Buer wrote: » I would be very nervous of Ringrose starting at 13. I can't see him being close to ready for 6N level of intensity and I imagine he'll need a few games to get up to speed on patterns/systems etc. The idea of a barely fit Ringrose defending the 13 channel with Stockdale outside him fills me with apprehension. Scotland will be running Hogg and Jones at that channel all afternoon. We'll need to own the ball and put real pressure on Russell when in possession to disrupt any clean ball they're able to move wide. Henshaw will be a real loss for this game.
Bridge93 wrote: » Was it the Scots who tried to choke poor ROG until a brave John Hayes saved the day? Do it for ROG
Former Former wrote: » ...Team pretty much picks itself if that turns out to be accurate, probably the only question is whether McFadden holds onto the 23 jersey or whether Larmour gets a go. Healy Best Furlong Henderson Ryan POM Stander Leavy Murray Sexton Stockdale Aki Ringrose Earls Kearney Cronin McGrath Porter Toner Conan Marmion Carbery McFadden/Larmour
Buer wrote: » It turned out to be Hayes' bingo wing suffocating him.
Buer wrote: » I would be very nervous of Ringrose starting at 13. The idea of a barely fit Ringrose defending the 13 channel with Stockdale outside him fills me with apprehension.
Teferi wrote: » Famous last words here but not too worried about this fixture. Scotland are awful away from home and celebrated like they won the world cup, two weeks ago when they beat the English. I think they won't be able to gee themselves up emotionally for the encounter. We'll have to shore up the defence on the outside as Scotland have the backs to exploit that particular weakness of ours, but otherwise, I think we should suffocate them.
Deleted User wrote: » England were poor against Scotland and not great against Italy. Premiership teams are dire this year bar one or two exceptions. I wouldn't automatically fear Scotland off the back of their win in Murrayfield.
cavemeister wrote: » I'd seriously consider putting Earls on the left wing and McFadden on the right. Need to shore up any defensive shortfall for this one. Don't go for the bonus point, just grind out the win... With our barren midfield, this is the best option.
The Rape of Lucretia wrote: » You make a good case for leaving Stockdale out of this one and bringing back a safe pair of hands. Trimble. Or Tommy Bowe maybe. He does do Grand Slams. Trimble only does championships. I am OK with either.
jr86 wrote: » Is there really that much of a correlation between club and national form? Whatever way you look at it that was an outstanding win. To essentially hammer a side with 2 losses since 2015 Can't see us putting down England so easily next week when it's us to face them, in fact we'll be probably be hailing it as one of our greatest victories of all time if we win in Twickenham Saturday week, and there would be a lot of merit in it too.
Deleted User wrote: » I think there is a reasonable correlation. In the 2015 / 2016 champions cup season England had 5 teams into the knock outs with Saracens winning the entire thing and forming the spine of the team that fairly comfortably won the Grand Slam. Ireland had no teams in the knock out stages and had our worst six nations under Joe that same year. Ireland won the Grand Slam when Leinster and Munster were consistently the best two teams in Europe.
Dubinusa wrote: » I worry for this game more than the final fixture.