England v Ireland St Patricks Day 2012

HappyBalance · 11-03-2012 8:31pm #1

After both teams had impressive performances over the weekend, who do you fancy? Will the fact its on Paddy's Day make a difference?

CatFromHue · 11-03-2012 8:37pm

It being on Paddys day will make no difference.

I think we'll win too.

cgpg5 · 11-03-2012 8:39pm

Paddy's day will have no effect. Home advantage will have an effect. Right now I'm thinking England by about 5

thomond2006 · 11-03-2012 8:39pm

If you asked me this morning I would have been confident. Now I'm positively terrified.

Fishooks12 · 11-03-2012 8:42pm

France were very very poor today, much worse than when we met them

Still think we'll win. Our defense is the best in the championship atm

Noffles · 11-03-2012 8:44pm

England have improved, they'll beat you in Twickers, Paddy's day will make no difference..

Podge_irl · 11-03-2012 8:50pm

Fishooks12 wrote: »

France were very very poor today, much worse than when we met them

I'm not so sure they were. England just managed to keep playing rugby and not let France come back into the game (and even then it was about as close as our game).

I'm not really sure what to think of Ireland at the moment. They certainly don't fill me with confidence that they'll be able to go away to England and get a victory.

Fishooks12 · 11-03-2012 8:56pm

Podge_irl wrote: »

I'm not so sure they were. England just managed to keep playing rugby and not let France come back into the game (and even then it was about as close as our game).

I'm not really sure what to think of Ireland at the moment. They certainly don't fill me with confidence that they'll be able to go away to England and get a victory.

Look at the errors in Frances game today, over a dozen handling errors compared to one last weekend

They were poor both weekends but worse today I think

phog · 11-03-2012 8:57pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

If you asked me this morning I would have been confident. Now I'm positively terrified.

England have improved but France were very poor today, on another day their have won that game. How many times have you seen a french team not pass when the pass was one, pass straight into touch, not score when the opposition were down to 14.

I still think Ireland can win but it's got more difficult, missing Gert Smal, BOD, POC and Murray since the 6Ns began and I think Best wont be 100% even after ebing subbed yesterday.

[Jackass] · 11-03-2012 9:03pm

Tough one to call. Should be a good game. At this point I'd just be happy with no injuries though.

Tox56 · 11-03-2012 9:05pm

Wales won there playing pretty poorly, I'd say we have more than a chance.

boynesider · 11-03-2012 9:13pm

I wasn't that impressed with England today. If we bring the intensity which we know we have I just think we have far better players

Blackheath · 11-03-2012 9:18pm

Tom Craft had a very big game for England today, he will take stopping

Blackheath · 11-03-2012 9:19pm

Blackheath wrote: »

Tom Craft had a very big game for England today, he will take stopping

Croft

cgpg5 · 11-03-2012 9:20pm

Blackheath wrote: »

Tom Craft had a very big game for England today, he will take stopping

Wouldn't be a patch on Ferris. I'd worry about Morgan more

Fireball07 · 11-03-2012 9:33pm

I think we'll win tbh. They were impressive today but I don't think that they can match us if we play to the top of our game. Obviously getting to that level but we've been moving in the right direction and we do tend to step it up against them.

Benny Cake · 11-03-2012 9:50pm

Paddy Power have us as 3 point underdogs in the handicap.

MungBean · 11-03-2012 10:01pm

Like to think Ireland will sneak it but its a coin toss really. Ireland/Wales Wales/England Ireland/France England/France were all up for grabs in the last play of the game.

Ireland +3 is good for a bet as is France +6 against Wales.

PhatPiggins · 11-03-2012 10:14pm

Blackheath wrote: »

Tom Craft had a very big game for England today, he will take stopping

He only has one very big game in every 12 games. Luckily for us thats out of the way.

HappyBalance · 11-03-2012 10:20pm

Would it be to early to call Wallace up?

steve9859 · 11-03-2012 10:24pm

MungBean wrote: »

Like to think Ireland will sneak it but its a coin toss really. Ireland/Wales Wales/England Ireland/France England/France were all up for grabs in the last play of the game.

Ireland +3 is good for a bet as is France +6 against Wales.

I agree. England, Ireland, Wales, France all about the same. All of them coin tosses

GerM · 11-03-2012 10:25pm

HappyBalance wrote: »

Would it be to early to call Wallace up?

