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:

[Golden]

Nice start

[mystiroakey]

Oh what a surprise. England giving away stupid points early..

[Gwlad]

Quite clear Ireland will win this if england play like that for 80 mins

[Nachos Jones]

Desperate defence from England there.

[Geordie]

England have got away with just the penalty. Ireland should be taking 7 points.

[Nachos Jones]

To be honest, I would not have taken the points there. Ireland had England under massive pressure and this sort of relieves it a bit.

[quinsforever]

england pass looked a bit forward there

[Geordie]

Wow our pack looks lethargic.

[nathan]

Really hope Clancy is strict on the Irish at tuck time. Bit slow to roll away

[nathan]

Heheh, tuck time

[nathan]

Stupid phone!

[Sgt_Pooly]

Jesus Ireland play some boring rugby

[lostinwales]

jink splat

[nathan]

Scrums like everything else is looking pretty even. We just need some possession

[Nachos Jones]

England starting to settle in to this game now.

[nathan]

Slow starters as usual NJ

[Breadvan]

Turnover sir?

Great manners..

[lostinwales]

So so far Irish brilliant kicking but everytime they try running they go backwards

[nathan]

Surely offside by bowe?

[LeinsterFan4life]

Ireland not scoring a try in tge first few minutes will cost them the match.

[Geordie]

Joe Marler has put two thumping hits in so far.
He really is the most unmentioned player in the England team...

[Nachos Jones]

Ireland didn't retreat, they held their line and England formed a maul, surely Ireland penalty?

[nathan]

Ireland living off their feet, there using there heads to lean on when trying to turn the ball over

[nathan]

Sorry for the moaning guys, I get a bit excited haha

[Golden]

SOB is gone

[Nachos Jones]

SOB looks in real trouble out there...

[wolfball]

England off-side finally penalised

[nathan]

Sorry to see sob go off

[quinsforever]

POM caught with hand in cookie jar right in front of ref. comedy expression

[Nachos Jones]

I may not agree with all of Jouberts decisions but he is being consistent in his rulings. Some iffy calls against both teams so far but he is having a decent match.

[quinsforever]

silly to roll the maul towards the touchline there. created pressure on themselves

[wolfball]

good score, #justiceforpom

[lostinwales]

Ireland bossing the breakdown and forcing errors but England do look better ball in hand. Very tight

[Notch]

God we're hard to play against

[Rugby Fan]

Couldn't understand the short kick from Ford. Our lineout has been weak and any clearance kick would give away possession. Our maul lacked control and we lose three more points.

[Golden]

Henshaw did very well cleaning up that ball

[nathan]

Bout time Hartley does some carrying, he's very quiet again. I think he's trying to hard to not get sent off.

[lostinwales]

stupid

[Geordie]

For gods sake man England!!!!!!!!

Wtf are you playing at.

[Nachos Jones]

What a tackle by Sexton

[wolfball]

Sexton is an animal

[TightHEAD]

Goode is rubbish and offers nothing to england.

[Steve_rugby]

Advantage over 10 yards behind where the knock on occurred ? Really ?

[Sgt_Pooly]

Ford is having a stinker, really costing us points

[Golden]

I'd worry if Madigan has to come on at 12 this early

[Geordie]

England are making it easy for Ireland. Slow and ponderous at the breakdown. Stupid mistakes in the backs.

Wake up man!!!

[nathan]

We're going to have a slow death by penalties

[TightHEAD]

Just don't look up for it

[wolfball]

clever Murray, Joubert sees England offside, and Murray playing England...

[Nachos Jones]

What are England doing, composure has gone. Joubert is telling them what to do and they are ignoring him and being penalised.

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