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

[msf]

Peat, I don't think Youngs throws that many bad passes per se (although he does throw a shocker from time to time, like the one at the beginning of the Italy match where we discovered that Ford can kick off his left) but rather that by the time he throws the pass, the fly halfs options are much more limited. He seems to have improved quite a lot in this area recently, but I think when he is put under pressure he will go back to that step first, pass second game. Brian Smith, who although he's not an amazing coach obviously knows Youngs pretty well, basically said in the Independent that the Welsh allowed Youngs to play by using their scrum half on the blindside, when they should have just used him to shadow Youngs, put pressure on him and stop his running game.

 

[Groundhog]

England to win by 20. Ireland to get a dubious amount of penalties to keep them in the game until the 60th min.

Losers (England) to whine about the ref. Winners to say it didn't affect the result. Every Time Ref to eat his words. Heard it here first folks.

 

[msf]

Let's just hope that Schmidt doesn't read either this forum or Brian Smith's articles.

 

[ncurd]

Losers (England) to whine about the ref. Winners to say it didn't affect the result. Every Time Ref to eat his words. Heard it here first folks.

Steve Walsh isn't refereeing us until the last game we're only poor loosers when he gets involved with us loosing a championship.

 

[goodNumber10]

Peat, I don't think Youngs throws that many bad passes per se (although he does throw a shocker from time to time, like the one at the beginning of the Italy match where we discovered that Ford can kick off his left) but rather that by the time he throws the pass, the fly halfs options are much more limited. He seems to have improved quite a lot in this area recently, but I think when he is put under pressure he will go back to that step first, pass second game. Brian Smith, who although he's not an amazing coach obviously knows Youngs pretty well, basically said in the Independent that the Welsh allowed Youngs to play by using their scrum half on the blindside, when they should have just used him to shadow Youngs, put pressure on him and stop his running game.

He also said this about Ford: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...io-parisse-they-must-be-patient-10045643.html

I thought England were terrific in Wales: their set piece, their carrying, the odd flash of ingenuity outside the scrum – all in all, it was a deeply satisfying performance. But if I had to shine a light on one area in need of attention, it would concern the outside-half George Ford. Don't get me wrong: he's one heck of a player when it comes to managing a game. But Wales got to him a couple of times, through Jamie Roberts and Mike Phillips, and it emphasised the need to box a little more cleverly in defence.

Ford is on the small side, no two ways about it, and he's hardly an Owen Farrell in the tackle: when Toby Faletau created that first-half try for Rhys Webb, the Bath man went super-low, hit the No 8 as hard as he could ... and made no discernible impact. I'd hide him in the five-metre channel on opposition ball, as a means of protecting him. He's a prize asset for England, so why expose him to someone the size of Roberts?

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I don't want to have my words forced back down my throat on sunday but so far its been reassuring to see that Schmidts teams aren't impregnable (you definitely can impregnate them with enough effort ) as there are clear areas where Ireland need to work on (as with all the other teams)

On the other hand, I hope we can be pragmatic on sunday...Ireland are talking up Joseph and stopping him and i just hope we don't get taken in by the idea of playing too much rugby, because in the anticipated conditions we probably won't win.
To contradict myself though, I think that with the running ability of some of the players, provided if we do it at the right times and areas, we have a chance...

 

[msf]

Yep, Youngs has poor service, Ford isn't a powerful tackler...next please!

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Haha, I'm not having a go at you, just pointing out that we are both pointing out the obvious.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Losers (England) to whine about the ref. Winners to say it didn't affect the result. Every Time Ref to eat his words. Heard it here first folks.

The only thing I'll be eating is you for breakfast. The only thing I'll be drinking is winner's beer.

Edit: That's you plural rather than you @Groundhog, otherwise that sounds a bit ... intimate

 

[msf]

It's just a pity that only one of these facts is obvious to the England coaches.

