Ireland vs England - Minute-by-minute

[nivek]

I re watched the game last night and still let my emotions get the better of me so this is priceless thanks.

[Raggs]

62.49, the one where May is at the bottom of the ruck. Anyone want to guess who's leading the defensive line as they move up? Here's a clue. He's a prop, he's a machine, and I hope he stays fit.

Is he wearing an invisible cape?

No, but I would search the changing rooms, just to see if Mark McCall was smarter than Steve Diamond, in not admitting there's a twin.

[Puja]

Minute 68: Ireland kick off down the middle, but Daly claims under very little pressure. We reset and Youngs kicks. It looks poor on first glance - landing 15m infield and on the 10m line - but as Stockdale lands from his running jump and catch, he is met by Nowell and Wilson's shoulders into his ribs and he gets thumped back. Not sure if that was a ploy or a bad kick turned good by a great chase. I suspect the latter. Ireland recycle and go blind and it's notable that BillyV is organising our defensive line and doing an excellent job. Manu has a think about charging up out of the line, but keeps disciplined and Ireland make no ground.

I don't like Nathan Hughes, and I am aware that this biases my views of him, but that may be the most limp tackle I've ever seen. Looks like he's going for a big hit, ends up halfheartedly putting his shoulder against the Irish prop's thigh and slides to the ground. Feel shame. Ireland take advantage to carry up another 5m and get front foot ball for once.

Minute 69: Ireland are looking dangerous, we're looking short wide and there's a hint of a 3-on-2, but thankfully Stockdale decides to go for a man contest with Henry Slade instead of looking outside. I think May mostly had it covered anyway. Ireland go the other way and Sexton passes to the floor. The ball is recovered, but the momentum is gone and when Ireland continue trying to spin it wide, they're met by our rush and pass the ball further and further backwards until the ball and Courtney Lawes reach Ringrose at the same time and he is dropped 10m behind the gainline. Curry and Mako are very quick on the scene and while Mako is cleared, Curry is clean over the ball and Garces finally decides to give poor Tom a decision. Faz signals for posts.

Minute 70: Replay shows that it was Sexton that gave the hospital pass to Ringrose. He has been poor. Curry's turnover gets even better looking at it, as Ringrose is squirming, rolling, and twisting on the floor to try and get to squeeze ball, but Curry's adapting to it and getting himself latched on the ball no matter how Ringrose moves. Farrell kicks a very good long kick - not sure if it was brave or foolhardy to go for that one after his last long range effort, as it was further out and right on the edge of his range, but you can't argue with results.

[Puja]

Minute 71: The kick-off is short down the middle and Hughes and Curry are around and could take. No sign of a lifting pod though and Daly has decided that this one is his. Long run in again, majestic soar into the sky, aaaaannnnndddd... he sort of catches this one. He definitely has a couple of goes at it and it ends up in Curry's hands - I can't tell if Daly offloads it off the floor or if he's dropped it back and Curry has regathered. I think it's the former, so let's go with that. Curry offloads to Youngs who boxkicks without looking at options, but this one's a good choice anyway - loads of space down the middle and the ball bounces into the Irish 22. Sexton goes back, but there's a 5-man English defensive line already in his face, with another 4 shortly arriving. Great workrate in the 71st minute.

Ireland keep the ball, but they're just outside their 22. Curry does a lovely bit of work in tackling Ringrose around the ankles and using his momentum to swing round, back onto his feet and attack the ball. That was like a swing dancing move and unfortunately Garces warns him off the ball as it's not clear he's released.

Minute 72: Williams doesn't improve my opinion of him with a lazy attempt at a tackle, but Mako's there to cover for him. Our bench isn't impressing today and now Ireland have moved a couple of metres forward. Smart work again by Curry - he goes to compete as first man, sees the Irish immediately coming to clear him out and ducks away, letting them commit and leaving himself free. The next ruck, he's first in over the ball and, while he's driven off his feet, he's slowed it down and we've got the whip hand back again. Slow ball for Ireland and they attempt a wrap around move that England do not fall for which leaves them back in their 22. They're lucky actually - Sexton was about to be crushed by BillyV who had read the play well, but Aki pulls him back off the ball and instead Sexton gets tackled by Slade. BillyV turns and looks at Aki like he's just taken a puppy away from him - big eyes, hurt expression, possible tears. Sexton owes Bundee a pint for that.

