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

[Groundhog]

So Henshaw at 15 wasn't just rumor. Strange decision but we'll see how he does. He could have easily been a top class fullback if he played there regularly but he hasn't for a while now.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Ireland: Henshaw, Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale, Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Furlong, Ryan, Toner, O'Mahony, van der Flier, Stander.

Replacements: Cronin, Kilcoyne, Porter, Roux, O'Brien, Cooney, Carbery, Larmour.

Hmmmm... I don't know what to think of that. Strong 1-14 and I have no idea what Henshaw will be like. Bench is up and down and I wouldn't want an early lock injury nor for Healy or Murray to go down before a lead is built.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Surprised GOATberry is on the bench. IMO should've started 15.


Let's play Tuilagi in a position he has played what once/twice in his senior career, against the best team in the comp...

 

[curtbob7]

oooo Williams vs Kilcoyne second half, we might just be able to fight for parity!

 

[MarkyH]

Don't get all the doom and gloom either.

The pack is spot on and close to our best. We have a physical pack, plenty of carrying options now and on the bench. The backrow is more balanced than it has been in years and it's only Underhill at 6 who could make it stronger. We will be much better at the breakdown than we have been.

The backs are fine, I'd pick Ford - Farrell - Tuilagi, and Brown at FB (just for the Irish game really) but I'm not overly concerned. Daly might not of been great in the Autumn but he is still class.

Also, its not as if you line up ALWAYS 10-12-13-14 and throw the ball down the line, I've no doubt Slade will pop up at 12, and 10 depending on the phase of play and who's been doing the carrying. Daly will join the line and the wingers will drop. Tuilagi is going to be used as much as a dummy runner as he is a carrier which should open up more space for Slade to set free the wider players. Hopefully Ford comes on for Slade to really use Tuilagi and the space that would give the rest of our backs.

I'm optimistic even if it's not the team I would pick but I can see the sense in it, which isn't always the case with EJ's selections.

 

[munstermuffin]

To be fair every decision Schmidt has made is based on form.
Henshaw is only unsure 1. But that is due to position not form.
On bench Cronin is a weapon
Kilcoyne deservedly ahead of McGrath due to his great form mixed with McGraths big decline since Lions.
Seanie can produce a big 30.
Cooney deserves his shot.
Carbery covers 12.
Larmour covers all back 3.

To be fair it's the best 23 on form. Except maybe for Kearney in but Kearney isn't in great form.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Toner is awkward, but effective, Itoje is a disciplinary disaster.

Henshaw has played many, many games at FB for Connacht in the past - he's not green to the role - and he was a class operator when playing at full back too.

(And kudos for getting Alpha agitated.)

Fair enough on Henshaw, I don't watch non-Prem domestic to be fair. Daly's not a fullback that's for certain.

I won't argue Itoje isn't sometimes problematic disciplinarily, but he gives a lot in other areas and I've never been fully convinced by Toner.

As for agitating Alpha ... he knows what he did. He knows.

Also, its not as if you line up ALWAYS 10-12-13-14 and throw the ball down the line, I've no doubt Slade will pop up at 12, and 10 depending on the phase of play and who's been doing the carrying. Daly will join the line and the wingers will drop. Tuilagi is going to be used as much as a dummy runner as he is a carrier which should open up more space for Slade to set free the wider players. Hopefully Ford comes on for Slade to really use Tuilagi and the space that would give the rest of our backs.

I want to see Slade standing at 10 even less than I want to see him standing at 13 TBH

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

As for agitating Alpha ... he knows what he did. He knows.

And you begrudgingly respect me for it!

 

[spartan32]

Not surprised at all by the centre pairing. Although would have thought Slade plays 12 and Manu 13.

As for Daly I can only assume that he is doing something in training that is truly epic and makes Jones confident that he can take on one of the best in the air teams in the world. I suspect that Nowell may well end up covering the 15 slot in D when kicks are likely to come and then Daly will slot back in during attacks to run attacking lines. I know he's been off form but he's got pace and can be really good with ball in hand. Plus he was always going to get on the pitch due to his boot, which I would wager will come into play at least once, and could make the difference. If his kicking is on form the Ireland know that they can't infringe anywhere in their own half, and near the half way in ours, which puts on no small amount of pressure.

