A.N.Other and O'Driscoll out of irish team

Downtime

Mick O'Driscoll that is - O'Connor back

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has kept faith with the side that beat Scotland 15-9 for Saturday's final Six Nations Championship clash with England at Twickenham.

The only change is on the bench where Wasps flanker Jonny O'Connor replaces Munster's Mick O'Driscoll, having recovered from a groin injury.

Success at Twickenham would hand Ireland their second Triple Crown in three years while they also have a chance of winning the championship outright.

IRELAND (v England): Geordan Murphy, Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Andrew Trimble, Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Malcolm O'Kelly, Paul O'Connell, Simon Easterby, David Wallace, Denis Leamy.

Replacements: Rory Best, Simon Best, Donncha O'Callaghan, Johnny O'Connor, Eoin Reddan, David Humphreys, Girvan Dempsey.

cruiserweight

England have made 7 changes to their team to play Ireland on Saturday, hmmmm!

England team to face Ireland at Twickenham:
T Voyce (Wasps); M Cueto (Sale), J Noon (Newcastle), S Abbott (Wasps), B Cohen (Northampton); A Goode (Leicester), H Ellis (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale), L Mears (Bath), M Stevens (Bath); S Borthwick (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps); J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester, capt).

Replacements: S Thompson (Northampton), J White (Leicester), D Grewcock (Bath), L Dallaglio (Wasps), M Dawson (Wasps), D Walder (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester).

Crash

most of the english changes are quite smart imo - Dawson was a disgrace for them last week (oh man was it hard watching a match and actually cheering england on to get them to win ) so Ellis is definitely a smart move. Goode as well - much better link there between the pack and the backline. Could be tough if they actually get themselves in game form.

As for the Irish team at the mo - reasonably happy. We've got a better hooker than we've had in a fair while in Flannery - my only issues at the mo (that could actually be sorted) would be with Mal in the second row, and i still feel there should be a rejig up the back row.

Come on IRELAND!!

JuliusFranco

would have perfered to see Steve Thompson playing...i bet he still has nightmares about lineouts and Paul O'Connell

this is gonna be a tough game...

casanova_kid

cruiserweight wrote:

England have made 7 changes to their team to play Ireland on Saturday, hmmmm!

England team to face Ireland at Twickenham:
T Voyce (Wasps); M Cueto (Sale), J Noon (Newcastle), S Abbott (Wasps), B Cohen (Northampton); A Goode (Leicester), H Ellis (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale), L Mears (Bath), M Stevens (Bath); S Borthwick (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps); J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester, capt).

Replacements: S Thompson (Northampton), J White (Leicester), D Grewcock (Bath), L Dallaglio (Wasps), M Dawson (Wasps), D Walder (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester).

Dawson was poor last week but he's still better than Ellis at his worst. Worsley was hopeless and should be replaced by Dallaglio, the man for a day like Saturday. Shaw should have been in the team 5 years ago.

Funkstard

Steve Thompson isn't starting? Good I hope he breaks his legs or something

Hugh_C

Funkstard wrote:

Steve Thompson isn't starting?

There's something John Bull-ish about Thompson which makes him easy to hate if you're Irish. He's another fat b*stard (as well as Goode). Perversely, I'm glad to see Goode starting, I like him more as a player than Hodgson.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bull

shmaido

Its cus they both look more like to professional darts players rather than rugby players, especially steve thompson...100 and 80! I can see it now.

casanova_kid

shmaido wrote:

Its cus they both look more like to professional darts players rather than rugby players, especially steve thompson...100 and 80! I can see it now.

Steve Thompson, a professional darts player? You are on fire today.

Hydroquinone

You have to be able to throw straight to be a darts player, so that lets Mr Thomspon out.
Voyce is worth watching, I reckon.

youcancallmeal

Hydroquinone wrote:

You have to be able to throw straight to be a darts player, so that lets Mr Thomspon out.

Ba Dum Chhh

Funkstard

Steve Thompson is a fat sh*t of a lager-lout. I really, really do not like him. Look at the ****ing state of him

He's also not very good at what he does for a living. Sitting in his local and shouting at people I'm sure he's excellent at, but otherwise he's a travesty