He'll need the 3 weeks between now and the HEC quarter final to be up to the required fitness for that match. Next week will be another level of intensity higher than the QF. He'd be way out of his depth for next week and, to be honest, I would be disappointed to see someone dropped for him. He's 36 in a few months and not someone we should be looking to bring back in. The current options are doing well and will continue to improve with more time.

redmca2 · 11-03-2012 10:28pm

England for sure will have a lot of confidence but they won against a very poor France. I can't see them knocking any dents in the Welsh march towards a Grand Slam.
We have an extra recovery day and I disagree about Paddy's Day not being a factor - it will be a super day for our supporters many of whom will be UK residents. That can't be a bad thing.
I would expect us to win but only just.

HappyBalance · 11-03-2012 10:28pm

I actually hope France beat Wales which means England will play for the championship albeit an outside chance.

Quint2010 · 11-03-2012 11:06pm

Think England would have to beat Ireland by 30+ points to be in with a chance of the title. Don't see that happening. Think they will take us though

Podge_irl · 11-03-2012 11:23pm

Quint2010 wrote: »

Think England would have to beat Ireland by 30+ points to be in with a chance of the title. Don't see that happening. Think they will take us though

France and England have to win by a combined total of 38. Unlikely, but not impossible.

bm1993 · 12-03-2012 12:14am

I think we'll win tbh. IMO the front 5 and three-quarters are fairly even but we have the better back row and half backs.

Really depends what Ireland turns up though. If we play like we did in the first half against France we'll win, if we play like we did against Wales we'll lose. But because it's England on Paddy's day I think we'll bring the level of intensity required and win by a score.

errlloyd · 12-03-2012 2:28am

Podge_irl wrote: »

France and England have to win by a combined total of 38. Unlikely, but not impossible.

I am actually really glad you put that into words so perfectly. I was really struggling to explain it to my uncle earlier. "England have to beat us by 38 minus whatever France beat Wales by"

teednab-el · 12-03-2012 2:28am

I think Ireland will win this by a try.

Podge_irl · 12-03-2012 5:06am

errlloyd wrote: »

I am actually really glad you put that into words so perfectly. I was really struggling to explain it to my uncle earlier. "England have to beat us by 38 minus whatever France beat Wales by"

No problem.

Nice to know my 7 years of mathematical training didn't go completely wasted!

cp · 12-03-2012 12:03pm

bm1993 wrote: »

I think we'll win tbh. IMO the front 5 and three-quarters are fairly even but we have the better back row and half backs.

Have to say I'm really looking forward to some of these battles, in particular the half backs. Been very impressed by Dickson and Farrell - his kicking from hand wasn't great yesterday, but all in all for a player playing only his second international game at 10, he seems to have a great head on his shoulders. His offload for the Tuilagi try was excellent. With opposites like Priestland and Beauxis its easy to look good but, IMO, Farrell v Sexton is a straight shootout for the Lions 10

Also think the Earls V Tuilagi & Ferris V Croft battles will have a big say in how this game goes....

Tox56 · 12-03-2012 12:10pm

cp wrote: »

Have to say I'm really looking forward to some of these battles, in particular the half backs. Been very impressed by Dickson and Farrell - his kicking from hand wasn't great yesterday, but all in all for a player playing only his second international game at 10, he seems to have a great head on his shoulders. His offload for the Tuilagi try was excellent. With opposites like Priestland and Beauxis its easy to look good but, IMO, Farrell v Sexton is a straight shootout for the Lions 10

Also think the Earls V Tuilagi & Ferris V Croft battles will have a big say in how this game goes....

Earls v Tuilagi will be crucial.

Earls has improved immeasurably, most notably in defence. However, so far the only quality centre he has come up against is Fofana, and they weren't directly against eachother.

Rougerie has been awful this 6 Nations, whereas Scotland and Italy have no centres to speak of. Earls didn't face the Welsh test, although I would really have liked to see how he would have done.

Tuilagi has added another dimension to England, and he was able to wreak havoc against Roberts and Davies.

This will be Earls' big test, and although I wouldn't have said this before the Six Nations, I think he can (and will) pass it. It will be interesting though.

irishbucsfan · 12-03-2012 12:35pm

I'm dreading seeing pictures of TOL playing at 9 tomorrow...

bamboozle · 12-03-2012 12:40pm

HappyBalance wrote: »

Would it be to early to call Wallace up?

