NPR

Because everyone else is too lazy !

Teams

Ireland

1 Andrew Porter
2 Dan Sheehan
3 Tadhg Furlong
4 Tadhg Beirne
5 James Ryan
6 Peter O'Mahony
7 Josh van der Flier
8 Cian Prendergast
9 Jamison Gibson-Park
10 Ross Byrne
11 James Lowe
12 Bundee Aki
13 Garry Ringrose
14 Mack Hansen
15 Hugo Keenan

Substitutes
16 Rob Herring
17 Jeremy Loughman
18 Finlay Bealham
19 Joe McCarthy
20 Caelan Doris
21 Conor Murray
22 Jack Crowley
23 Keith Earls



England

1 Ellis Genge
2 Jamie George
3 Will Stuart
4 Maro Itoje
5 David Ribbans
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Ben Earl
8 Billy Vunipola
9 Ben Youngs
10 George Ford
11 Elliot Daly
12 Manu Tuilagi
13 Joe Marchant
14 Anthony Watson
15 Freddie Steward

Substitutes
16 Theo Dan
17 Joe Marler
18 Kyle Sinckler
19 Ollie Chessum
20 Jack Willis
21 Danny Care
22 Marcus Smith
23 Ollie Lawrence

I’m picking this is going to be closer than many who may have written off England.

No Farrell on team sheet suggests they know where it’s going, or it’s too much of a distraction.

They’ve had to plan around no Farrell, so assume they’ve trained for that.

Ireland +17

SaintK wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 4:35 pmIreland +17

Bit optimistic. Agree with the scoreline, but you've missed out the injuries to Tuilagi and George.

Putting my head on the block here -

Ireland by 40+.

I expect a full blown reversal of the pre 2019 warm up game.

Another home game for the Irish.

I think England may score a couple of tries and will concede no more than 6 to 8.

notfatcat wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 7:46 pm I think England may score a couple of tries and will concede no more than 6 to 8.

Seems reasonable, and the couple of tries will no doubt be the positives that Scab will focus on at the post game presser, conveniently forgetting the 6-8 conceded and the utter reaming his team just took

ASMO wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 5:10 am

notfatcat wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 7:46 pm I think England may score a couple of tries and will concede no more than 6 to 8.

Seems reasonable, and the couple of tries will no doubt be the positives that Scab will focus on at the post game presser, conveniently forgetting the 6-8 conceded and the utter reaming his team just took

First game for Ireland, though, so expect them to be a wee bit rusty. Might end up something like 25-14 to them only, as a result.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:38 am

ASMO wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 5:10 am

notfatcat wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 7:46 pm I think England may score a couple of tries and will concede no more than 6 to 8.

Seems reasonable, and the couple of tries will no doubt be the positives that Scab will focus on at the post game presser, conveniently forgetting the 6-8 conceded and the utter reaming his team just took

First game for Ireland, though, so expect them to be a wee bit rusty. Might end up something like 25-14 to them only, as a result.

Apart from the game against Italy….

I'm looking forward more to this than the actual world cup.

Y

PornDog wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 7:00 pm Putting my head on the block here -

Ireland by 40+.

I expect a full blown reversal of the pre 2019 warm up game.

Anything less than 50 with zero injuries would be a disaster for Ireland and a moral victory for the headhunters.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 8:06 am

PornDog wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 7:00 pm Putting my head on the block here -

Ireland by 40+.

I expect a full blown reversal of the pre 2019 warm up game.

Anything less than 50 with zero injuries would be a disaster for Ireland and a moral victory for the headhunters.

Generally I'm with you, but this is shameful under-dogging.

It's never a failure to beat a team by less than 50 or even score less than that.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 8:42 am

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 8:06 am

PornDog wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 7:00 pm Putting my head on the block here -

Ireland by 40+.

I expect a full blown reversal of the pre 2019 warm up game.

Anything less than 50 with zero injuries would be a disaster for Ireland and a moral victory for the headhunters.

Generally I'm with you, but this is shameful under-dogging.

It's never a failure to beat a team by less than 50 or even score less than that.

