Anglo Saxons 23 - 17 Irish Wolfhounds

by maestegmafia Sat 28 Jan 2012, 4:10 pm

The scorers:

For England Saxons:
Tries: Spencer, Waldrom
Con: Burns 2
Pen: Burns 3

For Irish Wolfhounds:
Tries: Kearney, O'Leary, Zebo
Con: Madigan

by Guest Sat 28 Jan 2012, 4:13 pm

Looking forward to the game. Should be a good one! Two strong sides at this level.

It's "England" Saxons by the way, not "Anglo"! Smile

by maestegmafia Sat 28 Jan 2012, 4:20 pm

Planet Rugby report wrote:Ulster back-row forward Chris Henry will lead the Ireland Wolfhounds in their fixture against the England Saxons at Sandy Park on Saturday.

The squad this coming weekend shows a balance between youth and experience, with nine of the matchday 22 uncapped at senior level.

Gavin Duffy is the man with that experience in the back three, with David Kearney and Simon Zebo starting on the wings. Nevin Spence and Eoin O'Malley form a new centre partnership at this level outside Ian Keatley and Isaac Boss.

In the forwards, Damien Varley starts at hooker and beside him experienced Connacht loose head prop Brett Wilkinson packs down with Stephen Archer, who has recently broken into the Munster match squad and been part of his provinces Heineken Cup run.

Dan Tuohy wins his third cap at this level and partners Mike McCarthy in the second row. John Muldoon the most experienced player in the squad at this level with ten Wolfhounds caps to his credit forms a back row with Captain Chris Henry at open side and Rhys Ruddock starting at eight to win his first cap for the Wolfhounds.

"The games against the Saxons are always highly competitive affairs as you would expect and results have tended to go with the home side, but I think we have a good mix in our side and the key message is that we have to match them on all fronts, especially in the physical stakes, to come away with a win," said Ireland Wolfhounds coach Eric Elwood.

"Eoin (O'Malley) and Nevin have done well over the last couple of days as a pairing and I am looking forward to see how both Simon (Zebo) and David Kearney travel on the wings after a good couple of weeks for them with their provinces.

"We have a touch more experience in our pack, which I think will be important for this game and good spine through it with Dan (Tuohy) and Mike (McCarthy) giving us some really good ability across the set piece and in the carrying stakes to compliment a back row that I think can make a good impression.

"I would expect a really good atmosphere for the game and I know the players are looking forward to it."

by stlowe Sat 28 Jan 2012, 4:25 pm

Looking forward to seeing how the Saxons 10-12 axis goes, it would be one I'd back to do well for England in the future. 1, 2, 4 & 5 could also be prime 2015 candidates.

by Guest Sat 28 Jan 2012, 4:30 pm

stlowe wrote:Looking forward to seeing how the Saxons 10-12 axis goes, it would be one I'd back to do well for England in the future. 1, 2, 4 & 5 could also be prime 2015 candidates.

Yeah, and I'm interested to see how Hopper goes too. I've been pretty impressed by him although have heard his defence can sometimes be suspect? I think he was at fault for Simpson-Daniels try a couple of weeks back.

by **rodders** Sat 28 Jan 2012, 4:32 pm

This should be a cracker, very excited by the Wolfhounds line up. Think the Saxons will have too much up front for us though.

More interested in the performance than the result here....unless we win of course.... Whistle

by HammerofThunor Sat 28 Jan 2012, 4:34 pm

His tackling has been very poor at times (Hopper). Seems to get bounced a lot. But that can be improved as it's just harder to tackle up a tier. He's still only played a handful of games at premiership level.

Is it bad that instead of hoping we have a good game, I generally hope we don't have a Poopie one?

by maestegmafia Sat 28 Jan 2012, 4:40 pm

What is Waldrom doing in the team, surely England should be looking at an eight for the future as it is an area where they lack options?

by stlowe Sat 28 Jan 2012, 4:54 pm

The 4 or 5 future England 8s are all injured or away.

by PJHolybloke Sat 28 Jan 2012, 4:56 pm

maestegmafia wrote:What is Waldrom doing in the team, surely England should be looking at an eight for the future as it is an area where they lack options?

+1

Not keen at all.

Like Rodders I'm looking forward to see the level of the performance first and foremost. I'm interested in seeing how Banahan and Armitage react to being dropped from the EPS, how Hopper gells with 36, Saul at 7, Spencer & Burns axis, whether Monye is still hungry.

I'm interested in McCarthy and Muldoon too, those two can take a big step up tonight.