Wallace is 36, great servant but no longer needed for the national team.

watching the england defence yesterday they had shooters popping up every time france had attacking ball. i'd expect to see Ferris/SOB and the blind side wingers carrying a lot of ball in the 10/12 channel v's england.
i hope Mike Ross figures out this week what the french scrum did in the 2nd half to start dominating the english scrum.
Tom Croft is nothing to worry about, have Ryan follow him in lineout and Ferris to put manners on him in open play.

prospect · 12-03-2012 12:54pm

I am nervous about this, I thought England were very good at the weekend.

But, we have developed the habit of putting on our A Game against England.

In the last 10 games we have won 7 times.

I am pie · 12-03-2012 12:56pm

Earls vs Tuilagi is huge, but i'd expect Ferris to lend a hand there where he can. I wonder will the ROG-Sexton 10/12 be employed earlier to shore up the defence.

Someone has got to get on top of Morgan and stop him breaking tackles. He is a monster in the loose and as we saw on Saturday has a good offloading game. Needs to get nailed low and hard anytime he appears with ball in hand.

bamboozle · 12-03-2012 12:58pm

I am pie wrote: »

Earls vs Tuilagi is huge, but i'd expect Ferris to lend a hand there where he can. I wonder will the ROG-Sexton 10/12 be employed earlier to shore up the defence.

Someone has got to get on top of Morgan and stop him breaking tackles. He is a monster in the loose and as we saw on Saturday has a good offloading game. Needs to get nailed low and hard anytime he appears with ball in hand.

First time i've ever seen ROG suggesed as a defensive option.

touts · 12-03-2012 1:01pm

If the Ref is fair and balanced I think a cocky Wales will be beaten by a wounded France. So we could be in a situation where just before they go out on the pitch the English players know that if they play the game of their lives in front of their home fans they can steal the championship from the Welsh team they believe robbed them a few weeks ago.

I am pie · 12-03-2012 1:02pm

bamboozle wrote: »

First time i've ever seen ROG suggesed as a defensive option.

Clearly he's not, but at 12 Sexton is stronger than the ailing D'Arcy. Another nothing performance from him to add to his growing selection adds no weight to claims for his inclusion.

bamboozle · 12-03-2012 1:15pm

I am pie wrote: »

Clearly he's not, but at 12 Sexton is stronger than the ailing D'Arcy. Another nothing performance from him to add to his growing selection adds no weight to claims for his inclusion.

Sexton/Darcy 10-12 is far far stronger defensively than ROG/Sexton.

Whether or not Darcy deserves to keep his place is another question, i'd quiet happily see McFadden at 12 but with BOD injured there was no way DK was going to start 2 novices in the center in the 6ns

Come the NZ tour i'd expect to see McFadden at 12.

davegrohl48 · 12-03-2012 1:22pm

Darcy really doesn't seem to be producing it anymore. It's fine to say he is there for his defensive abilities. But at the end of the day weighing up overall effect on the scoreboard I think McFadden has to start (won't happen).
I don't see Darcy being in position to collect or being quick enough to score for McFaddens try.
He doesn't seem to be involved in backline moves as much anymore and his break has totally dissappeared.
Darcy of a few years ago I think we'd all select him but he is not as quick or playing with as much confidence now. He's had a great innings but I think it's starting to negatively effect our performances. He hasn't had a championship so far to keep his place.

cp · 12-03-2012 1:28pm

Tox56 wrote: »

Earls v Tuilagi will be crucial.

Earls has improved immeasurably, most notably in defence. However, so far the only quality centre he has come up against is Fofana, and they weren't directly against eachother.

Rougerie has been awful this 6 Nations, whereas Scotland and Italy have no centres to speak of. Earls didn't face the Welsh test, although I would really have liked to see how he would have done.

Tuilagi has added another dimension to England, and he was able to wreak havoc against Roberts and Davies.

This will be Earls' big test, and although I wouldn't have said this before the Six Nations, I think he can (and will) pass it. It will be interesting though.

I think you're right, Tuilagi is a monster, but I don't think I've seen him pass a single ball this championship. We need to shoot up on him before he gets a chance to build up a head of steam. I'd expect we'll see Ferris in that role again.

