[2016 RBS Six Nations] Round 3: England vs. Ireland (27/02/2016)

[TRF_Olyy]

Never heard of him, but they're not exactly Nonu/Smith are they?

 

[Jakedood]

I can't tell if that's sarcastic. Is mccloskey quality?

He's the kind of centre England would have wet dreams over

Never heard of him, but they're not exactly Nonu/Smith are they?

He's a big big big boy, enforces an unbelievable amount of turnovers, always breaks the gain line, always looking to offload, and can find people with some nice passing too. Wasn't always big, was quite lanky throughout school so he has a lot of other core skills which are very rounded. He's even developing a boot. This guy is good

 

[Peat]

Never heard of him, but they're not exactly Nonu/Smith are they?

Closest thing going to Nonu this side of the equator tbh, or at least he has been at P12/HEC level.

I'm doubly unhappy to see McCloskey on the team sheet if confirmed.

 

[Jakedood]

1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Donnacha Ryan
6. CJ Stander
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Conor Murray
10. Jonny Sexton
11. Keith Earls
12. STUART MCCLOSKEY
13. Robbie Henshaw
14. Andrew Trimble
15. Rob Kearney
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Cian Healy
18. Nathan White
19. Ultan Dillane
20. Rhys Ruddock
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Ian Madigan
23. Simon Zebo

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Never heard of him, but they're not exactly Nonu/Smith are they?

The last centre pairing to beat England was Roberts and Scott Williams, these two are as good. (Don't tell the Welsh Henshaw is better than Scott Williams, they won't like it.)

- - - Updated - - -

1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Donnacha Ryan
6. CJ Stander
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Conor Murray
10. Jonny Sexton
11. Keith Earls
12. STUART MCCLOSKEY
13. Robbie Henshaw
14. Andrew Trimble
15. Rob Kearney
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Cian Healy
18. Nathan White
19. Ultan Dillane
20. Rhys Ruddock
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Ian Madigan
23. Simon Zebo

No disrespect to Ultan Dillane bro!

 

[Willodell100]

Closest thing going to Nonu this side of the equator tbh, or at least he has been at P12/HEC level.

I'm doubly unhappy to see McCloskey on the team sheet if confirmed.

If the rumours are true it is going to be a tough day for a McCloskey / Henshaw brand new centre partnership.

Schmidt has been almost forced into it down to injuries but both players, being inside centres, means Ireland has the same issue England have had under Lancaster when he insisted on playing 2 12s during the World Cup.

In attack they will definitely target Ford (who doesn't) but Henshaw will be eaten alive in the 13 channel by Joseph.

This is an area I would definitely attack especially as these guys have never played together before in Green.

 

[Jakedood]

If the rumours are true it is going to be a tough day for a McCloskey / Henshaw brand new centre partnership.

Schmidt has been almost forced into it down to injuries but both players, being inside centres, means Ireland has the same issue England have had under Lancaster when he insisted on playing 2 12s during the World Cup.

In attack they will definitely target Ford (who doesn't) but Henshaw will be eaten alive in the 13 channel by Joseph.

This is an area I would definitely attack especially as these guys have never played together before in Green.

You do know Henshaw is a 13, playing as a makeshift 12 right? He's got some serious pace too, Joseph might beat him once or twice, because he's a class act, but Henshaw wil manage the same. And the though of McCloskey rampaging down the channel between Farrell and Ford... like a lion attacking two rabbits

 

[Peat]

The last centre pairing to beat England was Roberts and Scott Williams, these two are as good. (Don't tell the Welsh Henshaw is better than Scott Williams, they won't like it.)

Uhm... Australia?

Stander and McCloskey give Ireland a genuine chance of really bashing through the advantage line for what feels like the first time in forever.

If the rumours are true it is going to be a tough day for a McCloskey / Henshaw brand new centre partnership.

Schmidt has been almost forced into it down to injuries but both players, being inside centres, means Ireland has the same issue England have had under Lancaster when he insisted on playing 2 12s during the World Cup.

In attack they will definitely target Ford (who doesn't) but Henshaw will be eaten alive in the 13 channel by Joseph.

This is an area I would definitely attack especially as these guys have never played together before in Green.

Henshaw is a natural 13 who was playing out of position at 12.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

If the rumours are true it is going to be a tough day for a McCloskey / Henshaw brand new centre partnership.

Schmidt has been almost forced into it down to injuries but both players, being inside centres, means Ireland has the same issue England have had under Lancaster when he insisted on playing 2 12s during the World Cup.

In attack they will definitely target Ford (who doesn't) but Henshaw will be eaten alive in the 13 channel by Joseph.

This is an area I would definitely attack especially as these guys have never played together before in Green.

Henshaw is a 13, plays there for Connacht and is out of position at 12 if anything.

- - - Updated - - -

Uhm... Australia?

Stander and McCloskey give Ireland a genuine chance of really bashing through the advantage line for what feels like the first time in forever.

Got my order mixed up, point still stands!

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

The last centre pairing to beat England was Roberts and Scott Williams, these two are as good. (Don't tell the Welsh Henshaw is better than Scott Williams, they won't like it.)

