Ireland v England

[An Tarbh]

and you do it so graciously

 

[JohnBE]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gingergenius @ Feb 25 2009, 04:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Monkeypigeon @ Feb 25 2009, 03:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Happy to see Tindalll there, but of weakness in what looks like a strong backline. I'd be worried if I were England from 8-9, I think the Irish back row offers far more especially with Easter under performing, Haskell not on fantastic form and Worsley the one trick goat.

Borthwick is a heap of crap. So not worried too much about the kineout, Both Back threes look very strong thoiugh and as usual it'll be a test for the Irish front row.

I think Ireland should win.

How's Flood's kicking game at the moment?[/b]

Ireland certainly should win, and as usual I think it will be won on the kicking game. Which even at his most heimlich-spluttery, O'Gara will kill flood at.

Scrums and lineouts are 50/50.. because we know England can scrummage but sometimes the front row don't show up. And we have Kennedy vs O'Connell.

Back row is very annoying, because I think Heaslip will make you a lot of ground and Easter will go sideways. Haskell has managed to find some fantastic form atm, which has been missing all season, and I'd expect him to eclipse Ferris provided he doesn't give away sill penalties. And Wallace on Worsley - no contest, quite literally, Wallace will scrap for the ball and Worsley won't.
[/b][/quote]


I genuinely believe that Ferris will get the better over Haskell.. I think Ireland are weakest in the front row and thats,if England play, where they can really do some damage.

I think the two irish locks are superior to those of england, I think we'll win in the backs to.

It'll be interesting to see how the scrum goes, but with no bias, what england players make it into the irish team?


not many

 

[monkeypigeon]

Tempting to say Kennedy, but seeing as one of his stongest assets is his lineout catching and we have O'Connell for that I'd have to stick with Donnocha based on the amount of dirty work he does for a team.

I do think Ferris is an amazing back row of late. But you said english Players not english Players on that team...so I'll say Simpson-Daniel would make it . And Danny Care.

 

[JohnBE]

I think Sackey might.. but no one else.. except maybe the english hooker who's name eludes me and the no.1..who's name also eludes me..

 

[An Tarbh]

I think the only area where we're weak relatively speaking is at half back and it's not as if they've let the side down either, people saying the front row are a weakness, I just don't see it, we didn't have any problems in the scrum against France or Italy, granted we did when Court came on, but not with the starting front row. The only thing we can ask of O'Callaghan is to keep his penalty count down, there's no issue over the backrow.

Obviously at half back we want to see O'Gara kicking the ball better, I know he got things together in the second half but we'll still need to see an improvement on Saturday, it would be good to see more breaks from O'Leary, we've seen it before for Munster, but hopefully he'll find some gaps on Saturday.

It'd also be nice if Wallace comes through without having to spill blood for the cause.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JohnBE @ Feb 25 2009, 08:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I think Sackey might.. but no one else.. except maybe the english hooker who's name eludes me and the no.1..who's name also eludes me..[/b]

are you seriously telling me you'd have Sheridan in the team at the moment, his form has been well below that of Horan, not saying Horan's a world beater but still would take him ahead of Sheridan at the moment. As for Mears ahead of Flannery or Best you have to taking the **** on that one as well.

 

[JohnBE]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Feb 25 2009, 07:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I think the only area where we're weak relatively speaking is at half back and it's not as if they've let the side down either, people saying the front row are a weakness, I just don't see it, we didn't have any problems in the scrum against France or Italy, granted we did when Court came on, but not with the starting front row. The only thing we can ask of O'Callaghan is to keep his penalty count down, there's no issue over the backrow.

Obviously at half back we want to see O'Gara kicking the ball better, I know he got things together in the second half but we'll still need to see an improvement on Saturday, it would be good to see more breaks from O'Leary, we've seen it before for Munster, but hopefully he'll find some gaps on Saturday.