Been massively impressed with Earls defense this tournament, think he's really improved. Dare I say it, but I saw a bit of the BOD about him in the way he marshaled the channel in the last two games..

This is one game where I don't see the choke tackle being an option, when you look at guys like Tuilagi and Morgan, you really need to be getting them round the ankles.

MungBean · 12-03-2012 1:47pm

Whats the deal with Darcy ? Him being taken off with Sexton moving to 12 and ROG to 10 so much must mean he's not fit enough to play 80 right ? I cant see any other reasoning behind it. So is he carrying an injury or is it old age ?

snow mad · 12-03-2012 1:52pm

I wonder will the ROG-Sexton 10/12 be employed earlier to shore up the defence.

would that not cause more problems than it would solve.
In my opinion McFadden at 12 either from the start or at half time would be a better solution.

JustinDee · 12-03-2012 2:01pm

touts wrote: »

If the Ref is fair and balanced I think a cocky Wales will be beaten by a wounded France. So we could be in a situation where just before they go out on the pitch the English players know that if they play the game of their lives in front of their home fans they can steal the championship from the Welsh team they believe robbed them a few weeks ago.

I can't see Wales losing in Cardiff, to be honest. Even when playing poorly, they've managed to climb on and keep the result their way. Momentum is hard to break.

As for France, start at halfback where Dupuy is deemed good enough for such an important role. I would have thought Saint-Andre had it in him to coax a game out of Parra, rather than dropping him for someone I see as an inferior player.

Podge_irl · 12-03-2012 2:01pm

snow mad wrote: »

I wonder will the ROG-Sexton 10/12 be employed earlier to shore up the defence.

I'd go as far as to say it would merely cause problems without solving any.

Would really like to see McFadden take over from D'Arcy but it's not going to happen at this point. Kidney doesn't even seem to see him as a centre full stop as he's only been coming on on the wing. Sexton/McFadden is a much better combo then ROG/Sexton. I don't understand Kidney's obsessions with that.

teednab-el · 12-03-2012 2:11pm

It would be nice if we demolish England and France as much as I hate them beat cocky and arrogant Wales.

ButtersSuki · 12-03-2012 2:18pm

I'd be a little worried about a confident England at home playing what is after all an under strength Irish team. Despite our last two performances, the team is missing just that little bit extra that the likes of a fit strongest 15 can bring.

I'd be worried about Tuilagi targeting Earls as he did so well for the opening try in the WC warm up game in the Aviva in particular; I'd be worried about Deccie's potential back row selection (namely if he puts O'Mahoney in for this game against a massive English pack), and I'd be very, very, very, very (!) worried if he jettisons Reddan for TOL.

Despite all of that though, I do think we'll win, but it will be a close game.

Of all the 6N games I've ever been to, have to say the atmosphere for the 2004 game in Twickers was unbelievable and the best I've ever experienced at a rugby game. The hairs stood up on the back of my neck such was the noise when the teams came out. Gutted not to be going this Saturday....:(

Podge_irl · 12-03-2012 2:21pm

ButtersSuki wrote: »

I'd be worried about Tuilagi targeting Earls as he did so well for the opening try in the WC warm up game in the Aviva in particular;

I'm far less worried about this then I was at the start of the tournament. Earls has played well and certainly hasn't looked out of place in defence.

The_Kew_Tour · 12-03-2012 2:32pm

teednab-el wrote: »

It would be nice if we demolish England and France as much as I hate them beat cocky and arrogant Wales.

touts wrote: »

If the Ref is fair and balanced I think a cocky Wales will be beaten by a wounded France. So we could be in a situation where just before they go out on the pitch the English players know that if they play the game of their lives in front of their home fans they can steal the championship from the Welsh team they believe robbed them a few weeks ago.

d-gal · 12-03-2012 2:39pm

I think we can beat England. Too much hype again about an average team. They have a captain who wouldn't even get in our 30..only a couple of months he got destroyed by Muldoon twice.
Croft is decent but not even half the man of Ferris and their 2nd rows are extremely average.

Tuilagi is the main threat but I can see Ferris putting him on his hole pretty quickly.
Farrell is the great white hope but Sexton should have the edge and Foden is no match for Kearney.

Overall we are a much better team and if we are on song we should beat them by at least 7

England v Ireland St Patricks Day 2012

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