That centre pairing went up against Burgess and Barritt... Just saying.

 

[Maverick1987]

You do know Henshaw is a 13, playing as a makeshift 12 right? He's got some serious pace too, Joseph might beat him once or twice, because he's a class act, but Henshaw wil manage the same. And the though of McCloskey rampaging down the channel between Farrell and Ford... like a lion attacking two rabbits

I think you are overplaying him to be honest . When Ulster played Sarries last time Farrell played 12 for a portion of the game with Hodgson at 10 and Ulster were comfortably beaten . Let's not beat around the bush if England get the better of Ireland at the scrum and line out this is going to be a hard day at the office for your centres even if he is some kind of lion as you call it

 

[Jakedood]

Ulster's pack was a piece of crap that day, we didn't have anywhere near the type of parity to provide a platform for McCloskey. Playing against sarries doesn't quite have the bearing beacuase of the difference in the packs, I don't think England will have anywhere near that much of a boost, but I do concede they probably will be on top just slightly with Itoje starting, but we'll see. Either way, it's a very exciting new centre partnership for us

 

[martinspoonboy1]

The Irish are getting confident. Its like us with manu. Think he can win us the game when in fact he's just a useful cog.

 

[profitius]

Official now. Of course Schmidt ruins it a bit by picking Reddan, Strauss and Madigan on the bench.


15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 68
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 60
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht) 17
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 47
10. Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 58
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 44
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 27
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) Captain 91
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 56
4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 36
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 33
6. CJ Stander (Munster) 2
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)*
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) Vice Captain 82

Replacements
16. Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster) 14
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 56
18. Nathan White (Connacht) 10
19. Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)*
20. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster) 7
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster) 68
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster) 27
23. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster) 22

 

[Peat]

I think you are overplaying him to be honest . When Ulster played Sarries last time Farrell played 12 for a portion of the game with Hodgson at 10 and Ulster were comfortably beaten . Let's not beat around the bush if England get the better of Ireland at the scrum and line out this is going to be a hard day at the office for your centres even if he is some kind of lion as you call it

And if we are not totally on top of the set piece - and I'm not sure that's to be expected - them having an inside-centre who can consistently suck in two defenders while making ground could be a pretty big thing.

I was sublimely confident of England beating the Ireland team that took the field for their last game. Now they've got Mike Ross back, which offers the possibility of greater scrum stability, and are toting a far more dangerous back line, I'm not so confident. It's not a complete upgrade but it makes me a bit more wary.

I'd also point out that Henshaw is completely capable of going straight through Joseph if left in a one on one. They have a much more physical midfield than us now.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Official now. Of course Schmidt ruins it a bit by picking Reddan, Strauss and Madigan on the bench.

Nothing wrong with Strauss, Cronin has been out of sorts this season. Reddan isn't perfect but before Luke McGrath gets brought into the squad there's no one better. Mads is there for versatility, I don't agree with it but it could be needed. He's picked a team that will help going forward, picking players because they're young is pointless if they have no future in the jersey.

 

[Willodell100]

And if we are not totally on top of the set piece - and I'm not sure that's to be expected - them having an inside-centre who can consistently suck in two defenders while making ground could be a pretty big thing.

I was sublimely confident of England beating the Ireland team that took the field for their last game. Now they've got Mike Ross back, which offers the possibility of greater scrum stability, and are toting a far more dangerous back line, I'm not so confident. It's not a complete upgrade but it makes me a bit more wary.

I'd also point out that Henshaw is completely capable of going straight through Joseph if left in a one on one. They have a much more physical midfield than us now.

Possible but on the other foot more likely Joseph will use his far superior footwork, fix Henshaw & then got right around him....

 

[Peat]

Possible but on the other foot more likely Joseph will use his far superior footwork, fix Henshaw & then got right around him....

Joseph requires space to do that. He's had none to date and I'm not expecting a huge deal of change there.

Where as Henshaw only requires as much space as Campagnaro had to just go choo choo.

 

[Willodell100]

Yeah but you're forgetting Jospeh is actually a very good defender & I haven't seen him be run through by anyone let alone miss many tackles.

As good as Henshaw is I think we are overstating. What decent ball Ireland do get the majority will be kicked away by Sexton / Murray with the Irish backs putting pressure on our back three with their kick chase & line speed.

 

[Peat]

Yeah but you're forgetting Jospeh is actually a very good defender & I haven't seen him be run through by anyone let alone miss many tackles.

As good as Henshaw is I think we are overstating. What decent ball Ireland do get the majority will be kicked away by Sexton / Murray with the Irish backs putting pressure on our back three with their kick chase & line speed.

Campagnaro went straight through Joseph last game and Ireland have been putting a lot of ball through the hand in recent games. It's been ineffective as once someone had tackled Stander, there wasn't a lot of other guys really threatening the gain line and producing quick ball, but McCloskey potentially changes all of that.

I don't want to say this is a wonder midfield and we should all start bewailing our inevitable demise because that would be untrue, but it is potentially very good and very complete with the only real weakness being inexperience; and given that our midfield is far from perfect, it could be a decisive point if things go well for them.

I'd certainly swap midfields if I could for this game.