I’m actually being serious I think the game will come down to two key areas. The Irish ruck speed has been really impressive. Really quick ball to multiple strike runners creating space and combining this with accurate offloads. It’s been good to watch. But….if England can slow down this ball, without giving away the usual dozen penalties, their physicality will cause Ireland huge problems. Sooo….Irish ruck speed and English discipline will be key.
England not give away stupid penalties lol ! Everyone knows our front row are thicker than a whale omelette ffs
Itoje a doubt for England with illness. Ffs do we ever have a game where one of our key players doesn't get something on the eve of the game ?
Come on Wales...got to pull this out the bag. My son sang 'allez Les bleus' all the way home today...heartbreaking as I've got a Welsh grandmother. Would love bragging rights after this one.
France manage to hold on to win 13 - 9..... French defence was very good but they didn't look that convincing against a pumped up Welsh side....
All got a bit messy didn’t it. Welsh didn’t do much with a lot of possession, French just happy to see that one out.
France were awful 2nd half under constant pressure, but like very good teams do they ground out the victory. All down to England in Paris to stop them doing the slam. Mmm
As ever, France are a confidence team. When things go well, they amaze. When there's a downturn, they struggle. Shaun Edwards has put technique and backbone into their defence against a comparitively poor Welsh side. If England can get their act together in the Ireland game and shake France early on in Paris, I could see us raining on the Gallic parade.
First match I’ve been to at Principality, what an atmosphere. Hairs on the back of the neck standing up during the anthem. Not quite the Zamora moment but constant noise throughout. Thousands of French supporters in the ground and all very good natured. Didn’t expect a Welsh win but after a slowish start, was a very even game and they had their chances. French defence was very composed and didn’t panic when Wales pressed. A very enjoyable experience all in all, except for the result and how very un-football like to be able to sit in your seat with a pint. Not expecting the same at KPF next Sunday. See you there
I’m expecting Ireland to win quite convincingly today, which might not be a bad thing medium/long term for England. So much talent so little control.
You’re at it……….. Nobody would give Ireland a chance except that clown Jones playing his usual mind games. England don’t lose too many games at home…..end of
Apparently Jones, who I am rather tired of, sets single specific objectives and works towards them over the long term. He claims it took two years of planning to beat the All Blacks at the World Cup (shame it wasn’t the ****ing final), and the whole of last year was aimed solely at beating the Springboks in the autumn. So it boils down to, is he more interested in beating you lot or the French? Personally, if this is true and I don’t believe much that he says, I don’t think it’s a template for building a great team, no matter who they are playing. Andy Farrell continues to positively surprise me. We’ll have him back eventually, hopefully with Shaun Edwards (although there is bad blood between him and the RFU for some reason).
Ireland need to consistently produce in the 6 nations purely from a financial perspective. We have changed our style of play (thank god) but are far from the finished article. Interesting that the 2 best coaches we have (Leinster & Ireland) are both English. England don’t have the same level of raw power as previous years but the set piece today will be pivotal. That and Englands discipline at the breakdown
