Team news for Ireland.

[Banquo]

All of us at some point or another have tried to coax a rational argument out of Oakboy and not one of us managed it ... why do we all keep biting?

I reckon about 10-15% posts on this board are questioning his constant crap about Eddie Jones being a terrible coach.

Physician, heal thyself

[TheDasher]

Slade back in training and, crucially for selection, sporting a ‘tache. Chocks away.

yeah, forgot to say from Eddie's book, he's a huge Slade fan. Also of Henry.

[p/d]

Slade back in training and, crucially for selection, sporting a ‘tache. Chocks away.

yeah, forgot to say from Eddie's book, he's a huge Slade fan. Also of Henry.

don't encourage him

[TheDasher]

A number of the calls Eddie makes are fcking irritating, frankly, that's been the case for some time and has got a little worse, I'll give Oakboy that.

I agree with Oakboy that his contract situation should be sorted, we really should have someone tied down until the end of the next world cup, that seems a no brainer to me.

But overall of course he's been a success, perhaps Oakboy is forgetting where we were when EJ took over.

There have been some unbelievable performances and periods. I'm thinking of the tour to Aus, the absolutely magnificent performance against NZ in the WC which still ranks as arguably the finest sporting performance I've seen, in any sport. The first half against Scotland when they came back and drew was poetry in motion too, just a shame it all went to absolute turd in the second half.

What we need is for him to add another 20% on top of the quality we have.

We have some of the most exciting and powerful forwards in the world, but we need to try and achieve a more dominant scrum and he must integrate effective no8 cover. We need two new scrum halves and I'd love another strong running centre to found somewhere, as Manu is broken a lot. If he can somehow find and develop a top class full back that'd be nice too.

With those things achieved, we'd be the best side in the world imo. He can achieve those things.

Personally I like his 'edge'. I think he's quite brilliant actually, it's easy to let your annoyance with him cloud that but he's just on another planet to some others who've managed England.

I have a feeling that we'll hammer Ireland to be honest, I think a big performance is bubbling under the surface.

[TheDasher]

yeah, forgot to say from Eddie's book, he's a huge Slade fan. Also of Henry.

don't encourage him

I much prefer laughing with him to debating with him.

[p/d]

don't encourage him

I much prefer laughing with him to debating with him.

especially now he has read a book.

[Puja]

I have a feeling that we'll hammer Ireland to be honest, I think a big performance is bubbling under the surface.

A lot is riding on the Ireland game, in my eyes. We were the top ranked team in the world after beating NZ and, while the loss to SA dropped us back to 3, that is where we should be aspiring to be - at least in the conversation for being the top team.

Eddie says the loss to France was because he made a mistake and underprepared them to try and avoid fatigue at the end of the 6N, which okay, sure, I'll buy. The Scotland game's basically a write-off due to the weather. This game, he has had the side for weeks, players are rested, we should be in peak condition, we should be winning. We should approach games like this like the All Blacks do - respecting the opponent, but confident of beating them.

Tl;dr - if we lose, I'll find myself much more inclined to agree with Oakboy.

Puja

[p/d]

Eddie says the loss to France was because he made a mistake and underprepared them to try and avoid fatigue at the end of the 6N, which okay, sure,

Puja

Yeah, 'cause god forbid we were tired come the Italy clash.

For me that is typical Jones - to use scrumhead's term - crap.

[TheDasher]

I have a feeling that we'll hammer Ireland to be honest, I think a big performance is bubbling under the surface.

A lot is riding on the Ireland game, in my eyes. We were the top ranked team in the world after beating NZ and, while the loss to SA dropped us back to 3, that is where we should be aspiring to be - at least in the conversation for being the top team.

Eddie says the loss to France was because he made a mistake and underprepared them to try and avoid fatigue at the end of the 6N, which okay, sure, I'll buy. The Scotland game's basically a write-off due to the weather. This game, he has had the side for weeks, players are rested, we should be in peak condition, we should be winning. We should approach games like this like the All Blacks do - respecting the opponent, but confident of beating them.

Tl;dr - if we lose, I'll find myself much more inclined to agree with Oakboy.

Puja

All fair although if we lose, I'll start doubting Eddie, I won't agree that he hasn't had a good stint. He's moved us light years forwards from where we were.

