Ireland vs England - 6N 2025 match thread

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Because it’s one of the few things I’d rate Baird ahead of Conan on. Particularly defensive lineout jumping.

My main worry with Baird's poorish performance is that the coaches may be tempted to try Beirne at 6 again, especially if Joe McC is fit. That would be a serious retrograde step. I'd rather see POM at 6 than that.

how can so much match discussion not be about how bloody gorgeous Dan Sheehans try was? I miss Venjur and his Splosh posts celebrating rugby excellence 😢

Agree with all of this but think Cian Prendergast offers as much as POM these days and l say that as someone who loves POM. His lineout work for Connacht has been outstanding over the last miserable months.

Don't think Baird was particularly poor, he just didn't do anything of note bar that run down the sideline. If the goal is him surpassing POM, he had a pretty standard POM type performance in fairness to him.

Why not indeed.
I’m not 100% Izzy can bring the nitty gritty level required of a 6 at this level, but he’s worth a go now.

Ahern the same albeit he’s not even in the squad.

Ok. You want to build depth in Ireland by backing youth. I think Gleeson should have been bought into the 6 nations to start ahead of Doris.

Doris is getting older, hasn't been playing very well and Gleeson was absolutely outstanding in the U20s and is universally regarded as a massive prospect for the future.

Maybe we can keep Doris as an impact sub.

No, Because we have depth in backrow.

We don't have massive depth at 10 and it's been an issue for a long time now.

We also have an issue at LHP given Healy is 37 so we need to start bringing others into the equation there too. otherwise we become overly dependent on Porter in the same way we were overly dependent on Sexton at 10.

But you knew that and your just upset that Prendergast started ahead of Crowley.

Because he'd had two consecutive concussions, first against Munster and then second immediately on his return against Argentina, and it was part of his management and return to play.

Jack and Sam of a similar level? Crowley was the starting 10 for a 6 nations winning campaign. Only in the fantasies of certain rugby pundits are Sam and Jack on a similar level. Sam is at least a year behind developmentally.

Jack is now where Doris was 3 years ago, showing great potential and breaking through internationally.

Doris has plateaued and Gleeson has just as much potential in his position as Prendergast has, so using your logic, it would be perfectly reasonable to bring him inyo the international set up and have him start ahead of Doris in the 6 nations.

Or maybe hes not actually ready yet, and neither is Prendergast

Mod Edit

Warning issued.

Makes no sense. Even if he has plateaued, it's to the level of the lions starting 8 and captain.. 😂

If Doris has plateaued it is a very **** high plateau. There are many players ahead of Gleason to get into the Irish squad let alone start. There is nobody between Jack and Sam. I don’t disagree that Sam is probably a year behind developmentally.
I probably would have started Jack. But I think Sam has proved this year that he is ready for this level with both his performances for Ireland and for Leinster.
They both have areas of the game where they are stronger. Jack is obviously better in defense and in contact. Sam has a better passing range and distribution and kicking from hand. Yesterday’s poor performance off the tee aside he has a far better kick percentage.

Gleeson is pure whataboutery. There is not a single aspect of his game that he has demonstrated that is better than Doris. He has a huge future ahead of him but there are about 10 back rows more deserving of a place on the Irish squad. 0 issue with him being called up as a training panellist to gain experience in the squad.

We have 2 very good 10s. You are more than entitled to believe that Jack is better than Sam and should be starting. But the attacking of Sam is over the top one eyed inter provincial crap.