Official Match Thread - England v Ireland

[Paddington Bear]

England

15 Steward
14 Malins
13 Marchant
12 Slade
11Nowell
10 Smith
9 Randall
1 Genge
2 George
3 Sinckler
4 Itoje
5 Ewels
6 Lawes (capt)
7 Curry
8 Simmonds

Bench:
16 Blamire
17 Marler
18 Stuart
19 Launchbury
20 Dombrandt
21 Youngs
22 Ford
23 Daly

Ireland

15 Keenan
14 Conway
13 Ringrose
12 Aki
11 Lowe
10 Sexton (capt.)
9 Gibson-Park
1 Healy
2 Sheehan
3 Furlong
4 Beirne
5 Ryan
6 O'Mahony
7 van der Flier
8 Doris

Bench:
16 Herring
17 Kilcoyne
18 Bealham
19 Henderson
20 Conan
21 Murray
22 Carbery
23 Henshaw

Where?


When?
12th March, 16:45 GMT

[Jim Lahey]

Ireland need to pull on their big boy pants and wear the favourite's tag. I'm going Ireland by 5.

The set piece will be interesting. I expect England to win the scrum battle but Ireland to edge the lineout. No Kelleher and Porter will hurt Ireland's scrum and ball-carrying as although Sheenan is a similar player to Kelleher, Healy at this stage of his career is a big step down from Porter.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Ireland need to pull on their big boy pants and wear the favourite's tag. I'm going Ireland by 5.

If they're going to do that then the targets are more along the lines of score 4+ tries, have a margin of 3+ tries, win by 15+

[Jim Lahey]

Ireland need to pull on their big boy pants and wear the favourite's tag. I'm going Ireland by 5.

If they're going to do that then the targets are more along the lines of score 4+ tries, have a margin of 3+ tries, win by 15+

It should be a close game regardless if Ireland are favourites. Rarely do teams come to HQ and win by 15+ points. A win of any variety would be a job well done by Ireland.

[Uncle fester]

Ireland

IRELAND: Keenan; Conway, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Healy, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, O’Mahony, van der Flier, Doris. Replacements: Herring, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Henderson, Conan, Murray, Carbery, Henshaw.

[Ovals]

Ireland

IRELAND: Keenan; Conway, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Healy, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, O’Mahony, van der Flier, Doris. Replacements: Herring, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Henderson, Conan, Murray, Carbery, Henshaw.

Surprised that he's dropped Hansen - thought he was having avery good tournament.

[CM11]

Ireland

IRELAND: Keenan; Conway, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Healy, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, O’Mahony, van der Flier, Doris. Replacements: Herring, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Henderson, Conan, Murray, Carbery, Henshaw.

Surprised that he's dropped Hansen - thought he was having avery good tournament.

Lowe was injured at the start so it's more that he's been reinstated rather than Hansen dropped.

[Hal Jordan]

ENGLAND XV

15. Freddie Steward

14. Max Malins

13. Joe Marchant

12. Henry Slade

11. Jack Nowell

10. Marcus Smith

9. Harry Randall

1. Ellis Genge

2. Jamie George

3. Kyle Sinckler

4. Maro Itoje

5. Charlie Ewels

6. Courtney Lawes (C)

7. Tom Curry

8. Sam Simmonds

FINISHERS

16.  Jamie Blamire

17. Joe Marler

18. Will Stuart

19. Joe Launchbury

20. Alex Dombrandt

21. Ben Youngs

22. George Ford

23. Elliot Daly

About as good as we can get on the squad selected. Backs look weedy and lacking pace out wide.

[Ovals]

ENGLAND XV

15. Freddie Steward

14. Max Malins

13. Joe Marchant

12. Henry Slade

11. Jack Nowell

10. Marcus Smith

9. Harry Randall

1. Ellis Genge

2. Jamie George

3. Kyle Sinckler

4. Maro Itoje

5. Charlie Ewels

6. Courtney Lawes (C)

7. Tom Curry

8. Sam Simmonds

FINISHERS

16.  Jamie Blamire

17. Joe Marler

18. Will Stuart

19. Joe Launchbury

20. Alex Dombrandt

21. Ben Youngs

22. George Ford

23. Elliot Daly

About as good as we can get on the squad selected. Backs look weedy and lacking pace out wide.

I'd liked to have seen Barbeary on the bench - suprised he didn't go with a 6/2 split - Good that he's kept faith with Randall and having Launchbury back is a bonus (albeit I'd have him starting ahead of the empty shirt that is Ewels). The lack of pace in the back 3 is still a huge issue and the midfield is still a bit lightweight - I fear we might find ourselves giving up ground there. Not quite the backline for a brawl !