Ireland continue trying to force it for another phase or two before Murray decides to box. It's shocking - landing right on Daly, 15m in from touch, with 30m clear space in front of him. Daly passes to Nowell, whips round on the run around, and the counter is *on* - Nowell just has to pass to Daly and it's a 3-on-1 with Daly, Faz and Manu vs O'Mahony. Nowell, unfortunately, sees a disorganised defence and fancies cutting back inside. He does make ground, but it's still disappointing. We spin it wide for Hughes to make yards against Larmour, and Youngs goes for the little dab box kick over the ruck. It's cute and bounces up just on the 5m line - Henshaw gets there first, but is splatted by May and does well not to be taken over his own line. May also does well to avoid giving away a penalty for holding him down.

Minute 73: Ireland are picking and going on their try line trying to reset. It's dangerous against this England tackling, but they just manage to stay the right side of the try line and Murray clears to just outside the 22. A long pause for replays and for England to have various meetings. Not sure what they're about - can't be lineout moves, as it's thrown straight to the front where O'Mahony nicks the ball from Lawes. What the hell, Borthwick!? You'd better be holding your clever stuff back for the RWC!

Minute 74: The ball is tapped down to Murray, who does not enjoy the experience as he is set upon by English forwards and ragdolled around by Lawes who has hold of the ball and is shaking him by it. His knee comes into contact with the ground at some point and Garces announces a tackle much to Murray's relief. Ireland recover, recycle and then box-kick away to the 10m line. Ireland, the crowd and the ref all get aggie as England hold another prolonged meeting - Farrell appears to be giving a pep talk to the forwards and is very animated. Ashton is on for Nowell. Nowell takes his scrum cap off and reminds us all of the unfortunate mistake that is his current haircut.

We do the bare minimum of movement in the lineout and Wilson takes comfortably.

Minute 75: It's a good maul initially, but we get twisted as we move forward and Youngs does well to get the ball out and down to create a ruck before we're held up. We reset and Youngs box kicks again. It's a nice enough kick, landing just outside the 22 and for Wilson to tackle the catcher, and I'll bet it's frustrating for Ireland to continually have to reset from deep, but I feel like we could be more ambitious with ball just inside their half. Pragmatic, I guess, and a good way to close out a game that you're 12 points up in.

It works well though - Ireland are now in their 22, going left and right and left again and being menaced by our rush defence every which way. They look tired and beaten. The ball slows even further and Ireland try to force it again. This time, Sexton attempts to force it wide to make something out of a 4-on-6 underlap and Slade picks off his lazy pass. The ball nearly escapes, but Slade catches it on the way down and scrambles his way over the line.

[Puja]

Minute 76: Faz kicks the conversion.

Minute 77: Everyone who wants a free and mostly pointless international cap step forward... stay there young Master Robson. LCD, Ford, and Genge are all on for token appearances. Ireland kick short and shallow to the left and Wilson does well to read it and take the ball under pressure. Ashton justifies his presence on the pitch by rucking over. I don't think he has had any other involvement so far.

Minute 78: We set up a long ruck for an inevitable box kick and for some reason Ireland decide to shout that the ball's out despite it being clearly under an English foot. Youngs doesn't quite dummy, but certainly looks like he might be about to pick the ball and one of the Irish props can't take it any more and tackles him. Stupid penalty and well bought by Youngs. Ashton was in danger of having to chase the kick and do something, but instead it's an England penalty. Faz confers with Ford and they decide Slade should kick for touch - he manages to get it to just outside the 22.

Minute 79: England go for exactly the same move they had in the first minute with the long lineout to the 12 running at the back. No Manu now, so it's Farrell running, which I'm not sure is quite so scary. He hits the same mark at pace and LCD's throw is immaculate, but it all stops as Garces has some problem and says Faz wasn't back 10 or started too early. It looks fine to me, but that's Garces for you. Sexton kicks into the English half.

Ireland win a regulation lineout and carry up well in midfield. They go again without too much ground made, but May can't help himself and takes Cooney out from an offside position.

Minute 80: Ireland play the advantage, set up a ruck in midfield and then Cowan-Dickie just goes entirely to sleep. He's busy organising players outside him and is not covering the guard at the ruck. Cronin walks through the gap and Cooney is in under the posts to ruin our >16 win for the world rankings. Boo! Drop-goal conversion, which might be about getting the restart, but might also be about not looking again at that last pass. I think it's okay, but it's *close*.

Ford kicks long - blasphemy to say it, but it's not as good as Farrell's were. Ireland look to be pinned in their 22, but LCD moves forward when he should have backed off and Sexton takes him on the outside. He catches him, but Ireland are now near the 10m line and on the front foot.

