Potentially a great match to look forward to this weekend with Ireland travelling to Twickenham in what could be a championship deciding encounter. England's renowned forwards against an Irish back line that may not get enough ball to do any damage. Too tight to call IMO. I hope Joe Schmidt's superior managerial experience will be enough to help us over the line but I'm not overly confident. The Irish forwards have been immense in the last number of games and finally Schmidt has developed some cover in all the front row positions but this will be a massive challenge for the Irish pack. Ireland IMO are stronger in the key positions of 9 and 10 but the battle upfront will decide the match. Thoughts?
A tough ask for Ireland IMO, you comprehensively outplayed the Welsh with the obvious game-plan but will find England a much tougher nut to crack. The match just might hinge on the use of the replacements, England are surely stronger in that department but how they are used is the key...
I make the Irish very narrow favourites, on a roll, and England never seem to perform for the full match. Plus O'Connell (is he playing? I hope not) never fails to wind the Irish up to fever pitch against us. Discipline could be key to this one. Danny Care has impressed me so far, but Farrell, although very good, will never be a great number 10. We still miss Wilkinson, not least because of his strength and commitment in the tackle.
It's a big ask for us alright. We haven't been consistent enough over the last number of years. England's transitionary period is now over and you have to win matches like this if you're going to have any say in the next World Cup. If Ireland compete at the set plays then I think we have enough out-wide to win the match but I think everybody bar the lunatics in the asylum know that England have a very powerful pack. Think you might change your mind about the replacements when you see our bench. It looks like we will have Bowe, Zebo, Donnacha Ryan, Eoin Reddan etc on the bench.
Some quality there NUTS, the point I'd make is that Lancaster makes changes for the sake of it a precise times, rather than tactical changes that will hurt the opposition, that did for us against the French...
England are obvious favourites with home advantage and that might just sway it. They've also got a good recent record over Ireland. Its about 60/40 in England's favour I'd say.
I think this England team has a lot of potential, but imo Ireland will have too much for them. Another year to 18 months and this England side could be right up there. Nevertheless........................Come on England!!
I'd go with Ireland on a neutral ground, but being at Twickenham, it'll even things up a bit. I can't call it, but it should be memorable for all the right reasons.
Have to say I'm enjoying the rugby much more than football at the moment. Probably because, whatever the result, I can appreciate the effort, skill and commitment of both sides more. Which just means I don't care as much I suppose. I've never really followed a club at rugby, apart from the ones I've socialised at through my Dad and now son. Should be Wasps I suppose, closest to where I grew up when they were at Sudbury, but more interested in Quins because of the shirt when I was young, and now Worcester, who occasionally take a fleeting interest in my son (he's way too small for pro rugby, they've lost interest now. If he matched his aggression, skill and speed with bulk he would be a monster. I'm very glad he doesn't, some pro rugby footballers these days are right on the edge of what their skeletons can bear in terms of muscle. Remember a few world cups ago when the Scottish pack bulked up enormously, none of them could move and most got injured really quickly. Either you are built like that or you aren't ). Any strong club affiliations on here?
Interesting point Stan, I heard on Talksport a doctor saying the instances of 'bulging vertabrae' among the rugby fraternity has increased massively and is cutting careers off in their prime. The force they exude in both scrummage practice against the machine and actual matches is really beginning to take a toll...
... I refer to rugby footballers later in the post. Can I ask for special dispensation on this from now on, I get your point and am not unsympathetic to it, but sometimes I forget. I'm more interested in your RFU club (or is it county based?) affiiations and thoughts on what these blokes are doing to their bodies.
FFS, I slave over these posts, creating mini works of art, almost sonnets, and you only read the first ****ing sentence? Do I get my dispensation?
Munster's my team SB. Heading to Thomond Park with my 12yr old daughter for the Heineken Cup quarter final v Toulouse - can't wait (neither can she, something to do with a fella named Zebo....)!
