[2025 Six Nations] Ireland vs England - 01/02/25

[IT157]

Something like a backrow of

6. CCS/Chessum
7. Curry (either)
8. Willis

or something like that? Then you'd have either of the unpicked from 6&7 on the bench (depending what England want to do) plus potentially Earl on late as a more dynamic option.

Looks better to me on paper. Current one seems a bit unbalanced.

Chessum just coming back from injury. CCS seems to gas. I like both of them as bench/impact players for this game.

Willis has been in a good run of form. Glad to see him rewarded with a place on the bench. Ease him into it a bit with starting on the bench rather than actually have him start.

It's funny that one of our biggest strengths (the back row) is where most of our discussion happens. I guess there are so many good options that we're never going to all agree on the right combination.

 

[ShropshireAllBlack]

Much has been written & said about Ireland's breakdown work. In years previously the speed of the ruck ball was critical to the Irish multiphase gameplay. However since RWC '23 I think the Irish game (possibly from watching the evolution in Leinster's game) has moved on. I believe that they have moved to a more territorial game and that the slick interplay has diminished.
Is Borthwick, with his back row selection, trying to fight the last war, instead of the coming war? I can't believe that he is not trying to attack the lineout, which was creaking in the AIs, but he has decided to attack a facet of the game where Ireland are world class….

 

[OllyM97]

I hate to say it, but I can imagine this being a comfortable Irish win where we don't really lay a glove on them - in other words a complete waste of two hours of our time. Ireland by 13 points.

My new mantra is don't expect anything and then you won't be disappointed.

 

[Saintjay]

I think we are going to kick a lot. With the new blocker rule. Freeman and Steward are going to be up and down like yo-yo's . If it's wet then even more so.

 

[Which Tyler]

It's funny that one of our biggest strengths (the back row) is where most of our discussion happens. I guess there are so many good options that we're never going to all agree on the right combination.

It's also the unit of the team where it's most about the balance across the players, rather than the individuals themselves - which makes it probably the hardest unit to select well.
Let's face it, the only time I can remember when most selection chat wasn't about the backrow, was the days of the holy trinity.

 

[IT157]

It's also the unit of the team where it's most about the balance across the players, rather than the individuals themselves - which makes it probably the hardest unit to select well.
Let's face it, the only time I can remember when most selection chat wasn't about the backrow, was the days of the holy trinity.

Underhill, Curry, and Billy in 2019?

 

[Which Tyler]

Sorry, I forget that we're not all middle-aged+

Hill, Back, Dallaglio

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Sorry, I forget that we're not all middle-aged+

Hill, Back, Dallaglio

And Back was rubbish in the line out

A mate of mine played England age groups with him, came back from a trip and said there was this blond kid from Leicester who was going to be something pretty special - he wasn't wrong.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Borthwick's openly admitting that the back row has been selected to disrupt Ireland's phase play and force them to kick more (which I thought they'd been doing a bit anyway). Also admitting this means that Ireland are now likely to target our lineout.

Probably light years behind the curve here, but seen the Currys referred to as 'Twindaloo' which I quite liked.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Shame we've only got four lineout options, need another three or four to placate the masses

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Doris v the Curry twins at the lineout (and every other part of the game):

 

[McTallshort]

And Back was rubbish in the line out

A mate of mine played England age groups with him, came back from a trip and said there was this blond kid from Leicester who was going to be something pretty special - he wasn't wrong.

And still struggled to get selected because of his size.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Doris v the Curry twins at the lineout (and every other part of the game):

No man with a name like a Coronation Street pensioner could ever compete with the stout yeomen of Englaland

 

[Wasps92]

I think Ireland will win but I think it will be a close game. Wouldn't surprise me if England collapse in the last 20 again.

 

[Scotty]

I think Ireland will win but I think it will be a close game. Wouldn't surprise me if England collapse in the last 20 again.

Guessing the plan is for Chessum for Martin and CCS for 1 curry and Willis for Earl.

So ending
Itoje Chessum
CCS Willis Curry

If nothing else its a balanced squad with some power behind it.

I'm worried about backs getting injured tbh which is always the issue with the 6/2

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I think Ireland will win but I think it will be a close game. Wouldn't surprise me if England collapse in the last 20 again.

Looking at it again, our bench has some good players, but has to be the greenest we've ever fielded. 81 caps between the lot of them, which probably equate to about 35 caps worth of actual playing time.

In their last match Ireland had Henderson, O'Mahony and Healy on the bench who could each top that by themselves. I wouldn't bet against Ringrose having more playing time either.

Experience matters in the last quarter when the game's at stake and given our last quarter struggles this seems a bit odd. Or has SB put our last quarter collapses down to the poor lambs being a bit tired from the blitz?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

No man with a name like a Coronation Street pensioner could ever compete with the stout yeomen of Englaland

"Next up, a boy named Doris"

This has been such a good week to be at the end of a contract where my role in the project is 99% done. Love a low expectation Ireland v England thread.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Before the team is named tomorrow and "rumoured" team named this eve, this is what I'd like to see. A mix of addressing areas where we have guys who are just too old and not going mental with development which most Irish fans elsewhere online are obsessed with.

1. Boyle (with the Nienaber switcharoo at 20 mins)
2. Kelleher
3. Bealham
4. McCarthy
5. Beirne
6. Baird / Izuchukwu
7. VdF
8. Doris
9. JGP
10. Prendergast
11. Lowe
12. Aki
13. Ringrose
14. Hansen
15. Keenan

Sheehan, Porter, Clarkson, Ryan, POM, Murray, Crowley, Osborne

Can't see us not starting Beirne at 6 or not having Henshaw and Healy in the 23 but I think that's a lot more dynamic than what we played in the autumn. Dynamism was something which we were lacking with no obvious upside in it's place. Now if the lineout is fixed and weaponised I can live with the above and I think we can counteract England quite well with it but that's fixing a problem that has persisted since the SA game in the World Cup so I'll be nervous.

 

[Scotty]

I can't wait for this game tbh, will set the tone for the whole tournament. Also I'm really liking this England team and that's why I've been so annoyed at the losses last year because we are picking our best and are playing well and in the games and arnt keeping it up.

It's not like EJ where every other game your saying wtf at the selections, tactics and squad but rather building cohesion keeping roughly the sameteams injuries permitting.

This squad can go far and develop together for years.

Genuinely think Ireland are the favourites but this is one we definitely can win. And I'm feeling good about our chances.

 

[Geordie]

And Back was rubbish in the line out

A mate of mine played England age groups with him, came back from a trip and said there was this blond kid from Leicester who was going to be something pretty special - he wasn't wrong.

i remember seeing a documentary a good while ago and they said that if back hadnt have been a rugby player hed have been in the SAS