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

[Amiga500]

Need SOB in next week. Pom and Vdf were too lightweight against a team like England but you can't fix that now. They should still work against Scotland though. For all the talk O'Brien is still our best backrow.

SOB made a noticeable difference in carries when he came on. Leavy would be a better carrier than JVDF too.

Hard day at the office for CJ Stander.

 

[Amiga500]

What it shows is players at this level are all roughly the same but how they are structured as a team and how well they are coached makes a small but significant difference. Today was Eddies day but before its been Joe's day. The teams are almost equal it just depends on who has the right mentally and game plan on the day

Can't disagree with that too much, but never seen May so secure under the high ball as today.

 

[bertiec]

At last, playing as a team.

 

[McTallshort]

Can't disagree with that too much, but never seen May so secure under the high ball as today.

Yeah have to say he played a blinder today, he used to be just fast now hes becoming a proper international winger, not sure how Curry didn't get MOTM he was a proper pain in the Irish arse at the breakdown

 

[MarkyH]

May is solid game after game even if he doesn't have a break. High balls, taking the ball into traffic he never gives the ball away. Today when defending on his own line was the first time I saw him flap in defence but he is so solid. Luckily we recovered.

If I had to pick a Lions team any time in the last 18 months he would've be the first winger I picked. Probably the first English man I would pick too !

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Great win, England. Thoroughly deserved.

Hopefully we learn a few lessons from this. Ireland have had problems chasing games and scoring tries in big games for the entirety of the Schmidt era. Pundits and fans were acting like we were world beaters after last year's Grand Slam, but realistically we could have easily lost three of those games. Our recent success has papered over a lot of cracks, and hopefully this will wake people up to the fact that there are still a lot of issues to be addressed if this team is to reach a final in the World Cup.

But who knows, maybe the bus was late again.

I will say that I'm very glad now that we spent a week listening to the Irish pundits rework our World Cup squad based on Henshaw's potential at fullback. That seems like time well spent now, for sure.

That's a bit much, we've lost to a worse side and beaten a better one in the past 9 months than England today. There's no need to go back to the drawing board, we were/are "world beaters" considering we beat everyone there is to beat in the past 15 months. Today we faced a side who didn't want to get beat three times in a row who had more than enough reason to be pumped up with all the bullshit surrounding the game and they were fed up of being dicked by our clubs for two seasons, and more importantly they've got some great players. They absolutely bossed us, hammered us, even then we had chances to score and get a foothold in the game (Ringrose's tackle and subsequent break is one that sticks out) other days we take those and the wind out of their sails.

There's an issue at 15, Kearney probably stops the first two, if not three tries with better positioning and he relieves a lot of pressure, no one else we have comes close to his presence, I reckon he's probably more important in the biggest games to this side than Murr.
Although VdF was possibly our best player, Leavy and SOB have an extra dimension to their game going forward.
Aki is a limited 12, we'd forgotten this because we'd played so many attritional games that he excells in, we needed a bit of jouer today and he does not have it, Henshaw is by far the better 12.

You just have to look at how much the English are loving this win to see what beating us means these days, England confirmed themselves as RWC contenders after a bit of doubt, no one is writing us off.

I suppose if there's ever a time to lose to them it's the year that it's not our biggest game of the year. Joe will learn from this, we'll be better in the RWC knockouts for it.

It's still so ******* **** though.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

That's a bit much, we've lost to a worse side and beaten a better one in the past 9 months than England today. There's no need to go back to the drawing board, we were/are "world beaters" considering we beat everyone there is to beat in the past 15 months. Today we faced a side who didn't want to get beat three times in a row who had more than enough reason to be pumped up with all the bullshit surrounding the game and they were fed up of being dicked by our clubs for two seasons, and more importantly they've got some great players. They absolutely bossed us, hammered us, even then we had chances to score and get a foothold in the game (Ringrose's tackle and subsequent break is one that sticks out) other days we take those and the wind out of their sails.

