[2015 RWC] Warm Up Match: England vs Ireland (05/09/15)

[Every Time Ref]

May is our only left winger, isn't he?
I mean Lancs will use the others there, but isn't May the only one that's played there before?

Yeah, I'm assuming Lancaster isn't too attached to the left-right distinction otherwise he'd have taken another left winger

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Not negative. Realistic. Can you really be that confident that Ireland are going to win at Twickenham? A game which England HAVE to win, and we don't necessarily have to.

The game against Wales at the weekend, which I was at, was a clear indicator that Ireland have a lot to work on. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. We don't need to peak for another 6 weeks or so, so it's grand. England need to peak now, so they'll go out all guns blazing for this one. We're just looking to get the rustiness gone.

Interesting viewpoint, I don't think I agree but I can see where you're coming from. If you look at this weeks team it is a hell of a lot stronger than last week, if you look at Schmidt's time in charge of Ireland we've never under performed two weeks in a row. I also don't think either side have to win this game, once again it's a nothing game. Each side will hold back their new stuff again and the result doesn't matter, match fitness is key. Due to all this I think the more comfortable side will win and as of right now that's Ireland.

 

[big ginger 8]

Ireland (v England):


15. Simon Zebo
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Jared Payne
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Dave Kearney
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray
1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Paul O'Connell (captain)
6. Peter O'Mahony
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Tadhg Furlong
18. Nathan White
19. Donnacha Ryan
20. Chris Henry
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Ian Madigan
23. Darren Cave

Apart from Zebo I'd imagine that's what Schmidt considers his first team from those who are currently fit.. Of most interest to me will be how Furlong gets on at loosehead when he comes on. I'm not overly fussed about the result of the match at the moment of course in the heat of watching it that will change for a little while. I'm looking for a good performance and most importantly no injuries.

 

[Mumbles119]

Ireland (v England):


15. Simon Zebo
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Jared Payne
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Dave Kearney
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray
1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Paul O’Connell (captain)
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Tadhg Furlong
18. Nathan White
19. Donnacha Ryan
20. Chris Henry
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Ian Madigan
23. Darren Cave

Apart from Zebo I'd imagine that's what Schmidt considers his first team from those who are currently fit.. Of most interest to me will be how Furlong gets on at loosehead when he comes on. I'm not overly fussed about the result of the match at the moment of course in the heat of watching it that will change for a little while. I'm looking for a good performance and most importantly no injuries.

Looking at this strong Ireland line-up, I can't help but focus on the the two back rows.
In the last Ire/Eng 6N game, England were out fought and too slow with numbers to the breakdown. Ireland moved the breakdown area around, and the English slow coaches could get there in numbers quick enough. I think this will be a carbon copy of that result again.

 

[RedruthRFC]

I'm not sure about that, May is taller but Nowell is significantly better in the air.

Really, I don't see what Lancaster is thinking, Nowell has clearly performed the best of all the wingers recently AND is a Lancaster favourite AND is the best horses-for-courses selection against Ireland (when catching is going to be crucial). That's partly why I suspect this isn't quite supposed to be a full 1st XV.

Agreed all ways round. Nowell was a full back up to England U20 level. When he was breaking into the Chiefs team, I was convinced that it was his best position. Now it looks like he may end up as a centre, but given his lack of out and out pace and how well he carries in traffic, there's still a case to say that he's more of a full back than a wing. He has a tough balancing act weighing up what's best for his club and for his England career.

- - - Updated - - -

Looking at this strong Ireland line-up, I can't help but focus on the the two back rows.
In the last Ire/Eng 6N game, England were out fought and too slow with numbers to the breakdown. Ireland moved the breakdown area around, and the English slow coaches could get there in numbers quick enough. I think this will be a carbon copy of that result again.

I remember thinking at the time that it was clear where England had been bested. If England are a clear second best in these areas again, I think it would be fair to accuse the coaching staff of fitting with Einstein's definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, which would be a poor reflection on their abilities. Equally worryingly in the context of the World Cup, if it happens again, Ireland will have given the rest of the world a template for how to take England on.