Lots to look at beyond the result.

by Thomond Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:04 pm

Surprising they went for the corner. The penalty wasn't however.

by maestegmafia Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:09 pm

Ref needs to get control of the scrum. Too many collapses so far.

by PJHolybloke Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:13 pm

Monsieur Magoo reffing tonight.

by PJHolybloke Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:15 pm

Zebo's got gas Anglo Saxons 23 - 17 Irish Wolfhounds 2211252749

by BigTrevsbigmac Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:15 pm

Strong start from the English pack a dubious try but a great line out drive.

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:16 pm

England playing american football here it seems..

by BigTrevsbigmac Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:17 pm

Rory_Gallagher wrote:England playing american football here it seems..

Let's face it it happens in all games but the officials don't always pick it up.

by maestegmafia Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:17 pm

Irish backline looks very handy.

by PJHolybloke Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:18 pm

"Interference" I think they call it, don't they Rory?

by BigTrevsbigmac Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:18 pm

Keatley looks nervous though to me.

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:19 pm

I didn't just mean the try, I don't even blame England for that really. If you get away with it, do it. But that tackle on Zebo there were no arms there from Banahan.

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:22 pm

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:Keatley looks nervous though to me.

He must have threw about 5 bad passes in a row there.

by PJHolybloke Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:23 pm

I'm on the fence on that one Rory, but Banahan does have previous for charging.

Good try Kearney, well worked by the Wolfhounds.

by maestegmafia Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:23 pm

Surprised nothing happened with banahans body check on zebo

by maestegmafia Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:24 pm

These irish lads could cause some damage if they continue to play with this kind of exuberance

by Thomond Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:27 pm

Our backs have the better of them. Scrum is a problem. Tight in the forwards too.That hold would have been illegal in American football! But no complaints ,there would have been a try regardless.

by PJHolybloke Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:27 pm

It's like a rapier vs a bludgeon.... Very Happy

by Golden Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:28 pm

Keatley aint havin his best game. Hopefully madigan gets the second half.

by Thomond Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:30 pm

Keatley's kicking has been awful, his passing and creativity has been alright. Madigan should get the second half regardless of how Keatley plays.

by trebellbobaggins Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:30 pm

13 is terrible. Turned over in contact everytime by the Irish.

by trebellbobaggins Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:32 pm

Rory_Gallagher wrote:England playing american football here it seems..

not the only ones blocking. Blatant on both sides at time. Poor ref then.

Ireland looking much better as expected.

by maestegmafia Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:34 pm

England looking a touch one dimensional. Burns reminds me of Paul Grayson.

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:35 pm

I was mainly referring to Banahan's shocking tackle.

Kearney is a very strong runner! Great steal by Ruddock aswell.

by PJHolybloke Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:35 pm

The ref needs to assert himself before someone gets hurt.

by BigTrevsbigmac Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:36 pm

Impressed with Garvey in line out & loose he should be pushing for EPS.

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:37 pm

Archer is really an awful scrummager.

by lostinwales Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:38 pm

Irish 7 on the ground and still involved - its fun to watch tho - I hope those irish are fit because they are taking a lot of punishment at the moment

by Thomond Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:38 pm

Nice pace there Wilkinson! Nice kick from Keatley and offload from Tuohy. Getting isolated at the breakdown though.

by trebellbobaggins Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:38 pm

You knowi think irish rugby as a whole just has it's Poopie together right now and believes in itself a lot more.

It's a template Eng need to look to.

by BigTrevsbigmac Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:39 pm

Why didn't the ref play advantage with that knock on/penalty?

by maestegmafia Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:39 pm

Great pace by Saull.

by Thomond Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:40 pm

You can say that rubbish baggins if we're 30 points up. We're 5 down. It is looking promising but these stupid errors are costing the hounds.

by lostinwales Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:41 pm

Monye - what a flanker

by PJHolybloke Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:41 pm

He's not having a good day at the office so far Rory, a bit of a mismatch with Mullan.

by Thomond Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:41 pm

Jesus that was some shank.

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:43 pm

Archer isn't good any time I have seen him though PJ, not just here. Munster will have their work cut out for them when Botha leaves.

by EnglishReign Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:43 pm

No idea why Banahan and Armitage start ahead of decent, young players.

by BigTrevsbigmac Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:44 pm

10-5 half time about fair with the dominant forwards of England

by maestegmafia Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:44 pm

Duffy is not at his best today at fullback, if England have any brains then they should exploit him in the second half with some clever kicking

by trebellbobaggins Sat 28 Jan 2012, 5:44 pm

oh dear.. that kick lol.

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