[2018 6 Nations] Round 5 : England v Ireland (17/03/2018)

[Leinster Fan]

Still think we'll lose especially now that Eddie Jones has shown some common sense in selection. (Except for Kruis. Really?)

 

[Groundhog]

"OwEn fArReLl iS aS gOoD aA SeXtON, huhuhuh his name has sex in it"- Rugbypass, 2017

 

[dunney77]

Still think we'll lose especially now that Eddie Jones has shown some common sense in selection. (Except for Kruis. Really?)

I feel the same. The team last week, would have been confident.

Not so much any more

 

[TRF_Olyy]

T'eo is a poor man's Aki

lel
Aki is p4p most overrated player of this tournament so far.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Teo is particularly good, but rather Aki can't catch and can't pass, his defence (not his tackling but his defence) is suspect too. He knows his way over the tryline from short range, fair play, but I can't imagine his Ireland career will last too long as soon as literally any 12 option with a working set of hands becomes available.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

lel
Aki is p4p most overrated player of this tournament so far.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Teo is particularly good, but rather Aki can't catch and can't pass, his defence (not his tackling but his defence) is suspect too. He knows his way over the tryline from short range, fair play, but I can't imagine his Ireland career will last too long as soon as literally any 12 option with a working set of hands becomes available.

Aki is serviceable. I'd take him over Te'o and remember him manshaming Te'o when he was with Leinster. When he hasn't dropped the ball he's been good.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

When he hasn't dropped the ball he's been good.

So he hasn't been good?

 

[big ginger 8]

Had tonsto reading it the logic is poor in the reasoning (see Joseph's description) and some statements as previously are said are plain wrong. Healy is only doing enough?

 

[Scotty]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/england-vs-ireland-player-vs-player-preview-ratings

According to this
England have 2 better players
Ireland have 6 better players
and 7 players are the same.

Have to say I find a few quite laughable, esp Faz and JJ being on par with Sexton and Ringrose currently.

JJ on his day but i highly rate ringrose. Faz erm needs work to be sextons level.

Furlong vs Sinkler, i rate furlong but still dont know what his speciality is? Ball carrying or scrummaging or just an all round good player. Im not saying sinkler should win the head to head at all but still i have been impressed by him recently. At quins showed alot of great handling skills (which i know you dont think is high priority Tigs) and strong carrying v france, deffinatly will be englands first choice. Now need Genge back on the bench to have that impact carrier on the bench.

 

[Groundhog]

The best Kiwi reject, Auckland born powerful center who does some really unheralded work and has bought into the ethos of his adopted country completely we'll see on the pitch Saturday?
God I love Bundee Aki.
Pic unrelated.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Typical scummy Irish first they kidnapped Saint Patrick from the British then they kidnapped Aki from New Zeland.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

JJ on his day but i highly rate ringrose. Faz erm needs work to be sextons level.

Furlong vs Sinkler, i rate furlong but still dont know what his speciality is? Ball carrying or scrummaging or just an all round good player. Im not saying sinkler should win the head to head at all but still i have been impressed by him recently. At quins showed alot of great handling skills (which i know you dont think is high priority Tigs) and strong carrying v france, deffinatly will be englands first choice. Now need Genge back on the bench to have that impact carrier on the bench.

Furlong is the master of all trades and the jack of none.

@Tigs Man educate him on the workings of our Lord Gary please.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Wildly optimistic prediction of the week; Joseph might look decent in attack with Te'o inside him.

If he gets the ball that is, I can't remember Te'o passing a single time against France.

ETA: ESPN has him down as having made 5 passes, so that's probably unfair.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Healy hasn't lived up to his usual standards this tournament so far, tbh


I mean he's not tried to deliberately injure or maim any opposition players yet, which is what he's most known for the world over.
There's still 80mins left, though, so don't count him out yet

 

[Jimbo]

The negativity around Faz is just laughable he misses tackles yes, but he creates a hell of a lot of pressure and forces descision, how is it if he is so **** he has had so much domestic success bare in mind he plays 10 pretty pivotal role given he apparently offers nothing in attack and misses lots of tackles apparently.