 

[Groundhog]

The only thing I'll be eating is you for breakfast. The only thing I'll be drinking is winner's beer.

Edit: That's you plural rather than you @Groundhog, otherwise that sounds a bit ... intimate

Oh you'll eat ne every time ref. You'll eat me!

 

[goodNumber10]

Yep, Youngs has poor service, Ford isn't a powerful tackler...next please!

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Haha, I'm not having a go at you, just pointing out that we are both pointing out the obvious.

hehe! fair enough.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

This thread is making more and more confident of an England victory. Rob Kearney's time spent with his many lady friends and his time in the sun bed has hopefully fried his brain, allowing even Jonny May to get over the try line.

I wrote a piece about the England and Ireland rankings here: http://fourballsblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/do-england-deserve-to-be-ranked-higher.html and I believe England have beaten Ireland 4 times in a row now, gotta be painful. A lot of chat from a team not so successful against the top 3 teams in the world. Obviously a great victory against SA, but how many victories over New Zealand have they got? Will they be able to raise their game against the top sides in the world? I don't think so.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Oh you'll eat ne every time ref. You'll eat me!

We'll see who is the eater, and who the eatee...

 

[Patchey]

Anyone else find it odd end haven't done their normal 'this is who is in camp' announcement this week?

 

[Raggs]

Ford may not have knocked Toby back, but he tackled him just fine, no lost yards etc... Yes a few times he gave up some yards, and that stresses the defence, but he's not a turnstyle. He makes it harder, and if we can hide him then lets do it, but I'm not too worried.

 

[goodNumber10]

Ford may not have knocked Toby back, but he tackled him just fine, no lost yards etc... Yes a few times he gave up some yards, and that stresses the defence, but he's not a turnstyle. He makes it harder, and if we can hide him then lets do it, but I'm not too worried.

I think Youngs should have dropped off and defended the blind anyway... Ford had to run from open to blind to make that tackle it was never going to be dominant.

 

[Peat]

Peat, I don't think Youngs throws that many bad passes per se (although he does throw a shocker from time to time, like the one at the beginning of the Italy match where we discovered that Ford can kick off his left) but rather that by the time he throws the pass, the fly halfs options are much more limited. He seems to have improved quite a lot in this area recently, but I think when he is put under pressure he will go back to that step first, pass second game. Brian Smith, who although he's not an amazing coach obviously knows Youngs pretty well, basically said in the Independent that the Welsh allowed Youngs to play by using their scrum half on the blindside, when they should have just used him to shadow Youngs, put pressure on him and stop his running game.

All very true and I predict that we won't protect him well or set up a strong enough platform and there'll be lots of complaining.

 

[bw245]

This thread is a joke. Obviously I support Ireland, but have huge respect for England going into this game. I knew the minute the Welsh media started being cocky that England would win round 1 against Wales, so let's not have a repeat of that cockiness from either side this time round.
There is huge talent on each side, and in my opinion it will come down to battle of the game plan. Lancaster knows the english defence is weak at the moment. Schmidt will be aware of this. Lancaster will think Schmidt will take advantage of weak defence and change to a more attacking game plan. Will Schmidt do that, though? Will England be so worried about their defence that they'll be forced into errors? Will Ireland be so wary of England's attacking game and ability to score tries that they'll have their focus on defence again and defence only?
Who knows, but it's going to be an interesting game.
If Ireland play for 80 minutes, I think Ireland will win. Schmidt is way too tactical and I can see him playing games and frustrating a less experienced English side. However, if England come out with an improved defence, and let JJ shine, they'll take it.
Prediction: Ireland will win with another boring game because they'll frustrate the English team into giving away penalties.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

This thread is a joke.

About as much of a joke as England's chances without Joe Launchbury!!! Amirite?!!

 

[bw245]

About as much of a joke as England's chances without Joe Launchbury!!! Amirite?!!

DEFO!
haha no really though, england are going to be such a force to be reckoned with in the future.