[Hal Jordan]

I doubt Launchbury has the match fitness to go thd full 80, so better to have him on the bench than risk it.

[sockwithaticket]

I doubt Launchbury has the match fitness to go thd full 80, so better to have him on the bench than risk it.

Unless you don't think you can't get more than 30 out of him I'd start him and then replace as necessary between 50 and 60 minutes.

Of course an injury to either Ewels or Itoje early and he might have to be able to go for 80ish anyway.

[JM2K6]

Simmonds needs to back up the faith shown in him. Nowell, ffs, prove me wrong! Midfield looks lightweight. None of this would matter if I had any faith in the England coaching staff to get them playing good, smart, attacking rugby at high intensity.

[Ovals]

Simmonds needs to back up the faith shown in him. Nowell, ffs, prove me wrong! Midfield looks lightweight. None of this would matter if I had any faith in the England coaching staff to get them playing good, smart, attacking rugby at high intensity.

Dombrandt was our best player v Wales - I think we'll miss him. Simmonds is a very good player but he offers a different skillset and less heavyweight carrying - if England knew how to use him, I might feel more confident - but they don't. The side might look much better when Dombrandt and Launchbury enter the fray. I just don't see what Ewels offers - maybe I'm not seeing the work he does but I've yet to see him have any impact in an England shirt. It's a pity that Hill got injured just as he seemed to be developing into an important player for us.

[PCPhil]

ENGLAND XV

15. Freddie Steward

14. Max Malins

13. Joe Marchant

12. Henry Slade

11. Jack Nowell

10. Marcus Smith

9. Harry Randall

1. Ellis Genge

2. Jamie George

3. Kyle Sinckler

4. Maro Itoje

5. Charlie Ewels

6. Courtney Lawes (C)

7. Tom Curry

8. Sam Simmonds

FINISHERS

16.  Jamie Blamire

17. Joe Marler

18. Will Stuart

19. Joe Launchbury

20. Alex Dombrandt

21. Ben Youngs

22. George Ford

23. Elliot Daly

About as good as we can get on the squad selected. Backs look weedy and lacking pace out wide.

Yep. Lack of pace will throttle us.

[Uncle fester]

Ireland

IRELAND: Keenan; Conway, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Healy, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, O’Mahony, van der Flier, Doris. Replacements: Herring, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Henderson, Conan, Murray, Carbery, Henshaw.

Surprised that he's dropped Hansen - thought he was having avery good tournament.

Lowe was injured at the start so it's more that he's been reinstated rather than Hansen dropped.

It's harsh on Hansen alright but if he's not in the starting team, he's no good for the bench.
Must be a doubt re Henshaw fitness if he's not starting.

[JM2K6]

Ireland by about 12, I think. In Dublin it'd be 20+.

[Ovals]

Ireland by about 12, I think. In Dublin it'd be 20+.

Tough one to call - Ireland must be favourites but they've had a few changes and England are always hard to beat at Twickers. We'll have to play far better than we've done so far but maybe we can also bring Ireland down to our level - with the right game plan.

[MrLurk2u]

Really looking forward to this game. Hopefully it will be a classic.

[Uncle fester]

Ireland by about 12, I think. In Dublin it'd be 20+.

Tough one to call - Ireland must be favourites but they've had a few changes and England are always hard to beat at Twickers. We'll have to play far better than we've done so far but maybe we can also bring Ireland down to our level - with the right game plan.

I have a sneaky feeling that this is exactly what will happen. It's a tough ole tournament to get away wins in.

[lemonhead]

England lads been targeting this one as you'd expect, looking forward to it.

[Lobby]

Looking on the bright side, at least England’s centres will have trained together this week, and the coaches have had two weeks to work on a strategy that doesn’t involve Tuilagi crashing it up the middle.

Whether this will make any difference to tEngland’s play or the final result is another matter.

[Paddington Bear]

Think it's fair looking at that England side to say:
1) We ought to achieve at least parity up front
2) We ought to be able to win enough ball to play with
3) The ball will get to Smith quickly
4) ???

As mentioned, if we can sort the centres out I think we've got a good chance.

[sockwithaticket]

Think it's fair looking at that England side to say:
1) We ought to achieve at least parity up front
2) We ought to be able to win enough ball to play with
3) The ball will get to Smith quickly
4) ???

As mentioned, if we can sort the entire attack out I think we've got a good chance.

Fixed. The centre pairing, while part of the problem, isn't the whole of the issue.

[Ovals]

Think it's fair looking at that England side to say:
1) We ought to achieve at least parity up front
2) We ought to be able to win enough ball to play with
3) The ball will get to Smith quickly
4) ???

As mentioned, if we can sort the entire attack out I think we've got a good chance.

