Ire versus England - RTÉ 2 Saturday Aug 19th 17.30pm

As pre WC games go it's very hard to gauge overly but I think the most pleasing thing is the efficiency in the scoring zone is still excellent.

A lot of unforced errors but I think these are fixable going into the WC. Mentioned before but I taught on first viewing RB was quite poor in general play and of the tee. I think Crowley will have a leg up going to the WC.

I think predergast confirmed today he is not a no. 8 but he certainly could do a job as a bench option.

Think Tom Stewart needs a start next week. For some reason he could be the bolter!

Delighted for Earls to get his try. Roll on Samoa.

Well that was mostly very positive wasn't it? For a first hit out of the season for most of the players, you really couldn't ask for more. Again for me, the most positive aspect was the physicality. Following on from the Italy game, I thought the players looked strong and dominant for the most part whilst still clearly a fair bit away from hitting top gear. England are a couple of weeks ahead in their prep and they were still trying all they could to slow the game down.

Are we thinking a 19/14 split then? I can't see any of McCarthy, Baird or Prendergast being left at home. What about McCarthy by the way!? Haven't been this excited about a forward since Sean O'Brien. Who was it that he picked up like a toddler?

Very hard to pick between Ross and Crowley for me. I agree with others that I would worry about Ross if he was in from the start against SA but I think it's still his shirt to lose at the moment. Crowley is maturing quickly though.

The absolute state of England. I can't believe that a union of that size, has produced that team. All they have is a lineout. It's incredible really when you think about it. Just complete and utter mismanagement from the very top down.

I’d be more concerned playing France due to the fact we’d be playing the host nation at home. Dodgy camera angles and I’d be worried we’re not going to get the 50/50 calls in that one. I’d prefer New Zealand as their aura with us (and the match officials) isn’t what it used to be.

SA are the ones going into a RWC with a squad with an average age of over 30 years old, if anyone should be resting bodies its them. Looking at the profile of our squad we are the ones who should be going gun ho!

On the Byrne v Crowley thing... It's Crowley shading it for me now. And I'm leaving place kicking totally out of that.

I thought Byrne didn't raise his stock price last night. He mixed the good with bad in open play. His passing was both excellent and sloppy.

His ceiling was hit a long time ago. Crowley's is still unknown, and there's a dog in Crowley that Byrne definitely does not have.

Admittedly this WC might come a tad early for Crowley, but I expect him to shoot past Byrne come the 6ns.

And if Ireland got all of their kicks they still would have won.