[Oakboy]

I have a feeling that we'll hammer Ireland to be honest, I think a big performance is bubbling under the surface.

Dash, I really hope you are right. However, the way you phrase it bothers me a little. Does it boil down to hope over expectation? In all this stick I get because I do not rate Jones, there have been remarkably few statements suggesting absolute confidence in the guy's ability to get results when it matters. You have a 'feeling' - OK, but why are you not saying Jones has got things buzzing so well that there is no doubt we will murder Ireland on Sunday?

[Mikey Brown]

Oh FFS! Underhill out with a calf strain.

1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
2. Jamie George (Saracens)
3. Kyle Sinkler (Harlequins)
4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
5. George Kruis (Saracens)
6. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
7. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
8. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)

9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens) - CAPTAIN
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
14. Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
15. George Furbank (Northampton Saints)

[Banquo]

Oh FFS! Underhill out with a calf strain.

1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
2. Jamie George (Saracens)
3. Kyle Sinkler (Harlequins)
4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
5. George Kruis (Saracens)
6. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
7. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
8. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)

9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens) - CAPTAIN
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
14. Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
15. George Furbank (Northampton Saints)

good one.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah, right back at you buddy.

[Banquo]

Yeah, right back at you buddy.

is that a strop? lol.

[twitchy]

[Banquo]

deep joy.

I'm going to go all Dors here, but Lawes at 6, JJ at 11 and 5 locks in the squad wtaf.

Furbank is injured but even so.

[Danno]

What the ever loving fuck is that

[Banquo]

Oh FFS! Underhill out with a calf strain.

1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
2. Jamie George (Saracens)
3. Kyle Sinkler (Harlequins)
4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
5. George Kruis (Saracens)
6. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
7. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
8. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)

9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens) - CAPTAIN
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
14. Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
15. George Furbank (Northampton Saints)

This doesn't look quite so out there now!

[fivepointer]

5 locks in the 23.....Lawes out of position....the Curry at 8 experiment continues.....Joseph is played out of position.....Slade covers 10 through to 15 (he hasnt played in, what, 2 months?)....Youngs alternates with Heinz for no obvious reason.

Why is Jones making our lives harder by these calls? we have specialists available to play in these positions and dont need to select on a "make do" basis.

[Mellsblue]

don't encourage him

I much prefer laughing with him to debating with him.

especially now he has read a book.

He has?!? Which one? He’s certainly not mentioned it.

[Stom]

oh, jesus.

What the flying fuck is that! I mean...seriously? I thought Lawes was "rested". Where's Furbank or Thorley? I mean, jesus.

No outside back cover, no 8, 5 locks...

[Banquo]

5 locks in the 23.....Lawes out of position....the Curry at 8 experiment continues.....Joseph is played out of position.....Slade covers 10 through to 15 (he hasnt played in, what, 2 months?)....Youngs alternates with Heinz for no obvious reason.

Why is Jones making our lives harder by these calls? we have specialists available to play in these positions and dont need to select on a "make do" basis.

Indeed. Having spent a bit of time kind of in his corner, this is pretty mad.

[Banquo]

I much prefer laughing with him to debating with him.

especially now he has read a book.

He has?!? Which one? He’s certainly not mentioned it.

Eddie Jones', its very good, you should try it.\

Oh, I see, northern humour,

[Mr Mwenda]

He's clearly after something with this bacj row composition. I just don't get what it is. I'm now less confident.

[Puja]

Jesus f*cking Christ. Can we have Mikey's team back please?

A full 5 of the starting XV do not play those positions for their club. Why the fuck have we dropped an actual full-back (after two caps of hell, no less, poor sod must be feeling great!) so that we can move to an ersatz full-back and an ersatz winger? Why are we trying Lawes at flank *again* when it never, never, ever fucking works?!

Why are we filling our team with square pegs in round holes when there are round pegs ready and waiting to go? If we were out of back three, then I could see Joseph being pushed to wing as an emergency option, but we've got Furbank, Thorley, and hells, I'd even have the likes of O'Flaherty ahead of him because he's NOT A WINGER!

WTAF Eddie? I was defending you this morning!

Puja