Ireland v England - Match Thread

[GunsGerms]

First topic message reminder :

I know I am two weeks early but Ireland v England on Sunday 1st March will possibly be the 6 nations decider as both teams are the only two teams still undefeated in the 6 nations so far this year.

There are many different angles, plots and sub plots to this game. Here are some of the many things at stake:

Reaburn Shield:

Ireland have held it for 4 consecutive games having defeated previous holders SA in November.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raeburn_Shield

3rd place in rankings:



Triple Crown:

Only Ireland and England can still win this trophy and with due respect to Scotland and Wales who Ireland have yet to play to win it would be some achievement this year.

Grand Slam:

Only Ireland and England and win the slam.

6 nations title:
Obviously France and Wales are still in the running with only one loss but the bookies have Ireland and England as favorites at this point.

Millennium Trophy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Trophy

Eye on the WC:
The earliest Ireland and England could possibly meet at the WC is the Semi finals if they both win their pools and their quarter finals or both come runner up and win their quarters. Either way I think other fixtures such England v Wales and Ireland v France were more important for each nations WC preparations.

Ireland need one more win to tie their record of 10 sucessive wins.

Head to head record:
Overall: England 74 wins Ireland 46 wins
6Nations: England 7 wins Ireland 8 wins

Who is going to win and why?
http://www.espn.co.uk/six-nations-2015/rugby/story/256583.html
Phil Vickery predicts an England win.

Teams:

England:

Ireland:

[TightHEAD]

Still no replay?

It looked close to me why haven't they mentioned it in the studio?

[George Carlin]

It's been a good thread everyone - let's keep wumming to a minimum now (this is not aimed at any particular post or person).

Mike Tindall was in the studio in the programme that I get over here and he was very elegant about England's shortcomings. In short, he was p!ssed off. His main point was that they knew how the Irish would play but yet seemed unprepared for the kicking game that they brought.

He was very critical of Goode in particular who is supposed to be a high ball specialist but looked terrified and also of Ford who did not seem to ever have any supporting runners on England's own kick chase. I didn't hear the rest - I was too busy looking at his nose.

I won't dwell on this as I've said this before, but when 36 came on, it surely set a new record in terms of how many mistakes a backline player can make in 15 minutes. And I'm a Scotland fan, ffs. I do not understand how he is in the squad.

[jbeadlesbigrighthand]

Schmidt's a classy fella. Very modest.

[nathan]

well done irish.

what can i say. good tactics.You done us in..It made for a horrid game to watch mind

But on a personal level; Nowel for May- seriously. that was insane. Bring May straight back

Really? Thought Nowell did ok?
Morgan and Brown badly missed.

i thought nowell did fine too. what we miss from brown being injured is that he always breaks the first two tackles returning the kicks and that gives forward momentum. goode doesnt break tackles or have the same pace as brown.

nowell or watson and FB and the other at wing is what lancaster should have picked.

Goode is just so slow

[TightHEAD]

Goode offers nothing?

[formerly known as Sam]

Zeebs was very solid too. Dealt was nearly everything he was asked to.

Zebo did miss two tackles but otherwise had a stormer of a game. Earls really needs to get into this squad though.

Only two? I thought he got stepped a few times. He was very good under the high ball but Ireland need to put the ball in his hands more often otherwise he's a bit wasted.

[MarcusHalberstram]

I watched that last pass back just now - they only show the live angle - in which it's hard to say for sure, but looked flat at best - can see why it may have been called forward.

[TightHEAD]

I still thought Ireland were dull to watch, without Sexton they offer little imo, but hey good luck for the rest of championship.

[quinsforever]

It's been a good thread everyone - let's keep wumming to a minimum now (this is not aimed at any particular post or person).

Mike Tindall was in the studio in the programme that I get over here and he was very elegant about England's shortcomings. In short, he was p!ssed off. His main point was that they knew how the Irish would play but yet seemed unprepared for the kicking game that they brought.

He was very critical of Goode in particular who is supposed to be a high ball specialist but looked terrified and also of Ford who did not seem to ever have any supporting runners on England's own kick chase. I didn't hear the rest - I was too busy looking at his nose.

I won't dwell on this as I've said this before, but when 36 came on, it surely set a new record in terms of how many mistakes a backline player can make in 15 minutes. And I'm a Scotland fan, ffs. I do not understand how he is in the squad.

agree. i cant believe how unprepared england looked for the gaelic kicking game.

the problem with goode is that even if he catches everything, he offers almost nothing counter-attacking. with a brown or watson at FB, teams are not going to risk over-kicking their kicks from hand. sometimes, a credible offense is the best for of defense.

[stub]

I'm sick of hearing "England will learn" we're blatantly not.

I do think England will learn Geordie - I know it's frustrating but I do honestly feel the trajectory of the team is good. I would like things to develop faster but such is life. We have better players to return and today Ireland looked like a more experienced team playing at home and I'm not surprised they won.

[nathan]

I watched that last pass back just now - they only show the live angle - in which it's hard to say for sure, but looked flat at best - can see why it may have been called forward.

That touch side had a few strange decisions.

[TightHEAD]

Inverdale looks and sounds gutted.

[JDizzle]

It was the last play of the game, it didn't look forward to me, but I think if it is given and Ford kicks the conversion and then Joubert blows, losing by three would flatter England a little bit and might paper over some cracks of what was a poor performance in the end.

If I were Lancaster, my main concern would be how many similarities there were between that performance and the 30-3 at Cardiff, in a game of similar magnitude. Dominated by the oppositions physicality, especially at the breakdown, and not smartening up and giving away silly penalties. Plenty of work to be done.

[Geordie]

Our pack were lethargic and ponderous
Breakdown was laughable
Our kicking was utterly appalling
Our kicking chase non existent
And I can go on....

The problem is these odd Poor performances are a common factor under Lancasters reign that must be eradicated

[TightHEAD]

Still no replay of the non try?

[No9]

england falling apart, oh well, 2nd in the 6N Nations is their preferred position and indicates a level of consistency that is more important than winning

Thanks for your contribution, shouldn't you be more concerned about your own teams performance ?

Yeah, we were superb v france and now ireland come to us with everything to lose….we always get better in the 6 Nations game on game and now if we beat Ireland and finsih in Rome we will win, again.

I'm not so hopeful now, a draw (Ire/Eng) would have suited us better. Now, we need England to lose another game, and us to beat Irekand and put a cricket score on Italy, as well as hoping Ireland don't build up a big score against Scotland and/or England don't build up points diff against Scotland and/or France.

If you think this result puts WALES is good position to win the title, you are either drunk or just winding up others.

[Sgt_Pooly]

It's defence not defense....bloody Yanks.

[George Carlin]

Getting full now kids - I need to lock this mofo - please can we move to this thread:
https://www.606v2.com/t57931-ireland-v-england-post-match-warmdown

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