Eng V Ireland Sunday 23rd Feb 2020

First topic message reminder :


3pm at Twickers.
Ref: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Assistant 1: Romain Poite (France), Assistant 2: Alexandre Ruiz (France), TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

England:: Daly; May, Tuilagi, Farrell (capt), Joseph; Ford, Youngs; Marler, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Kruis, Lawes, Underhill, Curry.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Stuart, Launchbury, Ewels, Earl, Heinz, Slade.




Ireland: Ireland: Larmour; Conway, Henshaw, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Herring, Furlong, Henderson, Ryan, O'Mahony, van der Flier, Stander.

Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Porter, Toner, Doris, Cooney, Byrne, Earls.

GeordieFalcon wrote:is Jospeh there because they have a concern over Manu's injury?

No its because all the wingers and fullbacks are injured, the list is pretty absurd. The moustache kid got injured after theyd already cut the squad to 27, in theory he still could've called back Thorely but I guess he was already way down the pecking order and making up the numbers in the wider squad to start with.

Does mean England have 5 players who've started tests at center in the side. Its not quite "that time Wilkinson ended up on the wing" yet though.

SecretFly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:The under 20s are smashing England in England. Good game, england coming back into it.

I doubt that will be the case tomorrow though.

Ah but you forget the ref, Mikey.........   IRFU didn't.

The Under 20s aren't playing tomorrow so they definitely wont get smashed then. Ref will probably be off down the pub (with the Irish) too.

SecretFly wrote:

lostinwales wrote:I suppose the big problem for me is that the England team is just not inspiring. Wonderful individuals. Curry and Underhill, Sinckler, May, Manu and Ford (and of course Itoje)  but as a whole it just leaves me feeling flat.

Last year you felt that England were going somewhere. They looked dangerous and there was so much potential. Now? no.

Bloody hell, lost.  They ain't machines.  Give them a breather.  Next WC is four years away.  Getting to full-on World Cup mode/preparedness is a Big Operation.  If they kept such momentum going continuously they'd just burn out.

I know, but you want to see progression. This selection feels like a throw back.

what's happened to BIG JOE Cockasigna (spelling) have not heard any thing about him for a long time now? is he injured, or has he had to retire due to injury?







9

Think he’s injured Madge







9

Yes knee injury sustained during the WC. Although it has been very quiet on the update front.

lostinwales wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

lostinwales wrote:I suppose the big problem for me is that the England team is just not inspiring. Wonderful individuals. Curry and Underhill, Sinckler, May, Manu and Ford (and of course Itoje)  but as a whole it just leaves me feeling flat.

Last year you felt that England were going somewhere. They looked dangerous and there was so much potential. Now? no.

Bloody hell, lost.  They ain't machines.  Give them a breather.  Next WC is four years away.  Getting to full-on World Cup mode/preparedness is a Big Operation.  If they kept such momentum going continuously they'd just burn out.

I know, but you want to see progression. This selection feels like a throw back.

Tbf it's against the laws to throw forward

Gooseberry wrote:

lostinwales wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

lostinwales wrote:I suppose the big problem for me is that the England team is just not inspiring. Wonderful individuals. Curry and Underhill, Sinckler, May, Manu and Ford (and of course Itoje)  but as a whole it just leaves me feeling flat.

Last year you felt that England were going somewhere. They looked dangerous and there was so much potential. Now? no.

Bloody hell, lost.  They ain't machines.  Give them a breather.  Next WC is four years away.  Getting to full-on World Cup mode/preparedness is a Big Operation.  If they kept such momentum going continuously they'd just burn out.

I know, but you want to see progression. This selection feels like a throw back.

Tbf it's against the laws to throw forward

You can kick on though

lostinwales wrote:

Gooseberry wrote:

lostinwales wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

lostinwales wrote:I suppose the big problem for me is that the England team is just not inspiring. Wonderful individuals. Curry and Underhill, Sinckler, May, Manu and Ford (and of course Itoje)  but as a whole it just leaves me feeling flat.

Last year you felt that England were going somewhere. They looked dangerous and there was so much potential. Now? no.

Bloody hell, lost.  They ain't machines.  Give them a breather.  Next WC is four years away.  Getting to full-on World Cup mode/preparedness is a Big Operation.  If they kept such momentum going continuously they'd just burn out.

I know, but you want to see progression. This selection feels like a throw back.

Tbf it's against the laws to throw forward

You can kick on though

It's all kicking off on the internet

Not feeling it for today's game. I think Ireland are going to dish out a hiding.

Let's hope Farrell doesn't go all AWJ on us and take the points when on offer. No room for the captain to be arrogant.

TightHEAD wrote:Not feeling it for today's game. I think Ireland are going to dish out a hiding.

Let's hope Farrell doesn't go all AWJ on us and take the points when on offer. No room for the captain to be arrogant.

Hopefully Robshaw isnt the tactical advisor


There are red flags all over this side in terms of the makedo patch together nature of it. Theres no player youd point too as weak, but so many out of position and or not guaranteed first choices plus questions over a number of the backs recent form that the worries are valid.
I do see where Jones had much of a choice in terms of the backs with so many injuries. It's easy to criticize and fair to worry but where are the holy Angel's descended from heaven that could step in and replace 4 injured wings/fullbacks overnight?
Wales nearly turned France over and frankly should have done despite similar injury issues. Whilst Ireland looked miles the better unit in their last fixture they are far from the finished article so still should be beatable, but theres always the chance for confusion and disjointed play with so much injury forced change and players out of position...and very few tactical changes Jones can make if they are chasing the game.

