[2017 RBS Six Nations] Round 5: Ireland vs England (18/03/2017)

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I'm legit Henry �� around too long to get in ***s for tats like what's developing

I know man, was joking - enjoy this one (rot in hell!)

 

[The5thOfficial]

The 6 Nations has been a great watch!

Bad luck to England not breaking the record, they did well to equal though and should be proud of how far they have come since their early HUMILIATING 2015 RWC exit. Good job to them and Eddie Jones.

 

[munstermuffin]

A rare occasion where the Irish didn't ruin the thread for once.

Wouldn't know how to ruin a thread

 

[McTallshort]

Anyone else think we really missed Robshaw this year?

 

[ncurd]

Anyone else think we really missed Robshaw this year?

Yes but only because we've had to play Itoje out of position for it. We've known the cupboard has been pretty bare in flankers for a while and we need to accept Robshaw and Haskell are the only two we've got who are good enough.

 

[corny]

Anyone else think we really missed Robshaw this year?

I was thinking himself and Kruis would have come in handy today alright.

 

[NickBD]

Anyone else think we really missed Robshaw this year?

We did, I also think we missed Kruis but I know I'm in minority on that.

Separate issue I hope EJ gets more consistent with selecting his wingers. I know Watson out for start didn't help but every week it was new with EJ was rotating May, Daly, Nowell and Watson when he returned.

 

[Makos]

So how are Irish fans feeling about the future? They must have mixed emotions as there has been some really big highs and some lows in the past few years results wise for them.

1.They beat the All Blacks
2.They beat England

But the disappointments this year would have to be losing to Scotland & Wales, which ultimately cost them the 6 Nations.

What are Irish fans thoughts and impression of going ahead in the future and trying to maintain that consistency vs every team?

 

[McTallshort]

Yeah Kruis is an excellent 2nd row. Eddie Jones regards him as the best set piece 2nd row in the country particularly in the scrum and our scrums not been great this year.

 

[NickBD]

Yeah Kruis is an excellent 2nd row. Eddie Jones regards him as the best set piece 2nd row in the country particularly in the scrum and our scrums not been great this year.

I'm sure many won't agree on this, I'd still go with Kruis and Itoje in 2nd row. I know the question is how do you drop Launchbury after that 6N, if not England's best player after 2 or 3 MOTMs. It's tough.

 

[corny]

So how are Irish fans feeling about the future? They must have mixed emotions as there has been some really big highs and some lows in the past few years results wise for them.

1.They beat the All Blacks
2.They beat England

But the disappointments this year would have to be losing to Scotland & Wales, which ultimately cost them the 6 Nations.

What are Irish fans thoughts and impression of going ahead in the future and trying to maintain that consistency vs every team?

- - - Updated - - -

So how are Irish fans feeling about the future? They must have mixed emotions as there has been some really big highs and some lows in the past few years results wise for them.

1.They beat the All Blacks
2.They beat England

But the disappointments this year would have to be losing to Scotland & Wales, which ultimately cost them the 6 Nations.

What are Irish fans thoughts and impression of going ahead in the future and trying to maintain that consistency vs every team?

Very positive. We've strength in depth in most positions and lots of young, very talented lads coming through the provinces (Leinster ahem). Still have faith in the man in charge but fighting staleness seems to be a huge part of the job for him now. The consistency, or lack of, stems from that. Wales are the perfect example of what can happen when the same voice talks to same players for a long period of time.

The Tour to Japan and the Autumn internationals take on huge significance for us.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

A rare occasion where the Irish didn't ruin the thread for once.

The Irish don't ruin the threads, they are more like the Borg, they just assimilate them.

 

[Maverick1987]

Bet the real Welshmen on this forum cringe when reading this **** storm of a forum .....

Anyway congrats to Ireland, really turned up today and played flat out . Can't get my head around why we can't get going in the first quarter . Also we really MUST find a jackal flanker from somewhere . Quite a few times in the game we got a nice chop tackle in and no one got over the ball ... it's so frustrating . I was driving home and heard the news on the radio that Heaslip had been pulled due to injury and POM got picked and i immediately thought oh crap ! Haha

 

[Ospervat]

Instead of ripping each other apart is it not time to put tribal differences aside and celebrate a very closely contested 6N which has highlighted our collective ability to deliver consistent and entertaining rugby for the most part but most importantly I believe a substantial closing of the gap between NH & SH ability to win.

England won - get over it - based on overall performance throughout they were the side that proved most tenacious - they simply wanted it more! Today was the hiccup.

Welcome back Scotland - over a decade in the wilderness and finally achieved their highest ever IRB ranking. Some real talent no longer the wooden spoon contenders.

Ireland just haven't managed to put it together on a consistent basis this time but you have only look at the talent in that squad to appreciate how good they can be. Hell, they beat NZ & SA (Away) in the last 12 months.

France - went missing in action a few years ago but have come back and shown they can compete with any side. They seemed to have rediscovered the mojo which makes them so unpredictably French and exciting to watch.

Wales - OK overall not a good 6N - but looking at the competition they did not disgrace - like Ireland they have some big names that can never be underestimated. Scotland and France both had more points against. Wales also had a greater points difference than these two sides. Wales were the only side to earn 2 losing bonus points and as for that strange finish against France - lets just say these are margins of millimetres not miles. It could so easily have gone the other way.

Italy - too bad. On paper they looked as though they might fare better but for them it's back to the drawing board.

With the upcoming Lions tour and other tours in June we have much to look forward to. I believe any of these top 5 sides can beat any other in the top 10 ranked. They are all potential world beaters on any given day.

I believe we have much to be thankful for. Roll on June!

 

[McTallshort]

There is only bloke being a bellend everyone else is fine

 

[Maverick1987]

There is only bloke being a bellend everyone else is fine

+1 as they would say ...

 

[Groundhog]

I'm still not happy with how we performed this year because we showed what we're capable of and still lost two winnable games, but this was a great tournament.The gap closes and we'll all become closer contested because of it, but if we're not 1 or 2 in this tournament I will be disappointed.

 

[Ospervat]

Just a thought - but the bonus point system didn't make one jot of difference to the final table positions.

 

[Makos]

Instead of ripping each other apart is it not time to put tribal differences aside and celebrate a very closely contested 6N which has highlighted our collective ability to deliver consistent and entertaining rugby for the most part but most importantly I believe a substantial closing of the gap between NH & SH ability to win.

The closing of the gap in my opinion has been largely due to Southern Hemisphere coaches.

 

[McTallshort]

The closing of the gap in my opinion has been largely due to Southern Hemisphere coaches.

Very true