[2015 Six Nations] Ireland vs England (Round 3)

[chippieolamus]

Healy - Hartley - Cole (assuming Healy is at full fitness)
Attwood - O'Connell
O'Brien - Vunipola - Robshaw (hard to leave POM out)
Murray - Sexton
Burrell - JJ
Watson - Kearney - Bowe
Fair?

 

[msf]

Yeah, I would agree that Ireland seem to have the edge in the backs, if only on experience. In the forwards I think it depends on whether their newly returned crockees - Healy, O'Brien and O'Connell (just for being old) - take advantage of the absence of ours (Launchbury, Lawes, Wood).

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Healy - Hartley - Cole (assuming Healy is at full fitness)
Attwood - O'Connell
O'Brien - Vunipola - Robshaw (hard to leave POM out)
Murray - Sexton
Burrell - JJ
Watson - Kearney - Bowe
Fair?

I'd take Best of Hartley any day of the week. Probably a bit biased, probably a bit because Hartley is a cock. But seriously I think his breakdown work for a hooker is nearly unrivaled, he's like having an extra flanker.
I like O'Brien at 7 and I'd have him there and POM at 6.
Henshaw / Burrell is pretty 50/50.

 

[msf]

I just watched the Ireland game from last year again, and Launchbury's performance in the loose was ridiculous. I think Atwood is better in the tight, but it does annoy me how Stephen Jones and Nick Cain go on about him all the time. In case you weren't aware, Launchbury won player of the tournament at the U20 2011 JWC, in which he played against both Etzebeth and Retallick. Any team would miss that kind of quality. The same goes for Lawes, who I think is probably the best 5 in the world at moment, all things considering.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Probably what I'd pick but if Fitzgerald comes in for Zebo I'd have him ahead of Watson.

Possibly, was always a fan of Fitz but it seems a long time since I've seen him play for Ireland. Feel like I've seen him for Munster a couple of times but that he was playing 13? Does that sound right?

Healy - Hartley - Cole (assuming Healy is at full fitness)
Attwood - O'Connell
O'Brien - Vunipola - Robshaw (hard to leave POM out)
Murray - Sexton
Burrell - JJ
Watson - Kearney - Bowe
Fair?

Assuming full fitness I think that's fair - although Heaslip would replace Vunipola for my money. If I was picking on current levels of match fitness I'd have O'Mahony for SOB and Marler in for Healy. As I said, Henshaw / Burrell is a toss-up for me, neither screaming out for selection - six of one.

- - - Updated - - -

I just watched the Ireland game from last year again, and Launchbury's performance in the loose was ridiculous. I think Atwood is better in the tight, but it does annoy me how Stephen Jones and Nick Cain go on about him all the time. In case you weren't aware, Launchbury won player of the tournament at the U20 2011 JWC, in which he played against both Etzebeth and Retallick. Any team would miss that kind of quality. The same goes for Lawes, who I think is probably the best 5 in the world at moment, all things considering.

I agree that Launchbury walks back into the side at ful fitness, no questions. However, I fully admit to a touch of Bath bias, but I would still prefer Attwood as the other lock. Not because he's fundamentally a better player than Lawes, I just think he offers so much that Lancaster's game plan really needs.

 

[chippieolamus]

Assuming full fitness I think that's fair - although Heaslip would replace Vunipola for my money. If I was picking on current levels of match fitness I'd have O'Mahony for SOB and Marler in for Healy. As I said, Henshaw / Burrell is a toss-up for me, neither screaming out for selection - six of one.

I was going on who's available this weekend really. Otherwise I'd consider Corbs, Launchbury, Lawes, Tuilagi, Brown from an English perspective (not saying all would get in though)

 

[Every Time Ref]

I was going on who's available this weekend really. Otherwise I'd consider Corbs, Launchbury, Lawes, Tuilagi, Brown from an English perspective (not saying all would get in though)

Fair enough, I guess I was thinking of 6 Nations squads.

Nowell replaces Johnny May in 26-man squad:

http://www.englandrugby.com/news/nowell-included-squad-for-ireland/

Biggest surprise is Corbisiero being released back to Northampton - I thought he would play some part on Saturday

 

[Aristodemus]

Very happy to see Nowell get the nod over May but it is looking likely that Goode will start, which is a worry.

