The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

Horror pass from Sexton with a pen advantage at least. Sexton has been poor.

[ChesterDave]

Seemed like a knock-on in one of the tackles earlier in that passage of play but not given and Ireland get over the line

[Buzzo]

England energy fell of a cliff last 15. Ireland dominant now.

That fudged line out from England in the corner at 15-15 with about 15 mins to go was pivotal.

[Irishnev]

Happy with the win and bonus point but so much to unpack - got the living **** beaten out of us and demolished in the set pieces……..

[badpiggy]

Kelleher and Porter massive losses up front

[Irishnev]

Kelleher and Porter massive losses up front

Yep - our depth at prop is a big issue……. Cian Healy was demolished, shades of Tom Court 10 years ago. Mad to think we can get pulverised in the set piece and ruck but still get a bonus point win

The luck of the Irish today



Off the back of that Scotland will be favs next week and fancying their chances

[Buzzo]

Yep - our depth at prop is a big issue……. Cian Healy was demolished, shades of Tom Court 10 years ago. Mad to think we can get pulverised in the set piece and ruck but still get a bonus point win

The luck of the Irish today



Off the back of that Scotland will be favs next week and fancying their chances

We were……………

Not good today. Some nice attacking phases and Ali Price finally showed up but it was disjointed and error strewn throughout.

Best I’ve seen ever seen Italy play though, even when they’ve beaten us in the past.

You guys should beat us with a bit to spare. And I am never defeatist we’ve had a poor tournament.

[Irishnev]

We were……………

Not good today. Some nice attacking phases and Ali Price finally showed up but it was disjointed and error strewn throughout.

Best I’ve seen ever seen Italy play though, even when they’ve beaten us in the past.

You guys should beat us with a bit to spare. And I am never defeatist we’ve had a poor tournament.

We know the home side usually wins and we also know that our pack is normally the platform for us beating you…….. but our new open style plays into your hands. A open lose game is where ye thrive because you have so many guys who are brilliant in broken play.

I’m more worried than I normally am vs you - we will be missing a bunch of first choice forwards and that is a worry. Triple Crown on the table for us so that should sharpen the minds

[Buzzo]

I think you guys were more rattled by the red than they were. And, as you say you still came away with the BP in the end. You guys have a chance at the title and I expect a strong performance. The sooner Sexton retires the better for you lot, an amazing servant, but he did not take control of the game yesterday.

England put in a proper effort yesterday but then tiring was inevitable. One thing that makes me laugh is how the narrative changes when it is England. We have put in some amazing performances with 14 over the years and lost by a lot less than 15 points, but you never hear a word about it. In fact the narrative will be all discipline based. England put in a good effort with 14 and get crushed in the end and the you struggle to realise from the narrative that they didn’t win!

I like the England team loads of potential. But they are one game away from another poor 6Ns which given the size of the pool is pretty scandalous. Eddie Jones is Teflon.

[Irishnev]

I think you guys were more rattled by the red than they were. And, as you say you still came away with the BP in the end. You guys have a chance at the title and I expect a strong performance. The sooner Sexton retires the better for you lot, an amazing servant, but he did not take control of the game yesterday.

England put in a proper effort yesterday but then tiring was inevitable. One thing that makes me laugh is how the narrative changes when it is England. We have put in some amazing performances with 14 over the years and lost by a lot less than 15 points, but you never hear a word about it. In fact the narrative will be all discipline based. England put in a good effort with 14 and get crushed in the end and the you struggle to realise from the narrative that they didn’t win!

I like the England team loads of potential. But they are one game away from another poor 6Ns which given the size of the pool is pretty scandalous. Eddie Jones is Teflon.

Jones should be on thin ice - way underperforming with the talent pool. It was old school bully boy England yesterday though. Powerful but can only play set piece to set piece - they couldn’t run in the last 15

[Irishnev]

Why no Finn?

[ame="https://twitter.com/scotlandteam/status/1504431275632963586"]https://twitter.com/scotlandteam/status/1504431275632963586[/ame]

[Buzzo]

A bold move.

Kinghorn has been playing 10 for Edinburgh this season (coached by Mike Blair old Scotland attack coach) and is defo being groomed as a successor.

We absolutely battered Connacht a few weeks ago and Kinghorn was majestic. However this is a bold call.

The other issue, and it is a big one, is Kinghorn doesn’t kick pens for Edinburgh, Boffelli does (Boffelli is immense at them, 8 from 8 vs Connacht from every angle - but that is another story).

I think this selection is with a view to the future, and Russell is on the bench to weave his magic last 20. Out pack looks good… but you lot will still win!

[Irishnev]

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (capt), Jamison Gibson-Park; Cian Healy, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Robbie Henshaw.

[Buzzo]

Does what it says on the tin.

Strong.

[Irishnev]

Does what it says on the tin.

Strong.

I’m genuinely worried about this - we’ve normally beaten ye up in the pack but you guys look strong there. Any win will do for me and hope England get a full 80 from their side - they have the physicality to match France