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:

[Steve_rugby]

How is that not a penalty from the lineout ? Two players crouched and the ball carrier binds onto them

[nathan]

Half time can't come earlier. I fear we wont up our game in the second half though

[formerly known as Sam]

Brainless from England. Hartley with a brace of miss throws. Attwood is optimistically described as dire. Goode looks lost.

Far more worrying is how poor our technique is. Far too high at the breakdown, maul and the scrum.

[quinsforever]

long way to go yet

[TightHEAD]

Billy has done nothing either, really missing morgan

[Geordie]

Well played jack Nowell.

[quinsforever]

jack nowell. special kick there.

[JDizzle]

Ireland are the masters of just going beyond the ball when contesting the ruck. Makes them incredibly hard to shift because they get so low.

[Nachos Jones]

How is that not a penalty from the lineout ? Two players crouched and the ball carrier binds onto them

England did it earlier as well. Both were penalties in my mind.

[Geordie]

England have no right to be only 6 points behind.

I think that reflects on Ireland aswell though.

[nathan]

Hartley needs to be subbed

[majesticimperialman]

England not looking very good at the moment. Ireland deserving the lead so far.

Still only six points in it.,

[Notch]

Well, it's going to plan for Ireland but we wasted a chance for an early try and missed those 3 points. England can change the game in a second, just one defensive slip and the game changes.

So its all up in the air.

[Hood83]

Ireland are the masters of just going beyond the ball when contesting the ruck. Makes them incredibly hard to shift because they get so low.

Agreed, i hate it. NZ do it too. Not quite sure why we find it so hard to do the same!

[TightHEAD]

How is that not a penalty from the lineout ? Two players crouched and the ball carrier binds onto them

England did it earlier as well. Both were penalties in my mind.

I have no idea how they keep getting away with it?

[asoreleftshoulder]

Happy enough with how we're playing but this reminds me of the u20 game last night where we were the best team in the 1st half but didn't make it count on the scoreboard.

[Duty281]

Too many basic errors from England.

Ireland winning the battles at the ruck and the line-out.

To England's relief, they are only six points behind, when it really should be a greater Irish lead.

Big improvement needed - although, at the moment, it feels like the South Africa game in the autumn.

[quinsforever]

still a believer. 50% 2nd half possession (if we can get it) will see england take it i think. Sexton MoM so far. ireland must be a bit worried about knocks/injuries.

[Hood83]

Think Ireland were a good 10 points better than us there. They definitely left more points out there than we did.

[TightHEAD]

We're in trouble SCW is talking about football again!

[TightHEAD]

Take sexton out and Ireland have little to offer, but that just wouldn't be cricket would it?

[theslosty]

Sean O'Brien was absolutely immense in the first 25 minutes. Now that he's gone off England have been able to slow down our ruck ball.

[nathan]

Who's the line out caller?

[Nachos Jones]

Its still a very tight match, one effort of individual brilliance could change this game. Sadly I see that coming from England as Ireland do not look like scoring a try.

[theslosty]

Take sexton out and Ireland have little to offer, but that just wouldn't be cricket would it?

As with BOD the English still think we're a one man team. Your one-eyed analysis couldn't be further from the truth.

[Gwlad]

Ford to be cited for short arming SOB

[Notch]

Seriously, Inverdale has the creepy dead eyes of a sociopath. He terrifies and bores me all at the same time. How does that even work?

[TightHEAD]

Well drilled, but yes Ireland are a one man team

[lostinwales]

Ford to be cited for short arming SOB

bizarre

[TightHEAD]

Everyone knows it

[nathan]

Ford to be cited for short arming SOB

Can't tell if your being serious or not?

[Golden]

Worry about the impact of the benches with the amount of Irish players going down with knocks

[Geordie]

Ford to be cited for short arming SOB

Really?

[Geordie]

Englands kicking is dire aswell...

[lostinwales]

Goode plays in slow motion

Nowell good but we miss the May kick chase

[nathan]

What a rubbish decison by the touch judge, no well got the ball away before being put in to touch

[nathan]

Pass was a mile forward!

[JDizzle]

Bloody well played Alex Goode.

[Hood83]

Bad kicking and chasing from England, very laboured

[Steve_rugby]

Well played Goode

[Geordie]

Oh for f sake....what are England doing...

[Golden]

Amount of tackles Ireland have missed in the last few minutes

[JDizzle]

The difference between Ireland's back row and England's back row over the ball is remarkable.

[quinsforever]

at last, when the gaps open up from the kicking game, i think england look the more likely to score from broken field.

[nathan]

at last, when the gaps open up from the kicking game, i think england look the more likely to score from broken field.

But it doesn't matter if we score if we keep giving away penalties.

[Nachos Jones]

That confused me a bit, Joubert called the ball as out and then penalised England for being offside? Surely when the ball is called out then its open for all?

[quinsforever]

COM ridiculous. bought that one

[majesticimperialman]

Tooooooooo many mistakes by England.

[quinsforever]

at last, when the gaps open up from the kicking game, i think england look the more likely to score from broken field.

But it doesn't matter if we score if we keep giving away penalties.

true indeed. think we will find attwood has conceded 3 pens so far already.

[Gwlad]

at last, when the gaps open up from the kicking game, i think england look the more likely to score from broken field.

hey quins, if england lose then they will come 2nd in the 6 Nations again i expect so another highly successful and consistent season.

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