Ireland v England 18&19 March - Grand Slam opportunities

First topic message reminder :

Ireland are going for Grand Slam wins on Saturday and Sunday this weekend with the seniors and U20s lining out in Dublin and Cork to face England.

After the slew of injuries in the Scotland, Ireland were looking at being down a good few players for their final match.

Bealham, Beirne, Henderson, McCarthy and Ringrose are all definitely out of the reckoning.  Rónan Kelleher may join them.   Sheehan and Doris might recover sufficiently from their knocks to be named in the squad.

Team named at 3.30pm Irish time.  

Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Ryan, Baird, O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris
Gibson-Park, Sexton, Lowe, Aki, Henshaw, Hansen, Keenan
R: Herring, Healy, O'Toole, Treadwell, Conan, Murray, Byrne, O'Brien

England looking to change up things from their 23 last Saturday with Owen Farrell starting at 10, alongside Manu Tuilagi in midfield.  

Genge, George, Kyle Sinckler, Itoje, Ribbans, Ludlam, Willis, Dombrandt
Steward, Watson, Slade, Tuilagi. Arundell, Farrell, van Poortvliet
R: Walker, Vunipola, Cole, Isiekwe, Curry, Mitchell, Smith, Marchant.

I'm getting in early - congrats to Ireland for the Grand Slam ....

Heaf wrote:I'm getting in early - congrats to Ireland for the Grand Slam ....

A 40 point win as well, they sure did it in style.

Ah. That makes sense Woodward the forwards were beaten as Farrell didn't play as he's captain and should always be selected.

BOD saying Farrell is more mentally tough with better kicking game than Smith. Assuming he's not watched us this tournament.

No 7&1/2 wrote:BOD saying Farrell is more mentally tough with  better kicking game than Smith. Assuming he's not watched us this tournament.

Id agree with him, will be a tougher match with Farrell at 10.

Just realised - no red cards so far this weekend ... hope England don't end up doing something stupid

No 7&1/2 wrote:BOD saying Farrell is more mentally tough with  better kicking game than Smith. Assuming he's not watched us this tournament.

Couldn't hit a cow's ar*se with a banjo last time out ....

Heaf wrote:Just realised - no red cards so far this weekend ... hope England don't end up doing something stupid

Dont jinx it

Collapse2005 wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:BOD saying Farrell is more mentally tough with  better kicking game than Smith. Assuming he's not watched us this tournament.

Id agree with him, will be a tougher match with Farrell at 10.

Just doesn't bear a resemblance to form though.

Let's hope we don't give the TMO any decisions to make

Sloppy straight away

Poor from Farrell knowing we need to start strongly.

2 stupid pens already

or was the ball lifted?

Willis started strongly

Wow that's the hardest I've seen Itoje Carry in years

seat belt?

Heaf wrote:or was the ball lifted?

Yeah bit unlucky. Close though.

Think I'd have preferred the corner.

Well we can't be nilled now ...

Outstanding tackle bu Willis

Didn't Ireland knock that on first?

Heaf wrote:Didn't Ireland knock that on first?

Exactly what I was about to ask

I mean it only went about 5 yards forwards - unless it was a strip?

Ripped by Arundell.

Big hole in the midfield defence again

It's off feet bit very reminiscent of the earlier Ireland penalty.

Inconsistencies again - so frustrating

That was a bit of a drunken kick

Ribbans doing some strong work in the rucks!

Does Slade pass?

Let off there - daft

What is Dombrandt doing there?

England better but still giving away stupid pens

Willis has been the stand out player so far. Hope he keeps it up and stays on beyond the pre planned 50 mins.

Different England so far. Can they go 80 mins like this...who knows. But fair do to the players for coming out like this...its the reaction most of us wanted to see.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Willis has been the stand out player so far. Hope he keeps it up and stays on beyond the pre planned 50 mins.

Followed by Ribbans and Dombrandt

Ireland clearly had hands in the ruck there

That's extremely harsh.
Is Genge supposed to transport away?

Genge stood still and GP ran into him?

And they score from it. Typical.

7 points from a 100% wrong pen

Why they let officials from the SH near the 6N i have no idea - they are woeful

Heaf wrote:Why they let officials from the SH near the 6N i have no idea - they are woeful

....but you think every ref is woeful!

Lol. But Jonker is at it again I'll give you that.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Heaf wrote:Why they let officials from the SH near the 6N i have no idea - they are woeful

....but you think every ref is woeful!

Guilty as charged ... but they are the worst

Wonder who called the 'tackle off the ball'

Surely Smith has to be brought in at half time. Farrell Tuilagi midfield?

Steward pulling out of the tackle there.

Im afraid thats a red