There's an issue at 15, Kearney probably stops the first two, if not three tries with better positioning and he relieves a lot of pressure, no one else we have comes close to his presence, I reckon he's probably more important in the biggest games to this side than Murr.
Although VdF was possibly our best player, Leavy and SOB have an extra dimension to their game going forward.
Aki is a limited 12, we'd forgotten this because we'd played so many attritional games that he excells in, we needed a bit of jouer today and he does not have it, Henshaw is by far the better 12.

You just have to look at how much the English are loving this win to see what beating us means these days, England confirmed themselves as RWC contenders after a bit of doubt, no one is writing us off.

I suppose if there's ever a time to lose to them it's the year that it's not our biggest game of the year. Joe will learn from this, we'll be better in the RWC knockouts for it.

It's still so ******* **** though.

TBF beating the Irish has always meant a lot to me.

For me it's our biggest rivalry.
Despite what the Welsh and Scots think.

 

[bushytop]

TBF beating the Irish has always meant a lot to me.

For me it's our biggest rivalry.
Despite what the Welsh and Scots think.

... same... despite the Stereophonics song.

 

[Amiga500]

Although VdF was possibly our best player, Leavy and SOB have an extra dimension to their game going forward.

Was coming in to say this.

Would a backrow of SOB, Leavy & Stander have made much difference? It'd have carried a helluva lot more ballast in the contact areas.

 

[MarkyH]

That's a bit much, we've lost to a worse side and beaten a better one in the past 9 months than England today. There's no need to go back to the drawing board, we were/are "world beaters" considering we beat everyone there is to beat in the past 15 months. Today we faced a side who didn't want to get beat three times in a row who had more than enough reason to be pumped up with all the bullshit surrounding the game and they were fed up of being dicked by our clubs for two seasons, and more importantly they've got some great players. They absolutely bossed us, hammered us, even then we had chances to score and get a foothold in the game (Ringrose's tackle and subsequent break is one that sticks out) other days we take those and the wind out of their sails.

There's an issue at 15, Kearney probably stops the first two, if not three tries with better positioning and he relieves a lot of pressure, no one else we have comes close to his presence, I reckon he's probably more important in the biggest games to this side than Murr.
Although VdF was possibly our best player, Leavy and SOB have an extra dimension to their game going forward.
Aki is a limited 12, we'd forgotten this because we'd played so many attritional games that he excells in, we needed a bit of jouer today and he does not have it, Henshaw is by far the better 12.

You just have to look at how much the English are loving this win to see what beating us means these days, England confirmed themselves as RWC contenders after a bit of doubt, no one is writing us off.

I suppose if there's ever a time to lose to them it's the year that it's not our biggest game of the year. Joe will learn from this, we'll be better in the RWC knockouts for it.

It's still so ******* **** though.

It's nice when you know you are the team that everyone loves to beat. It's normally England.

Kudos to you though, Ireland aren't rubbish after one game and England aren't world beaters. The Tier one teams in Rugby can beat anyone on their day. Just hope it's Englands day more often that not now

 

[Jimbo]

I'm glad curry's yellow wasn't costly, it was a 50/50 I have see worse not result in a yellow hopefully it doesn't dent his confidence certainly didn't seem to when he came off he's defiantly one to watch out for, if only he moved to a half descent club, he'd be golden.

TBF beating the Irish has always meant a lot to me.

For me it's our biggest rivalry.
Despite what the Welsh and Scots think.

I'd agree beating the scotts until recently was standard, always enjoyable to beat the Welsh but to beat Ireland in Dublin is right up there.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah have to say he played a blinder today, he used to be just fast now hes becoming a proper international winger, not sure how Curry didn't get MOTM he was a proper pain in the Irish arse at the breakdown

6/10 according to the Guardian reporter.
Mentioned him giving away an early penalty and a yellow card, and then said he "settled" later on.

Unsurprisingly the reporter who made the scores was Irish.

 

[Amiga500]

I'd also say Joe could probably have done with trusting Cooney and Carbery a bit more and getting them on the field earlier.

 

[Amiga500]

6/10 according to the Guardian reporter.
Mentioned him giving away an early penalty and a yellow card, and then said he "settled" later on.

6?

At least a 9.

Unsurprisingly the reporter who made the scores was Irish.

I'd say they were as much blind as Irish!

