Ireland v England, 10/02/13

[McTallshort]

Getting VERY nervous now, one of those games were I wish I could just fast forward to the final whistle.

 

[profitius]

40 years ago today was the day England "turned up". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...go-to-revive-Irish-rugby-during-Troubles.html

 

[nickdnz]

I'm hoping for a draw - just to mess up everyones 6 Nations predictions.

 

[Amiga500]

We talk so much about the choke tackle...I just have a feeling Ireland might not major on it this weekend.

As someone correctly pointed out earlier - the choke tackle is only as good as the scrum that follows it.

If Ireland get minced in the scrum early doors, they'll pretty quickly (or should pretty quickly) stop trying the "choke".

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

As someone correctly pointed out earlier - the choke tackle is only as good as the scrum that follows it.

If Ireland get minced in the scrum early doors, they'll pretty quickly (or should pretty quickly) stop trying the "choke".

This, but frankly, I've seen Ireland teams, includin last years at Twickenam, keep employing the choke despite a wobbly scrum. You'd hope that players can think on their feet and adapt, but realistcally when you bear in mind how much trainng they go through, its going to become habit, unless you have a key leader who can talk to his guys and tell them to change tactics.

Anyway, Ireland won't get minced, I'm more worried about Ross dining on Marler

 

[Tony Manx]

As someone correctly pointed out earlier - the choke tackle is only as good as the scrum that follows it.

If Ireland get minced in the scrum early doors, they'll pretty quickly (or should pretty quickly) stop trying the "choke".

Do not tell me that Ireland, should they be getting beaten in the scrum, will be called into a huddle and told

"Right boyos, no more choke tackles cos we can't win the scrums so let the Brits down to ground in the tackle so they can win the break down"????

 

[Amiga500]

Do not tell me that Ireland, should they be getting beaten in the scrum, will be called into a huddle and told

"Right boyos, no more choke tackles cos we can't win the scrums so let the Brits down to ground in the tackle so they can win the break down"????

If the scrum becomes such a problem, I'd put Henry on, switch O'Brien to 6 and go try to win the ball on the deck rather than through a maul turnover. I'd have faith a backrow of O'Brien, Henry and Heaslip, coupled with Healy and Best could beat England in a ground war.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

This, but frankly, I've seen Ireland teams, includin last years at Twickenam, keep employing the choke despite a wobbly scrum. You'd hope that players can think on their feet and adapt, but realistcally when you bear in mind how much trainng they go through, its going to become habit, unless you have a key leader who can talk to his guys and tell them to change tactics.

Anyway, Ireland won't get minced, I'm more worried about Ross dining on Marler

England probably will have the dominant scrum, but it won't be anywhere near a problem as it was last year. We should still be able to get the ball in and straight out before we start going backwards. (If we go backwards )
What's Marler like in the scrum? Is he really that bad?

 

[Big Ewis]

I'm hoping for a draw - just to mess up everyones 6 Nations predictions.

:lol: you ******* !!

Also!
I was ultra excited about every match, given that first weekend and the crazy hype it generated...Italy played awesome, England looked powerful, Ireland looked AMAZING etc...and before each match I was getting ultra psyched about specific matchups, seeing how this team reacts to that team's quality etc...but after yesterday, I'm somewhat disgusted...

this could very well be a monster snore-fest, uber killjoy moment that lasts about 75min...like the FRA WAL match...
Like "ooohh look, Ireland had a nice push in that scrum....*yawn*" ....."ahhh but England dominated this scrum....".........."ooh nice pass O'Driscoll, but bad hands on the reception there".....

Yesterday was a perfect, perfect example that, it's not because the stakes are high, that the match will follow in quality...
Hopefully we see some TRIES here, from both sides....(esp. Ireland ? )
Edit: not coz I'm anti-England, but rather pro-Ireland.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

England probably will have the dominant scrum, but it won't be anywhere near a problem as it was last year. We should still be able to get the ball in and straight out before we start going backwards. (If we go backwards )
What's Marler like in the scrum? Is he really that bad?

No, it's more than he's a bit of lottery. Can appear to do very well against some strong tightheads, such as against Cole in last years final, but the next week might struggle against a much less established scrummager. Questions abound therefore whether he gets dominance because he's got Kohn, Robson, Easter, Fa'asavalu and Robshaw behind him, as well as James Johnston to the side.

Posters from other nations have made quite a lot about England struggling against Australia in the scrum in November, for example over at Rugby Rebels it seems to be the consensus that Cole was struggling, which seems to be very contentious. It was Marler who had a tough game against Ben Alexander (I think it was?)

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Absolutely bucketing down in Dublin, most people think that this will suit England but I don't think their pack will be as dominant as people think it will be, but if the weather has any effect on the game it will be a bad one, I predict bit of a kicking contest between Sexton and Farrell both supported by their back threes.

 

[osullie6]

Drico has become a father overnight.

Any predictions as to how this will affect the game.

 

[profitius]

If conditions get very bad then ROG is on the bench and he is ideally suited to playing in bad conditions.

 

[Teh Mite]

I'd like to see O'Choke come on.

He could be like a red carpet for Tuilagi in the final half hour.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

The Bodfather

 

[Tony Manx]

If conditions get very bad then ROG is on the bench and he is ideally suited to playing in bad conditions.

......well he does not too good in dry........................

 

[Groundhog]

I'd like to see O'Choke come on.

He could be like a red carpet for Tuilagi in the final half hour.

He might be a **** defender, but he's no choker.

 

[Teh Mite]

Yes he is
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6438345.stm

 

[Groundhog]

RTE now discussing Englands arrogance.. .

 

[Jockstap]

****ing weather, big advantage for England fatties.