Fixed. The centre pairing, while part of the problem, isn't the whole of the issue.

Hopefully they'll have worked a lot on what they do with the ball when they are in the Oppo 22 - especially when within 10m. We lost our composure, in those areas v Wales and seemed either a bit clueless or making poor decisions. We did make ground quite well to get into the 22, which was quite encouraging - Genge, Dombrandt and Malins were very effective in that regard. But we looked a bit lost when the defensive line was more compressed.

[Hal Jordan]

Assuming Lawes stays on the full 80 (although Jones will hook a captain whose name isn't Farrell), we could end up with a 6 Lawes 7 Simmonds 8 Dombrant trio, which is horrible.

[ASMO]

I wouldn't be averse to seeing Mad Eddie sub Steward, put Malins into FB, Daly on to the wing and Nowell into the center.

[JM2K6]

Yes, that's a good solution. Nowell hasn't shown any form or even fitness for wing, so let's put him into the position he's played a handful of times in the hope that he does something there...

[PCPhil]

Expanding the theme I want to Smith moved to loose forward, Curry to fly half, and switch Nowel to prop so we can have Genge tearing it up on the wing. Can’t beat having a big winger.

[Oxbow]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60667484

Itoje could miss the game.

[PCPhil]

We are starting to feel a bit like Wales. If we can get our top 15 players on the field (and don’t put them in strange positions….another story) we have a very good team. Lose someone and we really go down a number of levels.

[JM2K6]

We are so fucked

[sockwithaticket]

I wouldn't be averse to seeing Mad Eddie sub Steward, put Malins into FB, Daly on to the wing and Nowell into the center.

If solely sticking to personnel in the squad then the current configuration is about as good as it gets. There are some players there in pretty ordinary form (Nowell and Daly), a lack of power and pace. Marchant may well be the quickest guy in the team and while he's no slouch, that shouldn't be the case.

The only reason to fuck around would be to bring in some different players not shuffle the existing deficiencies.

[sockwithaticket]

Think it's fair looking at that England side to say:
1) We ought to achieve at least parity up front
2) We ought to be able to win enough ball to play with
3) The ball will get to Smith quickly
4) ???

As mentioned, if we can sort the entire attack out I think we've got a good chance.

Fixed. The centre pairing, while part of the problem, isn't the whole of the issue.

Hopefully they'll have worked a lot on what they do with the ball when they are in the Oppo 22 - especially when within 10m. We lost our composure, in those areas v Wales and seemed either a bit clueless or making poor decisions. We did make ground quite well to get into the 22, which was quite encouraging - Genge, Dombrandt and Malins were very effective in that regard. But we looked a bit lost when the defensive line was more compressed.

If we hadn't spent basically the whole post-world cup period with a pretty dysfunctional attack then I might still have some hope. Even trying to counter my naturally pessimistic tendencies I don't see us making much of an improvement from the Wales game.

[ASMO]

Sinkler looking doubtful too

https://www.ruck.co.uk/breaking-kyle-si ... R5hCRIlZsA

[JM2K6]

Sinkler looking doubtful too

https://www.ruck.co.uk/breaking-kyle-si ... R5hCRIlZsA

No, that's two days old from a tabloid site. He's recovered and has been named in the side since then.

[Tichtheid]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60667484

Itoje could miss the game.

That'll teach me to lock my superbru pick

[Hal Jordan]

I wouldn't be averse to seeing Mad Eddie sub Steward, put Malins into FB, Daly on to the wing and Nowell into the center.

I worry that Malins may have a touch of the Goode about him at full back. Lovely player bringing the ball up (no air jumps, thankfully), but a bit of a fanny at the defensive and high ball stuff.

[JM2K6]

I wouldn't be averse to seeing Mad Eddie sub Steward, put Malins into FB, Daly on to the wing and Nowell into the center.

I worry that Malins may have a touch of the Goode about him at full back. Lovely player bringing the ball up (no air jumps, thankfully), but a bit of a fanny at the defensive and high ball stuff.

I think that's a little unfair. He strikes me as a bit flimsy but has the right attitude (we saw that against SA), whereas Goode did not fancy it some of the time. In general I agree that Malins probably makes too many errors at fullback but that's easier to fix than ticker.

[Hal Jordan]

Since Toga has decided Steward is the new Mike Brown, I'm striking back (actually I like Malins a lot and am well disposed towards him for reasons I'm not divulging).

[JM2K6]

Since Toga has decided Steward is the new Mike Brown, I'm striking back (actually I like Malins a lot and am well disposed towards him for reasons I'm not divulging).

Fair enough!

I like him a lot on the wing - fewer errors, love a good distributor out there and he's a great runner too. He's had a few moments with Marcus Smith that give me hope for the future.