It'd also be nice if Wallace comes through without having to spill blood for the cause.[/b]

#


yes, his face did get a smacking.. and although I think D'Arcy is a better player, I am fully in favour of Wallace being chosen first


D'arcy can come on later

 

[An Tarbh]

I just don't think he's up to 80 minutes yet, didn't exactly set the world on fire on Saturday. He's still about 5 games away from full fitness.

 

[JohnBE]

also, O'Callaghan does so much he doesn't get pinged for it's worth it if he gets hit for a few

 

[JohnBE]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Feb 25 2009, 07:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JohnBE @ Feb 25 2009, 08:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think Sackey might.. but no one else.. except maybe the english hooker who's name eludes me and the no.1..who's name also eludes me..[/b]

are you seriously telling me you'd have Sheridan in the team at the moment, his form has been well below that of Horan, not saying Horan's a world beater but still would take him ahead of Sheridan at the moment. As for Mears ahead of Flannery or Best you have to taking the **** on that one as well.
[/b][/quote]


ahh I just like the english front row when they play well..and big Phil, although he's not in good form en ce moment


ok well considering that?.. so basically if you had an irish/english team.. do ANY english players get a place?

Sackey?.. is the only guy I can think of that I'd play, genuinely

 

[Bullitt]

Oh dear god... Why? Are you really Rob Andrew?

 

[An Tarbh]

I think Flutey at a push and that's probably only down to Wallace getting injured and coming off early in both games, Bowe's current form is certainly better than Sackey's. Worsley may have been man of the match in Cardiff but it was his tackle count that got him that, offered nothing to convince me that he'd get in over either Ferris or Wallace. I'd take Care normally but we haven't seen him yet in the championship but given his domestic form you'd assume he'd be in there.

 

[JohnBE]

still.. 3 players?


if you did an irish/wales team you'd have roughly half in half

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JohnBE @ Feb 25 2009, 10:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

still.. 3 players?


if you did an irish/wales team you'd have roughly half in half[/b]

well if they were picking the right players and had a decent coach there would be a lot more.

 

[monkeypigeon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JohnBE @ Feb 25 2009, 09:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

still.. 3 players?


if you did an irish/wales team you'd have roughly half in half[/b]

Well if there were 15 Lee Byrnes then they could start everywhere...except Fullback, Kearney would get that place. Here fishy fishy....

 

[munross]

I really can't see Ireland loosing this game, BOD is getting his form back and the <strike>Munster</strike> Irish pack should be able to demolish the English pack.I really want Ireland to win so that the final game of the 6 Nations would be a "final" between Ireland and Wales, and after all, Ireland have the homeground advantage so they should have no excuse for not winning this game.
IRRRRRRRRRRRELAND!

 

[Sir Speedy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JohnBE @ Feb 25 2009, 09:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

still.. 3 players?


if you did an irish/wales team you'd have roughly half in half[/b]

Based on the last 18 months I'd have it strongly in favour of the Welsh (No bias at all

). But a lot of that may change in Cardiff on the final day.
For this game, Ireland should tear England a new one but God knows which England will turn up. We could get the 'have potential' one that showed up in Cardiff or the 'couldn't give a toss' England from the opening match.
Either way I see Ireland winning. They're not going to choke, at home, against a struggling England. No way. Not a chance. Please?

 

[gingergenius]

At the moment, I'd think only O'Driscoll, Heaslip, O'Connell and maybe Flannery would get in the Wales team.

You could argue about any of the England front row getting in the Ireland team but you could argue equally the other way. Haskell I'd put in your back row. Sackey is at least as good as Bowe but again you could argue that one either way. Similarly Armitage vs Kearney and Cueto vs Fitzgerald.

None of those guys are dead certs though, an Irishman's likely to think the Irish guy's better and vice versa.

 

[Macsen]

We're due an upset.

 

[MunsterMan]

Haskell in out back row? He wouldn't make the bench at the moment.