Minute 81: Ireland attack left and right, but our defence is solid and aggressive and they can't break us. Amusingly, it's still gone nowhere near Chris Ashton and I feel sorry for him - I've been in games where I've come on as a late sub and the ball seems to avoid me and it's not fun. Ireland fling it out, Henshaw tries a no-look pass to Aki that he really should have looked for, and the ball ends up in Slade's hands again. Sadly, Carberry is very quick to react and takes his ankles to prevent the Hal-Trick, but a great clearout by Hughes sees us with quick ball and an overlap on the right. Ashton's going to score, surely!

Unfortunately, BillyV is first there to play scrum-half and channels Bergamasco to hoik the ball high and deep behind the attacking line. Ford goes back to gather under pressure from Stockdale and decides to run it into touch rather than play silly beggars. Stockdale shows a lack of class by folowing him in and giving him a shove towards the advertising hoardings. Ford is not happy and wangs the ball at the back of Stockdale's head as he walks away. He's probably quite lucky he missed as Stockdale is twice his size. Farrell and Poite play peacemaker and the game is over.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Thank you.
It feels so wrong, but I so enjoy these threads.

[Scrumhead]

Why does it feel so wrong? I love it. Great to hear the little details that you don’t pick up in real time.

For the same reason, I’ve stopped watching the games at the rugby club or in pubs, mainly because I’m a geek and I like to concentrate. For me it’s other go to the game or watch at home. Sad but true.

[16th man]

Another vote for no shame.

It's a useful tool for reassessing how you've seen the game, especially with our built in biases on the boards.

[Stom]

Another vote for no shame.

It's a useful tool for reassessing how you've seen the game, especially with our built in biases on the boards.

But that's the thing...they tend to reaffirm our biases nowadays...

Especially in the forwards.

[Which Tyler]

If feels wrong because it's exactly the sort of geekcraft I do, and get teased about by Ali

[Epaminondas Pules]

I too enjoy them. Even then there still lots of little points that can still be added, or in some odd cases argued over, which is all part of the geeky fun.

For example the Slade interception. The pressure Youngs puts on Sexton coming round the corner to rush him is excellent. It forces Sexton into a pressured action at pace and we all know what happens next.

[Puja]

I too enjoy them. Even then there still lots of little points that can still be added, or in some odd cases argued over, which is all part of the geeky fun.

For example the Slade interception. The pressure Youngs puts on Sexton coming round the corner to rush him is excellent. It forces Sexton into a pressured action at pace and we all know what happens next.

Yeah - I think the lesson to be learned from that game for other nations (and clubs) is that Sexton does not respond well to pressure. He had one of the England players in his face for all of the many mistakes he made in that game.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I thought this short bit about Mark Wilson was quite funny.

[p/d]

Goode is Ricky Gervais

[Banquo]

I too enjoy them. Even then there still lots of little points that can still be added, or in some odd cases argued over, which is all part of the geeky fun.

For example the Slade interception. The pressure Youngs puts on Sexton coming round the corner to rush him is excellent. It forces Sexton into a pressured action at pace and we all know what happens next.

Yeah - I think the lesson to be learned from that game for other nations (and clubs) is that Sexton does not respond well to pressure. He had one of the England players in his face for all of the many mistakes he made in that game.

Puja

Sorry to say this, but you can make that statement against almost every 10 in history. The key point is that the overall pressure, eg knocking em backwards at the gainline, makes it possible to apply that pressure.

This is why I baulk at every post that says..... 'x' at 10 looks poor on the backfoot. No sh*t.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Minute 30: Nice tap-down from the lineout, but Youngs takes too long winding up for the pass and gets caught. Thankfully Manu clears up well and we recycle still on the front foot. A couple of phases and Youngs passes to Manu who draws the attention of a few Irish players, BillyV is running a crash ball line off him which attracts a few more, and everyone is left flat-footed and Manu pulls it back beautifully to Farrell. Slade is running a great short line off him, but as Ireland scramble to cover that, it's pulled back to Daly. Stockdale has to come up to cover and Daly grubbers behind him. This time the bounce of the rugby ball hates Irishmen and it bounces away from Stockdale who juggles to try and pull it back in. Nowell sees an exposed ribcage and flattens him, the ball spills loose and Daly is first man there. A bit of fortune, but deserved.

England missed 2 opportunities in this to score before Dalys grubber through, The Irish didnt have much in numbers out wide(England were expecting more of them to fold round that last ruck) So England went back right in a preconcieved idea instead of going same way from Billys set up. Then Slade was missed when he was through if hed got the ball. The Daly kick is another ploy England have nicked from Townsend via Glasgow and Scotland as they have been doing this ploy for the last few years. Daly was expecting to only have him and Nowell against a 2v2 or 2v1 and a simple run in for Nowell from a pass or grubber in behind a defender who would have had to turn. Anyhow the outcome is all that matters at the end of the day.