The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

Unbelievable.

He just had to kick it out. So much pressure to heap on yourself.

[Buzzo]

France win.

What a finish.

[ChesterDave]

This weekend has been botty water.

The football, the rugby, and a massive queue at the barbers stopping me getting my barnet trimmed.

[Bloodraven]

This weekend has been botty water.

The football, the rugby, and a massive queue at the barbers stopping me getting my barnet trimmed.

Have you got autocorrect switched on? :Haha:

[Buzzo]

This weekend has been botty water.

The football, the rugby, and a massive queue at the barbers stopping me getting my barnet trimmed.

Same - Liverpool, Scotland and Hearts all lost.

Only good thing was that France win .

[ChesterDave]

[Irishnev]

Well at least I had the rugby to cheer me up, England are very predictable but usually so powerful it works for them. They ran into an inspired Scotland last week and France playing for their lives.

Expect them to over power us next week but we’ll have a cut off them, all the pressure on us but at least we’be won it with a game to spare!

[Buzzo]

Home advantage has become huge in the 6N. Excluding The Italians, the only away win has been Ireland in Paris, with Sextons 85th minute wonder DG.

[Irishnev]

Home advantage has become huge in the 6N. Excluding The Italians, the only away win has been Ireland in Paris, with Sextons 85th minute wonder DG.

hence why I think we’ll lose next week. We have only two grand slams in our history so it will focus the minds no doubt but can’t see us beating them there.

[Buzzo]

Imagine England’s losing three in a row also Repercussions would be huge.

England need to move Farrell back to 10 and try to find some creativity in the centres and backs. But then the risk is making changes for such a big game?

It’s going to be fascinating.

[Buzzo]

Irish Rugby may well have some tricky questions to answer about Cian Healy. I noticed it at the time and then forgot. Should have been taken away for HIA protocols, and looks unlikely he would have been allowed back. Who ever the medic is here will definitely have some questions to answer. Shocking.

[ame]https://twitter.com/CahairOKane1/status/972487592754270210[/ame]

[Angryred]

Ireland stopped England getting the Grand Slam in the last game of 6Ns back in 2001, 2009 & 2017 so think England will be up for this one as well as losing their last couple of games...Will be in no mood for parties on the 17th March on their patch if it's nothing to do with them!

[Buzzo]

Fancy England at Twickenham, and the Home win stats in the last 2 6Ns are pretty compelling. But they have been miles off it last two games. Ireland are a machine, in much the way England were up until this 6N.

Amazing how England time a downwards spiral pre World Cup so often, I would have thought an England ABs game would be interesting until recently. The ABs will destroy England if they play like this against them in the Autumn. That said, a win against the Irish will get them going again.

[Irishnev]

Fancy England at Twickenham, and the Home win stats in the last 2 6Ns are pretty compelling. But they have been miles off it last two games. Ireland are a machine, in much the way England were up until this 6N.

Amazing how England time a downwards spiral pre World Cup so often, I would have thought an England ABs game would be interesting until recently. The ABs will destroy England if they play like this against them in the Autumn. That said, a win against the Irish will get them going again.

Just watched a review of the games this weekend, Joe S is up there with the best at finding weaknesses. Yes ye butchered a few chances but we cut ye open with some smart moves that caught ye off guard. He will analyze England and see where we can hurt them. If it is a forward battle we can match them, same in a kicking game but we are weak in an open game that you and Wales play and England don’t have that. Discipline is massive and we have been very good in that side whereas England coughed up loads of penalties in the past two games especially in the breakdown where we are also strong - Leavy, O’Mahony, Best, Ryan are up there with the best of them.

Having said all of that the stats are in England’s favour:

Unbeaten at home under Jones
Unbeaten at home in the 6 Nations since 2012
We haven’t won in Twickenham in years
We have only 2 grand slams EVER
No side won away in the 6 Nations (Italy aside) than us narrowly beating France

England will still play the power game so let’s see how we handle that and the pressure of a slam. The country will shut down for it so it will be some crack Saturday night if we do it!!

[Buzzo]

Just watched a review of the games this weekend, Joe S is up there with the best at finding weaknesses. Yes ye butchered a few chances but we cut ye open with some smart moves that caught ye off guard. He will analyze England and see where we can hurt them. If it is a forward battle we can match them, same in a kicking game but we are weak in an open game that you and Wales play and England don’t have that. Discipline is massive and we have been very good in that side whereas England coughed up loads of penalties in the past two games especially in the breakdown where we are also strong - Leavy, O’Mahony, Best, Ryan are up there with the best of them.

Having said all of that the stats are in England’s favour:

Unbeaten at home under Jones
Unbeaten at home in the 6 Nations since 2012
We haven’t won in Twickenham in years
We have only 2 grand slams EVER
No side won away in the 6 Nations (Italy aside) than us narrowly beating France

England will still play the power game so let’s see how we handle that and the pressure of a slam. The country will shut down for it so it will be some crack Saturday night if we do it!!

I think the biggest thing you’ve got going for you is England may have a bit of an identity crisis just now. For the first time since taking charge Eddie Jones seems a bit lost. If England change how they play then I think it plays into your hands. If they stick to their game and execute well, then it will be close. If England don’t sort the pen count out it could be very damaging, but it’s hard to see that happening at Twickenham.

If England lose this they will be on a 2 win in 6 for the 6Ns. They must want the win massively to alter perception.

What did you make of that Cian Healy footage btw? Outrageous from the medic and ref.