They're the best team in the world and an absolute machine. We put 57 on them in 2019 in the same fixture. In order to prevent The Fear they have about world cups they really need to make a statement here. They'll never have a better chance to win the big pot.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 8:06 am

PornDog wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 7:00 pm Putting my head on the block here -

Ireland by 40+.

I expect a full blown reversal of the pre 2019 warm up game.

Anything less than 50 with zero injuries would be a disaster for Ireland and a moral victory for the headhunters.

"If only we'd had Farrell!"

Getting beaten by England in a World Cup warmup is a right of passage for Irish teams before a QF defeat.

We didn't play them pre-2007 WC and went out in the group stages.

2011 got tanked and lost Wally. Lost QF that we were favourites to win.

2015 got beaten. Lost a QF that we were favourites to win.

2019, got tanked. Got tanked in the QF.

Our whole 4 year cycle boils down to tomorrow's game as far as I'm concerned.

Jim Lahey wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 1:38 pm Getting beaten by England in a World Cup warmup is a right of passage for Irish teams before a QF defeat.

We didn't play them pre-2007 WC and went out in the group stages.

2011 got tanked and lost Wally. Lost QF that we were favourites to win.

2015 got beaten. Lost a QF that we were favourites to win.

2019, got tanked. Got tanked in the QF.

Our whole 4 year cycle boils down to tomorrow's game as far as I'm concerned.

England by 6

I think the best we can hope for is that we make life difficult for Ireland and frustrate them for a while - but that's about it. We just don't have the cattle or the gameplan to be really competitive.

Shall I change the thread title so Torq doesn’t find us??

Ahh, once again I settle down to watch a match from England that will either excite the opposition crowd as they cheer their side's tries or we will bore the pants off everyone.

Ymx wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:14 pm Shall I change the thread title so Torq doesn’t find us??

"Us"?


So insecure you have to try to play to the crowd. Grow a spine.

Ymx wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:14 pm Shall I change the thread title so Torq doesn’t find us??

Yeah, call it the "Irish Referees Appreciation thread"

One for you JM in the ongoing theme of over coached players:
Racing v UBB. Palu sent off in 3rd minute. UBB lose to 14 men over the remaining 77 minutes. This happens regularly in T14. Complete inability to adapt and implement a game plan to the situation.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:24 pm

Ymx wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:14 pm Shall I change the thread title so Torq doesn’t find us??

Yeah, call it the "Irish Referees Appreciation thread"

That would keep him away

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:24 pm

Ymx wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:14 pm Shall I change the thread title so Torq doesn’t find us??

Yeah, call it the "Irish Referees Appreciation thread"

I think Murphy is excellent. I only just realised Neville is Irish!

Let me know when the Irish have finished their 13 anthems and I'll change channels.

I honestly thought Keith Earls had retired.

How/why is Watson "without a club"?

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:34 pm How/why is Watson "without a club"?

Contract with Tigers elapsed and no one else has signed him. He's currently on some sort of direct RFU contract which is a unique arrangement afaik.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:36 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:34 pm How/why is Watson "without a club"?

Contract with Tigers elapsed and no one else has signed him. He's currently on some sort of direct RFU contract which is a unique arrangement afaik.

Cheers. Seems a bit shambolic that a player in contention for RWC selection doesn't even have a club: not like he was with Wuss/Wasps/Lirish.

Far be it for me to question a penalty against England but that seemed a harsh call against Lawes there.

"YOURS!"

What a kick !

Also, the audio balance between studio & ground is shite.

That lasted long.

Poor defence

Last pass forward?

Connacht lads showing well so far

Straight through between two front rowers, too easy.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:37 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:36 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:34 pm How/why is Watson "without a club"?

Contract with Tigers elapsed and no one else has signed him. He's currently on some sort of direct RFU contract which is a unique arrangement afaik.

Cheers. Seems a bit shambolic that a player in contention for RWC selection doesn't even have a club: not like he was with Wuss/Wasps/Lirish.

He's a 29 year old wing with a bad injury history who's going to be unavailable for the start of the 23/24 season, but he's also an experienced international player, so salary demands won't be low. I can see why clubs wouldn't be lining up to sign him.

Doesn't change the fact he's a handy player, but England don't have to think about his value through the frame of the salary cap.