 

[Maverick1987]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm sure last time we played Ireland Nowell was heavily targeted along with Goode with all the up and unders . He seemed to struggle against the Irish wing on the day (sorry can't remember who it was now)

 

[Every Time Ref]

I seem to Remember Nowell being up against Bowe, most players would struggle; he's still our best winger in the air. Thinking about it I think that would mean Nowell played on the left, although I might be remembering wrongly.

 

[Tmartin995]

Nowell played on the left in the six nations, Watson on the right

 

[TobesHodges]

I remember thinking at the time that it was clear where England had been bested. If England are a clear second best in these areas again, I think it would be fair to accuse the coaching staff of fitting with Einstein's definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, which would be a poor reflection on their abilities. Equally worryingly in the context of the World Cup, if it happens again, Ireland will have given the rest of the world a template for how to take England on.

Probably one of the biggest games of George Ford future Career (probably is a bit much), he needs to show that against teams that aren't going to allow him front foot ball, he can still kick to the right areas and still create some go forward.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Probably one of the biggest games of George Ford future Career (probably is a bit much), he needs to show that against teams that aren't going to allow him front foot ball, he can still kick to the right areas and still create some go forward.

It's like the game show the cube really.

Can George ford kick to the corners and play a territory game? Yes

But can he do it in the cube????

 

[AzaMatt]

It's like the game show the cube really.

Can George ford kick to the corners and play a territory game? Yes

But can he do it in the cube????

but how many lives does he have left?

 

[MojoPin]

Think I'm actually looking forward to this match more than the Wales/Italy game at the moment - some fascinating match-ups and two very strong squads. Whoever loses is going to have to do some serious confidence boosting, but if Ireland lose then at least they have an easier pool to get through. My gut feeling is they'll win but it could definitely go either way.

Will be watching to see how the England set piece gets on, not to mention May, Ford and Youngs. Zebo at fullback is interesting too - if he's targeted then it'll be a real test of his physical and mental toughness. Has he featured there much before at club level or anything?

 

[bw245]

Agreed all ways round. Nowell was a full back up to England U20 level. When he was breaking into the Chiefs team, I was convinced that it was his best position. Now it looks like he may end up as a centre, but given his lack of out and out pace and how well he carries in traffic, there's still a case to say that he's more of a full back than a wing. He has a tough balancing act weighing up what's best for his club and for his England career.

- - - Updated - - -



I remember thinking at the time that it was clear where England had been bested. If England are a clear second best in these areas again, I think it would be fair to accuse the coaching staff of fitting with Einstein's definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, which would be a poor reflection on their abilities. Equally worryingly in the context of the World Cup, if it happens again, Ireland will have given the rest of the world a template for how to take England on.

And that's why England won't make the same mistake again. They're not stupid. They know Wales, Australia and Fiji will be looking closely at this game and they won't give much away. If they fall for the breakdown issue again, I reckon it'll be done with a motive.

 

[chippieolamus]

And that's why England won't make the same mistake again. They're not stupid. They know Wales, Australia and Fiji will be looking closely at this game and they won't give much away. If they fall for the breakdown issue again, I reckon it'll be done with a motive.

You'd be surprised.

 

[profitius]

One name I hate seeing on the England lineup when they play Ireland - Mike Brown. He always comes up with some big plays.

 

[big ginger 8]

Gotta love how SKY's lineup thing made all the English players look taller than their Irish counterpart including Lawes v Toner and Youngs v Murray.

 

[bw245]

Best result today would be no injuries! That's all I want.

 

[TommiG88]

Tom youngs misses a lineout in practise. Good omen. Haha

 

[bw245]

Tom youngs misses a lineout in practise. Good omen. Haha

Saw that haha. Hartley is needed that's for sure.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Gotta love how SKY's lineup thing made all the English players look taller than their Irish counterpart including Lawes v Toner and Youngs v Murray.

Dragon slayers are bigger than Leprechauns, that's just science.