The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

I think of the game plays out the way it did few teams will handle England.

One of the things they don’t like is broken field play as we have shown over the last few years (one of the few things we’ve done fairly well). If it is a structured game then England just run over the top of you.

Ireland looked a bit devoid of ideas (a bit like us yesterday) with the Sexton wrap around and crash ball seeming a bit obvious. Murray and Sexton are a safe pair of hands... but... getting a bit predictable? Sexton missing his kicks was brutal also if he’d made them then the game would have been a lot tighter and more scoreboard pressure on England.

As it was they won quite comfortably.

Dull game.

[Irishnev]

I think of the game plays out the way it did few teams will handle England.

One of the things they don’t like is broken field play as we have shown over the last few years (one of the few things we’ve done fairly well). If it is a structured game then England just run over the top of you.

Ireland looked a bit devoid of ideas (a bit like us yesterday) with the Sexton wrap around and crash ball seeming a bit obvious. Murray and Sexton are a safe pair of hands... but... getting a bit predictable? Sexton missing his kicks was brutal also if he’d made them then the game would have been a lot tighter and more scoreboard pressure on England.

As it was they won quite comfortably.

Dull game.

I think England had gears to go up and if they had to they’d have upped it. Our game plan is done now - hopefully Farrell et al can reinvent the back line because as you said it is soooooooo predictable.

Sexton commands a strong grip on the 10 shirt and it will be a brave man to drop him. I’d start fresh and bin him off - the one positive is the fact we have an abundance of top young players coming through....the negative is that they are mostly Leinster

[Buzzo]

I think England had gears to go up and if they had to they’d have upped it. Our game plan is done now - hopefully Farrell et al can reinvent the back line because as you said it is soooooooo predictable.

Sexton commands a strong grip on the 10 shirt and it will be a brave man to drop him. I’d start fresh and bin him off - the one positive is the fact we have an abundance of top young players coming through....the negative is that they are mostly Leinster

Leinster are ridiculously good. The Pro 14 is a one horse race.

[Cormack74]

We don’t have the physicality to match them even though they were missing the two Vunipolas. The score flattered us and we have too many players there on reputation - I’d bin Sexton, he is a ****ing nightmare to listen to and when Carbury gets fit play him.

We are playing an antiquated brand of rugby and haven’t changed it up since the end of Schmidt’s reign. I expected a defeat so not that disappointed but I thought we’d put up more of a fight - we were bullied all over the pitch

I think of the game plays out the way it did few teams will handle England.

One of the things they don’t like is broken field play as we have shown over the last few years (one of the few things we’ve done fairly well). If it is a structured game then England just run over the top of you.

Ireland looked a bit devoid of ideas (a bit like us yesterday) with the Sexton wrap around and crash ball seeming a bit obvious. Murray and Sexton are a safe pair of hands... but... getting a bit predictable? Sexton missing his kicks was brutal also if he’d made them then the game would have been a lot tighter and more scoreboard pressure on England.

Was out this afternoon so watched this on record.

As Buzzo says you have to do something different against England because if you play conventional then you're probably going to lose.

Maybe not necessarily broken field because England are pretty lively with two '7' s a fairly mobile front row (leaving aside Marler) and a quick back three, but definitely something unexpected.

Ireland didn't really look up for a physical battle and just sort of spluttered when they had the ball.

That bit surprised me because they have some handy backs and a couple of good attack coaches in Farrell and Catt. Maybe Sexton's time is up, it didn't help that he started with a couple of big errors (the try and the missed kick), but it's always difficult playing behind a pack that's being dominated.

Although Ackee brings some graft and does produce gain line success he's no Tuilangi and I'd be tempted to play a more creative player there.

Whatever the issues I hope they sort them out before playing France and obviously that Buzzo's lot have a big performance saved up for that game too

[Buzzo]

We've got a decent recent record at home v France. But I think they will beat us comfortably.

We miss Finn. Whatever has gone on, Hastings is not ready to run the game from 10 and Finn would be well up for a game v the French. Hastings was really poor yesterday I thought.

France deserve the Slam on this form, but I reckon they will tank in the last game v Ireland.

The first 2 trys today were laughable from an Irish perspective, really poor.

[Buzzo]

It has been kind of a strange tournament, because I think all of the home nations are currently left with more questions than answers.

It's just not been the best 6N's of all time. Maybe understandable after the WC and with so many coaching changes.

The atmosphere at Twickenham seemed soooo ****.

I know someone who was in Dublin for the Ire v Sco game and he said that was flat also. The Calcutta was flat because of the weather. I suppose it was a cracking atmos in Cardiff... but... just a slightly dull 6N's so far.

[Cormack74]

It has been kind of a strange tournament, because I think all of the home nations are currently left with more questions than answers.

It's just not been the best 6N's of all time. Maybe understandable after the WC and with so many coaching changes.

The atmosphere at Twickenham seemed soooo ****.

I know someone who was in Dublin for the Ire v Sco game and he said that was flat also. The Calcutta was flat because of the weather. I suppose it was a cracking atmos in Cardiff... but... just a slightly dull 6N's so far.

Good point, I think that's definitely been a factor in one way or another.

I can't think back to all the games (I struggle to think back to this morning ) but the weather has definitely been a factor too, to a greater or lesser extent.

Maybe the tournament will get its' mojo back if Scotland, England and Ireland win next time out and we end up with three potential winners on the last day?

[Buzzo]

[ame]https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/1232678321600761856[/ame]

[Cormack74]

It might be about 2 years until we complete the 2020 Championship

[Buzzo]

Italy really aren't making a massively compelling case for their continued participation in the 6N's.

[Irishnev]

[ame="https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/status/1234140444264738816"]https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/status/1234140444264738816[/ame]

[Buzzo]

Amazing reading of the game and execution.

We’ll not being seeing that for Scotland this 6Ns as it has been decided he will sit it out and come back for the summer tour. There have been positive talks but what a failure of management this has been.

We absolutely lack that sort of vision and ability.

[Cormack74]

Watched Jack Carty playing for Connacht today v Southern Kings (poor red card decision against Connacht BTW).

SK aren't great but he looked handy Nev. Where does he sit in the Irish 10's pecking order?

[Irishnev]

Watched Jack Carty playing for Connacht today v Southern Kings (poor red card decision against Connacht BTW).

SK aren't great but he looked handy Nev. Where does he sit in the Irish 10's pecking order?

Sexton is no 1 - for me he should never had been made captain as he is 34 and his best days are long behind him

Carbury is no 2 but he is always injured......has the potential to be a fine player

Carthy was 3 but fell out of form so is a little behind Ross Byrne who is the backup Leinster 10

The real bolter is Jack Crowley the u-20 outhalf from Munster and seems to be the heir apparent to ROG.....massive prospect along with a bunch of others coming through

[ame="https://twitter.com/rterugby/status/1223337741200568320"]https://twitter.com/rterugby/status/1223337741200568320[/ame]

[Cormack74]

Hmm so nowhere near an International call then

I don't watch much if any of the Pro 14 these days but I thought he looked handy yesterday, invariably picking the right option - not always easy when 3/4 of the game is played a man short.