Ire - Eng Match Thread

[francoisfou]

Oh, and did we miss Shields? NO!!!
Will Launchbury be fit for next week if Itoje doesn't make it?

[Buggaluggs]

I also have to amend my opinion of Eddie. It's not like he has scraps to pick from. England have good players at every position (except scrum half) but I doubted his tactical nous and he came up trumps today. He's still a twat, mind.

[Spiffy]

I got it wrong with Faz, Manu and slade combo was perfect today.
Youngs might have been slow, but I don't think england wanted to play that quickly either on the whole.

The plan was clearly target Henshaw.

Murray is great but Youngs outplayed him today. why because the forwards gave him the platform and took it away from Murray. (It's almost like the way half backs play is affected by the forwards......)

I'm afraid I disagree with that, I thought Murray was excellent. His overall management of the game was superb. Let down by his pack and his centres.

I picked Aki in the Fantasy because I was sure Farrell would shoot up and leave a whole more often. Now that's an unexpected performance that deserves praise: Farrell had discipline in defense. Much, much better from him on that part. There were 0 holes in that midfield.

On other points, May was excellent under the high ball. 2 stupid mistakes aside, he had a blinder.

Nowell was lively but...well he was lively.

Billy didn't have much opportunity, but that might have been one reason we got so much good ball elsewhere. The Irish targeted him, and that left space elsewhere.

Thought Murray had a poor match by his own standards. He spent the game kicking the ball back to Jonny May to give England possession for the counter. When a tactic is not working, it's silly to keep doing it over and over again.
Re. Youngs - he had a bit of an easy ride but still did not look that sharp. A dynamic SH would have had a field day out there.

[padprop]

I really hope WIlson and Curry are not just stop gaps for Eddie, because for me they are our best options available. Curry/Underhill is a 50/50 call but Wilson is streets ahead of Shields. It probably contemplate playing Curry and Underhill over either with Shields if Wilson wasn't available.

Hughes again looked like what he always has been for england, runs in too high and doesnt make the gainline. Hope we have another solid 8 option by the world cup.

[Oakboy]

Somebody will need to explain to me why May did not get MoM. His performance over 80 was excellent but in the first 20 it was sensational and that was when it really mattered.

I wanted Slade and Tuilagi as the centre pairing when the HC would have picked T'eo/Tuilagi and loads on here wanted Farrell/Tuilagi. Circumstances/injury meant the right choice came about, thank goodness. I really dislike Farrell but he was right for this game way ahead of Ford.

If only we had a quality SH we would be dangerous.

Maybe, just maybe, in the long term, Jones will be right about Daly at FB. It pains me to admit it but there it is.

[Tigersman]

I got it wrong with Faz, Manu and slade combo was perfect today.
Youngs might have been slow, but I don't think england wanted to play that quickly either on the whole.

The plan was clearly target Henshaw.

Murray is great but Youngs outplayed him today. why because the forwards gave him the platform and took it away from Murray. (It's almost like the way half backs play is affected by the forwards......)

I'm afraid I disagree with that, I thought Murray was excellent. His overall management of the game was superb. Let down by his pack and his centres.

I picked Aki in the Fantasy because I was sure Farrell would shoot up and leave a whole more often. Now that's an unexpected performance that deserves praise: Farrell had discipline in defense. Much, much better from him on that part. There were 0 holes in that midfield.

On other points, May was excellent under the high ball. 2 stupid mistakes aside, he had a blinder.

Nowell was lively but...well he was lively.

Billy didn't have much opportunity, but that might have been one reason we got so much good ball elsewhere. The Irish targeted him, and that left space elsewhere.

Thought Murray had a poor match by his own standards. He spent the game kicking the ball back to Jonny May to give England possession for the counter. When a tactic is not working, it's silly to keep doing it over and over again.
Re. Youngs - he had a bit of an easy ride but still did not look that sharp. A dynamic SH would have had a field day out there.

But again you can say that about anything.
End of the day we scored 5 tries and honestly didn't look like getting beaten.
What difference would a more dynamic 9 make.

People put Murray on a pedestal and he is the best tactical nine in the world, but he is not exactly the best attacking 9 in the world, and Ireland don't excatly have the best try scoring record against tier 1 teams in the world.

[Timbo]

England dominated the kicking exchanges, and Youngs was integral to that. Youngs has now outplayed the Bok 9, Aaron Smith, Will Genia and now Connor Murray in consecutive test matches. But still won’t get much credit.

[Buggaluggs]

England dominated the kicking exchanges, and Youngs was integral to that. Youngs has now outplayed the Bok 9, Aaron Smith, Will Genia and now Connor Murray in consecutive test matches. But still won’t get much credit.

Well, he didn't. He is shit but the team around him is good and makes up for it. But he is still shit.

[Spiffy]

I'm afraid I disagree with that, I thought Murray was excellent. His overall management of the game was superb. Let down by his pack and his centres.

