Ireland vs England - 6N 2025 match thread

Also how good was Sheehan? To have that impact after being 60 mins back from a serious cruciate ligament injury is unbelievable. The long pass out to the wing then the trail run followed by the finish? A hooker should not be doing that!

Where would NZ be without their south sea island players ?

You must have been watching a different game to the rest of us. Conan took more lineout ball in 30mins than Baird did in 50. Made more effective carries and made a line break too. I didn't think Baird offered much than one very good break up the touchline. Baird lacks the impact at the break down and ruck for this level. Tom Curry was the best flanker on the pitch tonight, that's what's required at this level.

Who is this Steve guy?

Sheehan is the best hooker in the word since 2 years. Different category of alien players, like Dupont.

Add McCathy and Furlong, a more electric Hansen, and we're ok to face France

But we are not allowed to discuss it.

Thanks guys, maybe you might do a better job. Unfortunately we may never get to see it! This Steve guy has done better in a world cup than Andeh, but other than that you mean?

Felt the Ireland S&C boys once again need a pat on the back, fitness off the charts and England faded badly, was noticeable from even before half time.

Learnt a lot from that game. Conan is in fantastic form. Lowe despite a couple of duff kicks is to the manor born, huge power today. Sheehan looks like the bionic man out there, his pace if off the charts, some recovery job, well done the team involved as he was phenomenal for Leinster on the weekend past and off the charts today. Best hooker in the world period.

Great to have Crowley but cripes Prendergast is on fire and for a 21 year old is hard to fathom how good he is. Yes plenty to learn and his kicking needs work but his passing, space finding and time on the ball is world class. Crowley good when he came on but for me there is a clear 1 - 2 order now. We need to invest in both but Prendergast for me is the one who will take the shirt. Great problem to have mind you post Sexton.

Hats off to JGP as well, great game and moment of the match for me was Bundee's finish, cripes what a class finish, the power.

Never understood how they gave him the job, have never been impressed with him. Considering some of the coaching options floating around, pretty much any of them would have been a better idea. Bizarre.

Lowe was close for Potm. Saves his best for the Ireland shirt.

Gibson Park back to his best

Kelleher played well and was unlucky with his try, but Sheehan gives another set of options and plays as well as Kelleher anywhere → he must start whenever fit.

Pendergast poor. Never bossed the game or looked in control of anything.

Crowley better but he had the wind at his back when he came on

Baird was good in the lineouts but agree that Conan was overall better.

Bealham had one of his best games ever in an Irish shirt. Clarkson good in the scrum but not as good in open play or the ruck.

Porter excellent as always.

Healy and Henderson both embarrassing. Taking up space.

Mack Hansen well off the pace.

Keenan great as always

So too Beirne.

Aki - adequate/good. Took his try like the pro he is.

Van Der Flier and Ryan good.

Doris had his quietest game ever.

Murray - no real impact. Covered the spot in his 5 minutes.

Did I miss anyone?

These stats surprised me. I thought we turned over a lot more ball than that. The rucks were a source of concern esp. in the first half.

https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/matchstats?gameId=600252&league=180659

Crowley is the better 10 for this Irish team. But I would still start Pendergast next week.

When our set piece goes well then it takes something very special to beat this team and England ain't special.

Was a game where we had to earn the right to play and we wore them down. The bench had a massive impact. Conan, Sheehan and Crowley all excellent.

The state of all the tulips steaming in whenever either SP or Crowley make what they perceive to be a mistake. Ireland fans me bollox. If you can't see why Leinster and Ireland are investing in SP then I don't know what to tell you. I'm just delighted that we have another serious operator in Crowley there too. Not many teams that can boast that level of quality.

Think that's the best we've played since world cup year. We looked physically in a much better place than we did earlier in the season. VDF had a quietly effective game. Man's a machine.

The only 'issue' I have with the current squad is Cian Healy. Whatever about him making squads and 23's last year, he just looks like he can barely get about the pitch at the moment. Very cumbersome. Surely get Boyle in at this stage who has done very well for Leinster of late.

Mare of the match - England number 11 ? Cripes was feeling for him with the two endzone howlers………..video review ain't going to be much fun on Monday.