I am a die hard Wasps fan not sarries so really don't have too much allegiance to him but just think his constant Chritics are beyond a joke, Ford isn't even the best at what he does if you want an ace in attack and not worry to much defensively Cips is the better option than god he's been dropped, maybe Ford can work out and man up so he can make a tackle without conceding 80 meters back peddling or just getting mown down...

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Healy hasn't lived up to his usual standards this tournament so far, tbh


I mean he's not tried to deliberately injure or maim any opposition players yet, which is what he's most known for the world over.
There's still 80mins left, though, so don't count him out yet

To be fair, as a commentator Healy isn't in a position to do that so easily, just a bit of ear cancer.

Also James, you shouldn't really mention Cips and then talk about someone else manning up and making the tackle. Ford's tackling isn't down to lack of heart, just lack of bulk. Better a small guy throwing himself into a tackle properly and conceding a few metres than a massive guy making a half-arsed attempt and completely missing resulting in anything from giving up half the pitch to a try.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

At least Cole isn't starting so he cant get his ankle in the way of Healy's innocent stamping.

 

[Groundhog]

Was looking forward to Dan Cole taking his third L of the year from a Munster backrow.

 

[Jimbo]

To be fair, as a commentator Healy isn't in a position to do that so easily, just a bit of ear cancer.

Also James, you shouldn't really mention Cips and then talk about someone else manning up and making the tackle. Ford's tackling isn't down to lack of heart, just lack of bulk. Better a small guy throwing himself into a tackle properly and conceding a few metres than a massive guy making a half-arsed attempt and completely missing resulting in anything from giving up half the pitch to a try.

To be fair, as a commentator Healy isn't in a position to do that so easily, just a bit of ear cancer.

Also James, you shouldn't really mention Cips and then talk about someone else manning up and making the tackle. Ford's tackling isn't down to lack of heart, just lack of bulk. Better a small guy throwing himself into a tackle properly and conceding a few metres than a massive guy making a half-arsed attempt and completely missing resulting in anything from giving up half the pitch to a try.

Farrell creates pressure and forces mistakes, if Ford threw himself in the tackle I wouldn't critise he is back peddling meters before initial contact.

I did say if you are not worried about tackling Cips in my mind is the better attacker...

 

[Leinster Fan]

lel
Aki is p4p most overrated player of this tournament so far.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Teo is particularly good, but rather Aki can't catch and can't pass, his defence (not his tackling but his defence) is suspect too. He knows his way over the tryline from short range, fair play, but I can't imagine his Ireland career will last too long as soon as literally any 12 option with a working set of hands becomes available.

I've actually been fairly critical of Aki so far, he was good in November but has brought very little other than the ability to bash it over the line this 6N and pretty much our entire pack can do that anyway. His considerable offloading talents are wasted in a team that doesn't offload. Once Henshaw and Ringrose/Farrell are fit at the same time I can't see him starting. However, I'd take him over Te'o any day of the week. I've never really forgiven him for being part of the worst Leinster back line of all time tbh (although this was mostly Matt O'Connor's fault.)

He hasn't done anything since to suggest that he should actually be anywhere near the England squad let alone the Lions but that's just my opinion. In short, I don't rate either of them at international level but at least Aki has been constantly good at club level and probably isn't far off being Connaught's GOAT.

 

[Jimbo]

I've actually been fairly critical of Aki so far, he was good in November but has brought very little other than the ability to bash it over the line this 6N and pretty much our entire pack can do that anyway. His considerable offloading talents are wasted in a team that doesn't offload. Once Henshaw and Ringrose/Farrell are fit at the same time I can't see him starting. However, I'd take him over Te'o any day of the week. I've never really forgiven him for being part of the worst Leinster back line of all time tbh (although this was mostly Matt O'Connor's fault.)

He hasn't done anything since to suggest that he should actually be anywhere near the England squad let alone the Lions but that's just my opinion. In short, I don't rate either of them at international level but at least Aki has been constantly good at club level and probably isn't far off being Connaught's GOAT.

Teo probably only gets a look in due to his current physical attributes, if physically is what's required who else have we got, agree completely shouldn't have been in the Lions, fast, forward a season an Manu could easily change our options...