Probably wouldn't miss touch from 5 yards away with a BP on the line anyway
Probably wouldn’t inject as much into the game as Crowley did, along with JGP, to win us the game either, mind.
I can't see how you can start McCarthy. He has given two 50 mins performances back to back where he was a total passenger. Has to be Beirne and Ryan at lock to start. Our scrum was at its best today with Edogbo in the 2nd row but he's not ready to start a game like this.
People have been very dismissive of Joey Carbery's chances of playing again for Ireland on his return to Leinster next season but I'm not so sure. The incumbents are missing tackles, easy kicks at goal, missing touch from 5m out etc. If I were him I'd be thinking that I've a right shot at the no.10 jersey for Ireland for the 6N and the WC next year. Why not?
Can he kick goals? Yes, he is a reliable goal kicker.
Can he tackle? Yes, not the strongest but no worse than what's there now.
Can he pass the ball without throwing an intercept every game? Yes.
Can he find touch from 5m out? Yes.
That's where the bar has been set. So why the hell not?
Carberry is comfortably better than SP.
On another note, isn't it mad that that was Balacoune's Six Nations debut??
He is, and at his best he has those silky skills that give SP so much promise, but he’s a steadier hand and far more of an athlete. If he can stay healthy and get some game time he’ll definitely be in the Ireland mix.
Carberys main issue is that he's made of glass.
He tore his crutiate this week so has probably played his last game for Bordeaux.
Ah no, that's a pity. He's been blighted by injury
Regardless of who was on the field we beat Italy at home by 7 points while camped in our own 22 for the last 10 mins and an Italian disallowed try that could easily have been given.
The elephant in the room is the drop off in coaching (attack, scrum, breakdown).
blighted by injury because he was never a 10. he should only ever have played 15. He never had the physicality to defend as a 10 needs to.
Did not know that, the man has no luck. Maybe my idea is dead in the water so seeing as he won't play rugby for at least 6-9 months.
If that chip through had bounced the right way for Menonchello it would have been a well earned draw for Italy too. It's like 2012/2013 again. Or 2019.
I was dismissive myself but if he does come back to Leinster ( I don’t think it’s officially announced?), he certainly has as good a shot as the rest of them as it stands.
Edit: Just seen above he tore his cruciate this week. If that deal to Leinster isn’t signed, there’s a real chance Leinster pull the plug with that injury to go along with his previous ones.
Am I alone in thinking Izzy did well at 6 and should get another chance? Before the lions tour no one wanted Beirne at 6 for Ireland and I still think it should be him +1 in the second row, even Genge said that Beirne scrums much harder than you'd expect. Im also not sure vdf should come straight back into the team but I expect he will after the Lowe lesson today, kick up the arse can work well. At the very least I'd like to see izzy on the bench, spring him with timoney and one of edogbo or JMc.
I'd definitely like to see him again. I don't think Beirne is contributing much of note at the minute, and we know what he can bring to the table. Stick him on the bench if he has to play.
for England
1. Loughman 2. Sheehan 3. Furlong
4. Beirne 5. Ryan
6. Izuchukwu 7. Doris 8. Conan
9. JGP 10. Crowley
11. Lowe 12. McCloskey 13. Ringrose 14. Baloucoune
15 Osborne
16.Kelleher 17.O’Toole 18.Clarkson 19.McCarthy 20.Prendergast 21 VDF 22 Casey 23 Prendergast
Peter O’Mahony is so refreshing on TV. Speaks so real. And honest. So protective about Sam and such a great perspective about the young players. Conor murray too. Rog saying the same last week. Common message, let the next generation play and make mistakes. None of these guys started as the finished product. When Sam is one of the best ever 10’s for Ireland in 5 years time it’s too late for the nay sayers to join the party
He still got his customary turnover, but for me, with the game transitioning to fewer rucks, there are fewer opportunites for him to turnover ball.
Absolutely world class for us for the previous 4-5 seasons tho.
I think Joe McCarthy is playing more poorly atm, but I probably don't see Farrell going without him vs England, at least. If we were against either Scotland or Wales next, I think there's an argument for Ryan and Beirne tbh.
Erm Crowley is also a very young guy?? Let him play and learn also!!!!
There's something really off in our defence at the moment.
8 vs 18 Dominant tackles last week, and we're provisionally down for 4 vs 15 today.
Starting Milne against England would be total suicide. One decent scrum at the end of the France game does not take away being folded like a deckchair for years.
I agree to an extent but at least he offers something around the field. Loughman is a slightly better scrummager but doesn’t really do anything around the field. He reminds me of a prop from 30 years ago that struggles to catch the ball.
The other options are a 19 year old or O’Toole playing out of position. It’s not ideal whatever route they go.
The alternative is Loughman, who ostensibly is there cause he is better in the scrum but it didn't look like that today - and he was dreadful outside of the scrum also.
I think you have to accept we'll be hammered there and just try to bring something more around the pitch so may as well have Milne.
Agreed, we are going to get pummeled at scrum regardless, Milne offers much more around the park. Loughman was an empty jersey today.
In saying that TOT was... solid when he came on in the tight? I dunno, it seems like the best worst option which ever way you cut it
Cheers for that. I was wondering how in God's name they were that price.
We only conceded 60-64-72 points in the 2022-2024 6N campaigns and 4-6 tries in that time
in 2026 we already have 49 conceded and 6 tries conceded with 3 games to go…
should drop furlong too so, given he was taken for a ride by the Italian LH
This should end the Crowley/ Pendergast debate for at a minimum the rest of 2026. Crowley has to be told you are out 10 for the rest of the year and prendergast needs to be told ne needs game time with Leinster to learn
Not really, the wingers have been Farrell's go to players and he's slow to change/drop his favorites
5th in the Table because Scotland beat England, that result must make the team a bit more nervous about our performances so far and how we approach our matches v Scotland & Wales.
If Wales win tomorrow we could be in 6th place after round 2. How many years would you have to back to see that
