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

[Moylando]

We'd have won the Grand Slam if Billy Vunipola was fit.

You can't prove me wrong.

No but you ARE wrong

 

[Which Tyler]

Sir.
*******.
Robin.

FTFY

 

[big ginger 8]

Harry.
*******.
Mallinder.

I say that doesn't count, and based on the rest of this thread , that is sufficient.

 

[j'nuh]

No but you ARE wrong

Billy Vunipola made his international debut in June 2013. Do you remember Ronan O'Gara's spectacularly crap crossfield kick against Scotland in February 2013? That happened due to the sheer existential terror brought on by the forthcoming dominance of international rugby by the legend that is Binny. O'Gara went on to retire in May.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

What one thing has changed in the last 12 months?
Correct Richard Cockerill joining a pro 14 team.
He has obviously raised the level of that league to such an extent that it has allowed Ireland, Wales and Scotland to raise their game beyond what they thought was possible.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No but you ARE wrong

 

[TopTen2003]

Just wanted to offer huge congratulations to Ireland on a great campaign. Richly deserved! Well done men in green.

Said it for some time now - as an England fan the back row and midfield combos have worried me in terms of truly fighting to be number 1 in the world.

Last two Lions tours show who the elite players are in those positions. Work to do for Eddie and co.

Happy St Patrick's to all!

 

[Jimbo]

What one thing has changed in the last 12 months?
Correct Richard Cockerill joining a pro 14 team.
He has obviously raised the level of that league to such an extent that it has allowed Ireland, Wales and Scotland to raise their game beyond what they thought was possible.

Only a tigers fan can come out with this, what has not changed is tigers were **** 12 months ago and they now.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Congratulations, deserved win and championship.

If you don't mind me asking the Irish here, and i understand if this might come across as unsympathetic, but i am sincerely curious: given Ireland's history and the fact that we have a WC next year, has the thought of "peaking too early" crossed your mind?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

has the thought of "peaking too early" crossed your mind?

Not especially but it can't be denied that Ireland's World Cup record is poor.

Unlike the 2009 Slam team which was at it's peak, this group is on the up. Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, CJ Stander, Bundee Aki and Kieran Marmion are in their mid 20s. Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Dan Leavy, Garry Ringrose, Joey Carbery and Jordan Larmour are in their early 20s. All of those players have scope to keep improving. Jack McGrath, Cian Healy, Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray are right at their peak. There are issues such as depth at hooker and flyhalf.

The biggest concern come 2019 is that Johnny Sexton will be 34 and both his form and ability could drop off.

 

[Hanley!]

Congratulations, deserved win and championship.

If you don't mind me asking the Irish here, and i understand if this might come across as unsympathetic, but i am sincerely curious: given Ireland's history and the fact that we have a WC next year, has the thought of "peaking too early" crossed your mind?

Despite the Grand Slam, I think we still have some obvious areas to improve upon following this tournament. So while we do deserve #2 in the world at the moment, I would still hope that this isn't the peak. Schmidt is a perfectionist, and he'll know already which areas he can target for improvement in 2019.

Though if we win the Six Nations again next year, the pattern will start to look eerily familiar to the build up to the last World Cup.

If I'm being honest, I am a little worried about peaking too early. But I'd also be worried if we weren't delivering wins in big matches right now. There is going to be worry either way, particularly for Irish fans considering our history. World Cups are hard to win. And once you get to a Quarter Final, the remaining teams are going to be good enough that nobody can take a win for granted.

The biggest concern I have is that Quarter Final monkey that's still on our back. Ireland have no experience winning knock out rugby. For some reason the international team never gets it done in that 'must win' scenario. If we can finally get past a Quarter Final this time, we could go all the way. But a big part of me wouldn't be surprised if we trip up yet again.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

CJ Stander...mid 20s.

I just had to Google this, I thought he was early to mid 30s but he's actually a few months younger than me
Jesus Christ.

 

[big ginger 8]

Harry.
*******.
Mallinder.

I say that doesn't count, and vased on the rest of this thread , that is sufficient.

Not especially but it can't be denied that Ireland's World Cup record is poor.

Unlike the 2009 Slam team which was at it's peak, this group is on the up. Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, CJ Stander, Bundee Aki and Kieran Marmion are in their mid 20s. Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Dan Leavy, Garry Ringrose, Joey Carbery and Jordan Larmour are in their early 20s. All of those players have scope to keep improving. Jack McGrath, Cian Healy, Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray are right at their peak. There are issues such as depth at hooker and flyhalf.

The biggest concern come 2019 is that Johnny Sexton will be 34 and both his form and ability could drop off.

As Horgan said Furlong is an elder statesman. I'm 22 4 of the lads are younger than me, I've played against like 5 or 6 of this team. It is onsani and makes me very sad. But so many years of success makes me happy.

 

[General Melchett]

What one thing has changed in the last 12 months?
Correct Richard Cockerill joining a pro 14 team.
He has obviously raised the level of that league to such an extent that it has allowed Ireland, Wales and Scotland to raise their game beyond what they thought was possible.

On a serious note he has turned Edinburgh around and given them a steely winning mentality. When Townsend accepts the next Lions head coach role (assuming Schmidt politely declines) I wouldn't be averse to Cockers taking charge of Scotland for a year.

 

[Laighin]

Congratulations, deserved win and championship.

If you don't mind me asking the Irish here, and i understand if this might come across as unsympathetic, but i am sincerely curious: given Ireland's history and the fact that we have a WC next year, has the thought of "peaking too early" crossed your mind?

This is a huge concern. We haven't done it at a World Cup yet by a long margin. On the other hand we have a great blend of youth and experience right now. The main concern remains that, if anything happens to Sexton or Murray, we look short. Carbery and Marmion are just not at the same level. Other than these two positions I think we are well stocked.

 

[Pom in Exile]

Must say also England will be back. Just on a bad run. But for Irish this is huge achievement. To win a Slam needing win in Paris and London is phenomenal. Schmidt deserves now to be the held as the greatest coach we have ever had

Imagine if he had coached the Lions.
Congrats btw, whilst it's shitty losing, it's actually a really good thing that the tournament is ultra competitive, hopefully all of these sides keep getting better. One of the main reasons why England were able to win the WC in '03 (great side apart) was the level of competition they faced in the 6Ns particularly from France back then.

 

[big ginger 8]

Yeow.

 

[Pom in Exile]

The rules around the breakdown can be a bit nebulous at the best of times, and World Rugby should be looking to introduce some kind of consistency there. But it's a little self-centered to suggest that the breakdown is reffed correctly in the English Premiership, but incorrectly in the Pro14, the European Championship, and the Six Nations.

Calling the English self centred, I'm not having that, you'll be calling us arrogant next...

 

[big ginger 8]

I say that doesn't count, and vased on the rest of this thread , that is sufficient.


As Horgan said Furlong is an elder statesman. I'm 22 4 of the lads are younger than me, I've played against like 5 or 6 of this team. It is onsani and makes me very sad. But so many years of success makes me happy.

Onsani is dead right.

 

[TommiG88]

This hangover is awful.

Apart from the knock on tries, Ireland deserved the win. A lot more clinical, I haven't seen the stats but it felt England had the better territory.

Simmonds isn't a international 8.