 

[chippieolamus]

Glad Nowell's getting his chance. May hasn't been convincing at all so far.

 

[Irishkid]

Very happy to see Nowell get the nod over May but it is looking likely that Goode will start, which is a worry.

Give him a chance. I know he's not the most X factor player but he's been playing well and is solid under the high ball.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

Give him a chance. I know he's not the most X factor player but he's been playing well and is solid under the high ball.

I agree, it's absolutely not a worry against this Irish side, against the Kiwis then yes, but I would think he is well suited to this game.

 

[ncurd]

Can't argue with those choices if Brown is concussed. Rather play a person in position than moving someone out.

 

[Crapspray]

Parling, Wood, and Lawes all released back to clubs. No mention of Kitchener either; I presume since Parling and Lawes are both "back" that he's been demoted.

Well I guess that's our lineout ****ed. Luckily, the Irish are notoriously poor kickers and don't put the opposition under pressure on their own throw...

Stuart "Grand Old Duke of York" Lancaster. The master tactician.

---

As for May, harsh but understandable. Nowell's in good form, so it should be alright. Goode is fine. He's just meh, whereas Brown was fantastic(-ally wasted on the wing) for a whole year.

 

[B10]

I really don't understand the no lock on the bench tactic when Kitchener is available. If Kruis or Attwood especially get an early injury we are in trouble.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

Parling, Wood, and Lawes all released back to clubs. No mention of Kitchener either; I presume since Parling and Lawes are both "back" that he's been demoted.

Well I guess that's our lineout ****ed. Luckily, the Irish are notoriously poor kickers and don't put the opposition under pressure on their own throw...

Stuart "Grand Old Duke of York" Lancaster. The master tactician.

---

As for May, harsh but understandable. Nowell's in good form, so it should be alright. Goode is fine. He's just meh, whereas Brown was fantastic(-ally wasted on the wing) for a whole year.

Err... no. It's not. Attwood and Kruis are still more than capable in this area.

 

[big ginger 8]

Possibly, was always a fan of Fitz but it seems a long time since I've seen him play for Ireland. Feel like I've seen him for Munster a couple of times but that he was playing 13? Does that sound right?

Fitzgerald has been playing as well for Munster as JJ has been for Leicester....

His last match for Ireland was that match that never happened in 2013. A while ago yes but he's currently fit and as good as Watson is and will be it's a pretty easy choice for me. Yeah he's played mostly 13 since coming back, quite well as well, with most people wanting him ahead of Payne. However he's said Schmidt wants to look at him on the wing and so his last Leinster match was there where he won motm, albeit against Zebre.

 

[Conal]

Fitzgerald has been playing as well for Munster as JJ has been for Leicester....

His last match for Ireland was that match that never happened in 2013. A while ago yes but he's currently fit and as good as Watson is and will be it's a pretty easy choice for me. Yeah he's played mostly 13 since coming back, quite well as well, with most people wanting him ahead of Payne. However he's said Schmidt wants to look at him on the wing and so his last Leinster match was there where he won motm, albeit against Zebre.

i know it sounds awful but if we played him at 13 what are the chances he gets boshed in the first 20 and goes off?

 

[big ginger 8]

i know it sounds awful but if we played him at 13 what are the chances he gets boshed in the first 20 and goes off?

Fairly unlikely I'd say, that's just not the nature of his main problem at the moment. He's smashed plenty of people since coming back. Him playing on the wing may make him more vunerable to injury as it was a groin problem that was keeping him out and when he first came back he was at risk most when changing direction and hitting full speed. Judging by the way he's been stepping recently that's not a problem anymore.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Even if he was fit right now I don't see the point in starting him at 13. Schmidt is clearly trying to cement a partnership and there's too big of a risk with Fitzgerald being out constantly. Certainly capable if he wasn't so injury prone though..

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Against Ireland I'd rather have reliability and solid players than unreliable ones that can occassionally produce that x factor. Nowell for May is the right choice IMO, especially with how much the Irish like the kick chase on the wings. I trust Nowell to handle it better than May.

I think we may need to play the possession game and ensure Ireland can't get their grubby mitts on the ball. Really don't think we could win the kicking game.