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.

Heaf wrote:Don't worry - the officials will make sure of it ...

In the past when at half time they figured out they've dropped the ball traditionally they'd look to even up.

Itoje stop that sh1t and just focus on the game man

More likely to double down ...

Willis 22 tackles already...wow

My word. Willis.

Ireland have been very poor. The pressure and expectation of the Grand Slam appears to have stifled them, which doesn't bode well for the World Cup...

And England looking to riley Ireland into something.

Whatever happened to open blood being an automatic sub.

He looked like someone had chewed his ear before they even kicked off

Slades kicking is pants.

Thats round the neck on Watson

tackled around the neck there - nothing from the officials

Jonker strangely quite - quell surprise ...

Watson was clearly taken around the neck there.

Well gifted

Let's ignore the arm round the neck of Watson eh....

Great score

Not been at our best but enough to see off a spirited England

carpet baboon wrote:Great score

Despite the fact the Irish TH went to ground?

Don't know why we wasted everyone's time playing this - should just have awarded Ireland the win

Good score Ireland but how was that missed???

I mean they fell over themselves to check if Watson had shepherded earlier in the game but Jonkers silent for that.

Cumbrian wrote:Watson was clearly taken around the neck there.

It’s curious how Mr Jonker consistently spots infringements by England but not by their opponents.

And I thought it was only the Welsh who thought all the refs had been paid off

Well I think that's it now...

Carpet.....stick to the rugby pls.

Jeez, fight for the damn ball.

Expected to lose and wouldn't mind if it was a fair contest but this has been diabolical from the officials

carpet baboon wrote:And I thought it was only the Welsh who thought all the refs had been paid off

Rassie as well.

carpet baboon wrote:And I thought it was only the Welsh who thought all the refs had been paid off

Not paid off - just useless and in the case of Jonker clearly biased

And why was Farrell trying another failed grubber a few mins ago?

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Carpet.....stick to the rugby pls.

Sorry.

England are playing better than last week

Heaf wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:And I thought it was only the Welsh who thought all the refs had been paid off

Not paid off - just useless and in the case of Jonker clearly biased

Englands dicipline has not been great either, doesnt help.

Not even a pretence at a straight throw there

Well Ebgmand have shown some fight since last weekend but many won't play for England again. Rebuilding storrs after this game.

And I'll say it now...Ireland won't win the world Cup. Its going Down South Again.

Collapse2005 wrote:

Heaf wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:And I thought it was only the Welsh who thought all the refs had been paid off

Not paid off - just useless and in the case of Jonker clearly biased

Englands dicipline has not been great either, doesnt help.

When Genge gets done for a tackle off the ball due to GP running into him not sure what you can do about that ....

Sheehan is really good

Bloody hell, stay with your man on defense. please.

Might be Ribbans’ last game as he’s off to France, had an excellent one.

Heaf wrote:Not even a pretence at a straight throw there

And another try comes from it

Scottrf wrote:Might be Ribbans’ last game as he’s off to France, had an excellent one.

Been excellent the power England have missed in the engine room

Time to take Sexton off. Feel flat after this performance.

Let's see if Jonker can chalk this off

That was great work for that score.
Ireland can't let up now

Sgt...thoughts on Willis today? Surely you can see what he can bring to a team...

Ribbans has be excellent for England today

Sexton took one to the family jewels?

Silly from Willis but nothing but a penalty

Geordie wrote:Sgt...thoughts on Willis today? Surely you can see what he can bring to a team...

Ok, nothing more. I think the whole backrow has been better tbh. I think Ribbans has brought more balance to the pack, Chessum and Itoje are too underpowered.

Aww forgot sake...its not8hng move on you SA tool