 

[corny]

Not only was Henshaw out of position a lot but he was awful slow to get to the ball. When the kicks came the English chasers were full tilt after it and Henshaw could be seen jogging to gather it. The 4 or 5 other options are a distance better than him on that showing.

We were second best everywhere which suggests to me we were ether rusty or complacent. I'd go with the latter. I wouldn't suggest we thought a facile win was on the cards but I think we forgot what these games require in terms of effort. England comfortably outworked us and simply wanted it more. No need to hit the panic button but maybe the likes of BOD will stop with the shite that only Vunipola would get into the Ireland team.

I think England used the 6N's last year as a test run for the WC. They face a gruelling schedule at the WC and it wouldn't surprise if Jones (who likes a bit training) tried to replicate what they'd face with a heavy workload between games. They certainly weren't bringing that intensity to their games last year. The Welsh should give them a game but it wouldn't surprise me if they overwhelm the rest and win the GS. Oh and the Curry lad can play.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Insane stat I've just seen on twitter (Nick Mullins posted a photo of the stats screen the commentary have)

Tackles Made:
Ireland 145
England 177


Dominant Tackles:
Ireland 4
England....48

 

[Leinster Fan]

Insane stat I've just seen on twitter (Nick Mullins posted a photo of the stats screen the commentary have)

Tackles Made:
Ireland 145
England 177


Dominant Tackles:
Ireland 4
England....48

Accurate reflection of the game alright, but seriously... what the f*** is a 'dominant tackle'. And why does it have such a cringy name?

 

[Leinster Fan]

If England got an Underhill-Curry-Vunipola backrow together I'd be terrified. There's a potentially great team there.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

That's a bit much, we've lost to a worse side and beaten a better one in the past 9 months than England today. There's no need to go back to the drawing board, we were/are "world beaters" considering we beat everyone there is to beat in the past 15 months. Today we faced a side who didn't want to get beat three times in a row who had more than enough reason to be pumped up with all the bullshit surrounding the game and they were fed up of being dicked by our clubs for two seasons, and more importantly they've got some great players. They absolutely bossed us, hammered us, even then we had chances to score and get a foothold in the game (Ringrose's tackle and subsequent break is one that sticks out) other days we take those and the wind out of their sails.

There's an issue at 15, Kearney probably stops the first two, if not three tries with better positioning and he relieves a lot of pressure, no one else we have comes close to his presence, I reckon he's probably more important in the biggest games to this side than Murr.
Although VdF was possibly our best player, Leavy and SOB have an extra dimension to their game going forward.
Aki is a limited 12, we'd forgotten this because we'd played so many attritional games that he excells in, we needed a bit of jouer today and he does not have it, Henshaw is by far the better 12.

You just have to look at how much the English are loving this win to see what beating us means these days, England confirmed themselves as RWC contenders after a bit of doubt, no one is writing us off.

I suppose if there's ever a time to lose to them it's the year that it's not our biggest game of the year. Joe will learn from this, we'll be better in the RWC knockouts for it.

It's still so ******* **** though.

All true but in terms of Schmidt what has he learnt from today?
I didn't hear him interviewed but I'd imagine he's pretty chill about today - that's the sort of coach he is, realistic and pragmatic. Henshaws selection was probably not enough of a failure to rule out trying it again. He's smart enough to know that even talents like Stockdale have meh games. I'm sure he's already well aware of what Aki does and doesn't bring. Maybe it's that SOB has to start and that even Murray Is droppable but i'm not really sure about that. I guess you could say something about needing a plan B but honestly, a better bet is just ensuring you execute plan A properly at this point!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I'd also say Joe could probably have done with trusting Cooney and Carbery a bit more and getting them on the field earlier.

In hindsight I reckon 12. Henshaw 15. Carbery 22. Aki would have been better. Schmidt clearly doesn't trust Carbery as a 10 and he's a better 15 than Henshaw and one who positions himself excellently so I don't understand why he's so against playing him there.

I disagree completely with what you said about Henshaw @snoopy snoopy dog dog I thought he was out of position, cumbersome and totally unfamiliar with the position for most of the day, it absolutely was a failed experiment in my opinion. It put a lot more pressure on Earls too, who looked very slow himself today.