[2019 Six Nations] Ireland vs England (02/02/2019)

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Haven't even begun to peak.

We shall see come the world cup.
No don't RK will help BUT Ireland won't win the RWC if they don't improve their attack.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If England don't sell RFU branded pool noodles this summer then they're missing a trick

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Also, on the game:

I take back basically everything I said pregame haha.

Centre partnership worked very well, I really hope this means we don't see Teo again. Tuilagi is infinitely more effective and Slade looked infinitely better alongside him.
Daly didn't look a world beater at the back however he did well enough and only messed up once under the high ball (that I remember?). Ireland kinda played into our hands on this by targeting our wings with their kicking game, rather than fullback - May and Nowell are both pretty good under the high ball so it made no sense, really.

Farrell put in a big showing and hopefully calmed a lot of peoples fears about him as our first choice 10 going forwards.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

If England don't sell RFU branded pool noodles this summer then they're missing a trick

joe Schmidt already has his

I also second the pre-match thing.

Eddie apparently does know more than someone who has achieved the heights of county rugby.

 

[McTallshort]

Well paddy Power stick that up your arse

 

[NDC89]

Ok, so Slade looked average at bet over the Autumn, but today, he look good. I hope this gives him to confidence to to do what he does for Exeter every week for England. I also wrote tis after 5 pints, so tomorrow he may not have looked so good, but I thought he did Hughes was ****. As always.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

scrum was still a worry but didn't matter in the end.
George did well to get a clean sweep.

 

[Reiser99]

scrum was still a worry but didn't matter in the end.
George did well to get a clean sweep.

Scrum only really became a big worry after Itoje got injured, which was incredibly **** timing. Considering the predictions of Ireland dominating it, that didn't happen.

 

[Jockstap]

However, I think it has shown other teams a weakness in Ireland. They have built their team around doing the basics very well and controlling the pace of the game, wait for the moment to strike when they are ready, which is very effective. If you try to slow the game down, Ireland won't care as they can still control the play. However speeding it up and not letting them settle really shook Ireland today. It's bloody difficult to do, which is why Ireland will still be one of the favourites going into the WC regardless of how the rest of the tournament goes, but it does give teams a game plan to build on against Ireland.

I've been watching Ireland for a long time, it's a mentality thing, as soon as the favorite tag comes on we believe it and that edge just disappears, losing in Dublin to England of all teams will live long in the memory.

 

[Leinster Fan]

Best might be the only player with the ability to captain the team but that doesn't change the fact that he offers nothing in open play and his throwing is poor. Cronin's throwing isn't anything special but he offers much more.

O'Brien has to start next week. Him and Cronin should have been on after 50 minutes.

The entire pack was poor, O'Mahony and Furlong were anonymous. Van Der Flier was alright and Healy didn't wasn't awful. We were utterly dominated physically.

The back three was poor. No bones about it. Stockdale was dangerous sometimes with the ball in hand but other than that that not great, Henshaw at fullback was a mistake and Earls was poor (and I don't think we'll get anywhere near a WC with him, good form over the last 12 months but much closer to the rest of his career there).

Aki was poor. Killed loads of attacks and didn't offer his usual go forward. I'd have Henshaw at 12 next week.

Murray was poor and has been for months, has to be a worry.

The positive is that the bench was strong. SOB looked up to it and as I say should start next week. Larmour was decent, he coped much better than Earls and should start either at 14 or 15 next week.

Cooney and Carbery were strong off the bench and should have been on earlier. Murray was poor, has been since he got back from injury and Cooney should have been on earlier. Johnny was average mostly, but this is his first game since December and he should be better next week. Carbery should have been on earlier too.

But congrats to England. Superb performance.

 

[bushytop]

I've been watching Ireland for a long time, it's a mentality thing, as soon as the favorite tag comes on we believe it and that edge just disappears, losing in Dublin to England of all teams will live long in the memory.

It happens to Wales too... probably a good thing that after today England will go to Cardiff with everyone (English fans and media) expecting a cake-walk... it will do wonders for our performance.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Why does Clive Woodward get air time? I find him extremely dull and always appears full of himself

"World Cup Winning Coach"

He's a bluffer, and seems to pluck ideas out of the ether. Don't pay attention to him.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Scrum only really became a big worry after Itoje got injured, which was incredibly **** timing. Considering the predictions of Ireland dominating it, that didn't happen.

Agreed, while Ireland were definitely on top we weren't exactly getting scrummaged off the pitch/getting really battered there - considering Ireland are comfortably the best scrummaging side in the 6N I'm OK with that. Especially as these were probably our weakest scrummaging props.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

"World Cup Winning Coach"

He's a bluffer, and seems to pluck ideas out of the ether. Don't pay attention to him.

Did a good job with england but he was extremely lucky to have the likes of Johnson, Hill, etc etc who could rein him in.
Post RWC & The Lions showed how bad he is.

 

[Reiser99]

It happens to Wales too... probably a good thing that after today England will go to Cardiff with everyoneEnglish fans and media) expecting a cake-walk... it will do wonders for our performance.

I hope we can keep a level head. Tbh we will see after France. Wales though might have an issue as they didn't play well, have Italy next week then a break before England. If they don't impress and get an easy win against Italy then they may not be in the best form.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Also I have never seen POM and Best as rattled as they where today.

 

[bushytop]

I hope we can keep a level head. Tbh we will see after France. Wales though might have an issue as they didn't play well, have Italy next week then a break before England. If they don't impress and get an easy win against Italy then they may not be in the best form.

Listen, if England play like they did today there's no doubt we will have a tough old day... what I will say is Wales won't play that bad again (the France performance) this 6N.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Really struggling to remember the last time we:
Looked that cohesive
Looked that aggressive
Looked like we wanted to win so much
Looked like nothing (like the early yellow) was going to put us down
Looked to put kicks and passes to space/players with options so frequently
Looked like scoring was the only thing that mattered.

Are we gonna wake up to a WADA investigation headline?

 

[Jimbo]

It happens to Wales too... probably a good thing that after today England will go to Cardiff with everyone (English fans and media) expecting a cake-walk... it will do wonders for our performance.

Will be an interesting game in Cardiff after such a poor wales start basically ***** themselves at every oppertunity, then turning around a 16 point half time deficit, have to applaud the second half but I can't see other teams giving the same oppertunities to get back into the game although I can't see wales playing that poorly again either.

 

[bushytop]

Really struggling to remember the last time we:
Looked that cohesive
Looked that aggressive
Looked like we wanted to win so much
Looked like nothing (like the early yellow) was going to put us down
Looked to put kicks and passes to space/players with options so frequently
Looked like scoring was the only thing that mattered.

Are we gonna wake up to a WADA investigation headline?

Nah I'd imagine England get the Jonny Bones Jones treatment.