I picked Aki in the Fantasy because I was sure Farrell would shoot up and leave a whole more often. Now that's an unexpected performance that deserves praise: Farrell had discipline in defense. Much, much better from him on that part. There were 0 holes in that midfield.

On other points, May was excellent under the high ball. 2 stupid mistakes aside, he had a blinder.

Nowell was lively but...well he was lively.

Billy didn't have much opportunity, but that might have been one reason we got so much good ball elsewhere. The Irish targeted him, and that left space elsewhere.

Thought Murray had a poor match by his own standards. He spent the game kicking the ball back to Jonny May to give England possession for the counter. When a tactic is not working, it's silly to keep doing it over and over again.
Re. Youngs - he had a bit of an easy ride but still did not look that sharp. A dynamic SH would have had a field day out there.

But again you can say that about anything.
End of the day we scored 5 tries and honestly didn't look like getting beaten.
What difference would a more dynamic 9 make.

People put Murray on a pedestal and he is the best tactical nine in the world, but he is not exactly the best attacking 9 in the world, and Ireland don't excatly have the best try scoring record against tier 1 teams in the world.

That's rather like saying why bother to pick your best players, when lesser players can get the job done.

[Tigersman]

No it's not.
A dynamic 9 doesn't = a Tactical 9 and therefore the game plan changes. England still scored 32 points.

Does Robson produce the same kicking in the first half that Ben Youngs did? and if he doesn't how much does that affect the game?

[twitchy]

What a performance from england. I just thought "here we go" when curry got the yellow but it was like we were playing with the full 15.

I did not expect any thing near that.

[Mellsblue]

I thought Youngs was average. Some dithering but some sharp passing. Mostly good kicking but a handful far too long, plus one panic into the Ireland wingers hand and the one where he kicked for May to chase despite looking at May stuck at the bottom of the ruck. All that from behind a dominant pack. I’m no fan but Farrell played very well, enabled by a dominant pack. That’s the level I’d expect Youngs to achieve but he didn’t.

[Mellsblue]

What a performance from england. I just thought "here we go" when curry got the yellow but it was like we were playing with the full 15.

I did not expect any thing near that.

Yep. Great first 5 mins. Shaky through to 20 mins and then mostly perfect from there on in.

[twitchy]

I thought Youngs was average. .

Incredibly harsh. I thought he was good. Any early news on maro?

[Mellsblue]

[twitchy]

Yeah I haven't seen england play like that for ages. First time we had a load of players back fit? Mitchell? A combination of it all?

I'm still a bit shocked

[Banquo]

Same intensity that got us close v NZ was a huge positive, as was Billy and Manu staying the course more or less. Defence won that game, along with-hurrah- a very well executed game plan; we strangled Ireland in the loose, and that's a massive plus. Youngs was a very mixed bag- his kicking was excellent mostly, but when we had to deviate from plan (ie turnovers, or surprise quick ball) he was all over the shop; Faz was similar......both executed things well that were pre programmed.....and for this game, they were highly influential. Our defensive system functioned better than I'd expected, with Manu very, very good. As Oakboy says, May was the standout back for excellence under the high ball. They all had good games i various ways, and have beaten a very good side in a hostile environment, and kudos. All the team made positive strides forward. I still don't like the half backs from a creative point of view, and Daly looked very unsure. But overall- great performance without the ball (though discipline!!!!) and some nice things with it, and a pack we can improve on from a position of strength- good back row, finally. Well done.

[twitchy]

Great to see you posting again banquo top level assessment.

[Freddo]

Wilson was great. Manu looked really solid at 12 and Slade was efficient although he hasn't brought his club form to the International game yet. If everyone was fit who would you pick at 12 and 13?

[Banquo]

Wilson was great. Manu looked really solid at 12 and Slade was efficient although he hasn't brought his club form to the International game yet. If everyone was fit who would you pick at 12 and 13?

Yep, wilson and Curry were both quietly influential, with Wilson a bobby bonus in the lineout. Manu and JJ with Ford for me, but not the right time to say it

Slade had a very decent game in attack and defence.

[Banquo]

Great to see you posting again banquo top level assessment.

cheers . was just having a rest.

[Banquo]

....also a game where stats don't remotely tell the story

[Oakboy]

Wilson was great. Manu looked really solid at 12 and Slade was efficient although he hasn't brought his club form to the International game yet. If everyone was fit who would you pick at 12 and 13?

After today, surely Slade and Tuilagi have the shirts to lose. If we keep winning why would you change? There were other areas that need more thought.

[Banquo]

Wilson was great. Manu looked really solid at 12 and Slade was efficient although he hasn't brought his club form to the International game yet. If everyone was fit who would you pick at 12 and 13?

After today, surely Slade and Tuilagi have the shirts to lose. If we keep winning why would you change? There were other areas that need more thought.

I'd still have JJ for Slade, especially with our defensive system, but they went better than I thought they would.

[Raggs]

Yep, I'd not lock Slade in over JJ just yet. Would like to keep Manu where he was. Would stick with Farrell at 10 for now too.