/rugby/rog-englands-backs-wouldnt-get-ireland-squad/

To be fair Danny Care would make the bench!

Whatever your opinion of RO'G is you can't say he's not maximising his post retirement earning potential.

The thing is it's so obvious ROG is just trying to rile up the opposition that, in my opinion at least, it doesn't work. Haven't seen the Irish beating defenders like Brown and May have done. Bit boring, everyone tries to have a go at England before our games and most of the time we prove them wrong. Ok haven't won a 6N in donkeys years but we are easily the most consistent team in it.

 

[munstermuffin]

The thing is it's so obvious ROG is just trying to rile up the opposition that, in my opinion at least, it doesn't work. Haven't seen the Irish beating defenders like Brown and May have done. Bit boring, everyone tries to have a go at England before our games and most of the time we prove them wrong. Ok haven't won a 6N in donkeys years but we are easily the most consistent team in it.

Right or wrong ROG speaks his mind as a journalist. He's always spoke his mind and backed it up. Remember before in HEC before playing Leicester in Welford Road he said how the Aviva Prem is overhyped and whey think they're better than they are. Agree or not it's mind games and well some may say boring but it's just ROG saying what he's always said. Not saying I agree or anything either as I think their back 3 are on even par with ours and well as individuals centres are tight but as unit we win it.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I don't think ROG is trying to wind anyone up to be fair, I think he's just a bit of a green-eyed ***.
Knowing him that's his genuine opinion.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I don't think ROG is trying to wind anyone up to be fair, I think he's just a bit of a green-eyed ***.
Knowing him that's his genuine opinion.

He does still talk as if he's still part of the team. I actually like him as a pundit, him,Shane Horgan and Conor O'Shea are the only Irish pundits who actually talk about rugby rather than base their opinions solely on results. I can't agree with him here though if you had to pick a back line on 6 nations form with Irish and English players it would look like thin in my opinion:

9. Care (Close call, two best 9's in the competition)
10. Sexton
11. Kearney
12. D'Arcy
13. Burrell
14. May
15. Kearney (Once again a very close call)

 

[munstermuffin]

He does still talk as if he's still part of the team. I actually like him as a pundit, him,Shane Horgan and Conor O'Shea are the only Irish pundits who actually talk about rugby rather than base their opinions solely on results. I can't agree with him here though if you had to pick a back line on 6 nations form with Irish and English players it would look like thin in my opinion:

9. Care (Close call, two best 9's in the competition)
10. Sexton
11. Kearney
12. D'Arcy
13. Burrell
14. May
15. Kearney (Once again a very close call)

In that though I think only Sexton is a clear certainty.
Like regards rest for example a lot will have Murray ahead of Care or Twelvetrees ahead of D'Arcy.

 

[big ginger 8]

In that though I think only Sexton is a clear certainty.
Like regards rest for example a lot will have Murray ahead of Care or Twelvetrees ahead of D'Arcy.

I think Twelvetrees is a good player but I'd have him behind both D'arcy and Marshall.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I think 36 is the weakest player in the English backline by a fair distance.

 

[munstermuffin]

I think Twelvetrees is a good player but I'd have him behind both D'arcy and Marshall.

Yes that is yours and Feics opinion. I see D'arcy as just ahead but my point is others will see differently. Add in form plays a lot as in D'arcy is playing superb this season but 18months ago he went off boil slightly. Mike Ross was superb 18months ago but now has declined. But basically my point been everyone will see it different. As I have Sexton a country mile ahead of Farrell some May have it closer

 

[Peat]

Anyone who has Farrell close to Sexton has issues.

Partnerships matter more than players a lot of the time anyway. The only combo I wouldn't definitely take over the English counterpart would be the back three. And I'm not sure about that one.

edit: Most of the players seem of a muchness to me. Sexton the only clear standout compared to the other, although I'd have Brown and Murray ahead of their counterparts handily.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

BOD sat out training in Carton today, Henshaw running 13. Hopefully he's fit for the weekend!

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Ummmm Burrell is far better than d'arcy at the moment!

May has far more talent than Trimble or d Kearny.

Brown/ Kearny on form is very equal.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ummmm Burrell is far better than d'arcy at the moment!

May has far more talent than Trimble or d Kearny.

Brown/ Kearny on form is very equal.

Except Burrell plays 13.
Regards Dave Kearney interesting stat he has never scored in HEC and no assists. Surely that's inaccurate as I thought he had scored in Europe.

 

[big ginger 8]

Ummmm Burrell is far better than d'arcy at the moment!

May has far more talent than Trimble or d Kearny.

Brown/ Kearny on form is very equal.

Umm Burrell is playing 13 at the moment! He may be playing better in attack but D'arcy's all round defensive work is better.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Ummmm Burrell is far better than d'arcy at the moment!

May has far more talent than Trimble or d Kearny.

Brown/ Kearny on form is very equal.

This use of the word 'far' is a bit of a stretch imo. The tournament is only two rounds old. Burrell has done well to score two tries thus far, but Ireland haven't been exactly throwing it wide as of late. Less chances = less tries scored, obviously. That said, both have been playing very well domestically. Highly contrasting styles though as well as playing in different positions, which makes a direct comparison both difficult and rather trivial.

As for Johnny May, well we'll see. International wings are a funny thing really. You can only really play the role the team gives you. Ireland have been using their wingers to chase high ball and they've been doing it excellently. England have been a bit more expansive with their wings, and as such May has looked very good in that role. If you were to swap Trimble into the England side and May into Ireland would they be doing as well? Who knows? Unless they're serious game changers al a George North wingers are all much of a muchness save for serious faults imo. I don't think the wings will be the deciding factor. I do think that Dave Kearney is probably a level below international rugby, but we'll manage with what we've got.

As an aside, I think it's best to keep the hype a bit down on English wingers. The second coming of Jason Robinson has been promised for about the last 8 years now, be it Ashton, Sharples, Wade, May, and so on. I like May, but I'm hesitant to call him a top winger until he's had about 2 strong years in the side.