Ireland need 30% improvement to be in the game with this England at home.  
They'll need the assuredness and physical bravery/ease they last showed well over a year ago.

That's a big ask and I'm not saying it's beyond them as I do feel they are playing a better 'version' of rugby now and in 2019, top teams were beating them with ease as they played something else.

But England don't have to improve more than Ireland have to.

England will need to step up their game today. Ireland are coming to twickers on pretty good form at the moment, wining 2 from 2 and looking forward to collecting the Grand Slam at the end of the tournament.....only France stand in their way.

Will home advantage be enough for England too win over Ireland?
Looking forward to a cracker of a game.

With all the players out of position I'm worried about this one ...

majesticimperialman wrote:England will need to step up their game today. Ireland are coming to twickers on pretty good form at the moment, wining 2 from 2 and looking forward to collecting the Grand Slam at the end of the tournament.....only France stand in their way.

Will home advantage be enough for England too win over Ireland?
Looking forward to a cracker of a game.

I don't think Ireland are on good form at all. Problem is I don't think England have shown any form either.

So When Manu breaks down we bring Slade on. When he breaks down who plays centre? Earls? Curry?

I would be a bit more comfortable if we ( England) had a proper number 8 in stead of Tom Curry. What as Dombrant, Hughes, got to do to get a chance?

I'm hoping Eddie has pulled a master stroke out of the bag here. France played Fickou on the wing and it worked out well enough.
Ewels needs a big game when he comes on, excited to see more of Earl.
England by 7

lostinwales wrote:So When Manu breaks down we bring Slade on. When he breaks down who plays centre? Earls? Curry?

After that try against Australia, Sinckler has to be next in line for the centre spot.

TightHEAD wrote:Not feeling it for today's game. I think Ireland are going to dish out a hiding.

Let's hope Farrell doesn't go all AWJ on us and take the points when on offer. No room for the captain to be arrogant.

I’m worried that if England win Jones will see it as vindication for his strange selection policy, and he’ll continue down the same road...probably ending up with Farrell as scrum half and Tuilagi as a prop by the time they play Italy.

But if England lose he might revert to selecting players in the right position.

So it’s win-win today.

So in other words, it's not bad to experiment. Sometimes they work, other times they fail but only by engaging in experimentation do you advance understanding of where the game might go.

When players arent available for any number of reasons jones has had the tendency to fall back on familiar trusted players rather than select a guy he thinks isnt ready. Even if we get spanked today I find it to imagine he will change tack.

No 7&1/2 wrote:When players arent available for any number of reasons jones has had the tendency to fall back on familiar trusted players rather than select a guy he thinks isnt ready. Even if we get spanked today I find it to imagine he will change tack.

Is not picking players you dont think are good enough a valid criticism? Surely picking players you believe to not be good enough is a bit silly?

I'm simply saying he has always preferred to play players in positions that are not deemed their natural or normal ones. Even were we to get badly beaten hes not likely to play players such as Dombrandt as it seems to jones to be riskier. Personally I think england have enough quality to not have to do that but as you say its personal opinion. I think it's silly to play lawes at 6 and daly at 15.

Jesus, Furlong gave on helluva quote from his Granny!  Look it up.  That's the spirit to get the job done.  Maybe she should have been on the subs bench

Strange selections and bizarre that Englands premier team only have 2 players on the bench and what does Sam Simmonds have to do to get in the team .

This is the game where Ben youngs finally acts like an international player.

Courtney Lawes has one hell of a shiner to start the game with!

No 7&1/2 wrote:This is the game where Ben youngs finally acts remembers to act like an international player.

Fixed

That voice for Ireland's call. May take some time for my ears to recover.

(And yes GSTQ is a dreadful boring dirge)

Right, are we all ready for Joseph’s rebirth on the wing, courtesy of a Hattrick of tries?

Nice take by Daly - shame Kruis just gave it straight back to them

Good start by England - shame they muffed it that close to the line

In what kind of world are clearouts like that legal

Lovely pass from Young's at Lawes' head...surely being able to pass isna basic requirement for a 9?

Apparently not ...

Nice try though ...

Youngs has actually been very quick to the breakdown. Finally. Bad mistake by lamour though not marking that kick.

Nice

What is great is the way we are constantly mixing up the attack.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Youngs has actually been very quick to the breakdown. Finally. Bad mistake by lamour though not marking that kick.

Yes not sure what he was thinking there ...

Soft pen by Itoje

mid_gen wrote:Lovely pass from Young's at Lawes' head...surely being able to pass isna basic requirement for a 9?

One bad pass. Other than that he's looked excellent. Maybe being dropped to the bench last weekend has given him the required kick up the backside.

The high pass looked a little rushed. I think Lawes had overrun it slightly and Youngs tried to force it.

Wow - that was poor from Sexton

Tuilagi's back

Ireland looking completely encroached right now. If there's a gameplan none of the players know it. Awful start.

Heaf wrote:Wow - that was poor from Sexton

It's horrible when the balls bouncing, winds moving it in the air and you are under loads of pressure so you're trying to do everything quickly.

Not the time to lose your first line-out

Great intensity and tempo from England to start. Their best performances normally begin like this...but only 7 on the board for now. Like the WC semi final.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Heaf wrote:Wow - that was poor from Sexton

It's horrible when the balls bouncing, winds moving it in the air and you are under loads of pressure so you're trying to do everything quickly.

I meant the place kick ...