Of course this is all best case scenario stuff.

Glad to see Curry back, the lads earned his place in my book, and good to see Billy back too. Kruis and Etoje is a great combo.

Personally I'm no more worried then I was before. This was always going to be a tough game and we do have some guys that, on their day, can do some great things. The question is, will Saturday be that day?

 

[ncurd]

The question is, will Saturday be that day?

I'm betting on no.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Irish: "Why are the English media so ****"
Also Ireland



I like how they compared the kicking practice to insulting Ireland.....
Like da fuk?

Especially since none of them have prob ever done catching practice.

 

[McTallshort]

Irish: "Why are the English media so ****"
Also Ireland



I like how they compared the kicking practice to insulting Ireland.....
Like da fuk?

Especially since none of them have prob ever done catching practice.

Yeah not the first time Quinlan's been a green eyed ********, he has a bit of reputation for it like Keith Wood used too (thats why the BBC dropped him in the end)

 

[spartan32]

I'm betting on no.

Don't be like that. This is gonna be that 2003 style build up to a grand slam and followed by World Cup glory. You'll see, you'll all see, hahahahahahababaabahahahahahhahaahahckfofidnmxuuxiidkdjg!!!!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Irish: "Why are the English media so ****"
Also Ireland



I like how they compared the kicking practice to insulting Ireland.....
Like da fuk?

Especially since none of them have prob ever done catching practice.

Off the ball, Quinny and O'Sullivan... Some real gutter stuff there.

Ireland does have Murray Kinsella and therefore wins at rugby media though!

 

[Leinster Fan]

Off the ball, Quinny and O'Sullivan... Some real gutter stuff there.

Ireland does have Murray Kinsella and therefore wins at rugby media though!

Neil Francis, Ewan McKenna (not a rugby journalist but all he writes about is how much he hates rugby), the rest of the indo, Cummiskey etc. In fairness the Irish Times sometimes comes out with something good but overall the quality of rugby journalism here is awful (Bar Murray Kinsella).

I think we do pretty well out of our TV pundits though.

 

[Amiga500]

I think we do pretty well out of our TV pundits though.

Like Angela's bailouts, we are still burdened under the debt of bad punditry left by George Hook.


(I have fallen in love with a piece of technalagggyy)

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Neil Francis, Ewan McKenna (not a rugby journalist but all he writes about is how much he hates rugby), the rest of the indo, Cummiskey etc. In fairness the Irish Times sometimes comes out with something good but overall the quality of rugby journalism here is awful (Bar Murray Kinsella).

I think we do pretty well out of our TV pundits though.

I like D'Arcy's column and I like Matt Williams too, I imagine most non-Irish would see D'Arce's stuff boastful though but I think he's found a good niche outside of our predominantly paradoxical biased yet negative media.

McKenna can be discounted, Francis is our answer to Stephen Jones, Fitzgerald yearns for the spotlight and then there's a bunch who just aren't too bright, Quinny, BOD, Frankie Sheehan when that was unfortunately a thing etc...

I love Shane Horgan as a pundit, Ferris is good in his own way too.

 

[Amiga500]

Ferris is good in his own way too.

Aww naw he's woeful.

"Need more passion, intensity, aggression. Someone needs to make a statement by hitting someone."

[and variations thereof.]


The Dagger is a good pundit - most of the rest are useless.

 

[ThebigARena]

I think it's a tight game this , could go either way , obviously Ireland start favourites , u make them slight favourites . That said there's good value to be had with England here at 3/1. I'd say 2/1 would of been correct so mixing them in a double or treble or even adding good value to an ACCA I'll certaintly be getting my toes wet .

 

[Every Time Ref]

And you begrudgingly respect me for it!

I do, fair dos

Not surprised at all by the centre pairing. Although would have thought Slade plays 12 and Manu 13.

You might be right there, it woul be an improvement but not by much. Neither of them is a competent international 12, at least this way puts Tuilagi in his best (only) position