Ireland v England - 19 August 2023

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

With Youngs at 9 we can’t compete with Ireland. I’d love it if we could but he’s so slow that the entire of Ireland would be back in their defensive line before Youngs has his hands on the ball.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

You never know, Youngs normally has a blinder of a game every other season or so - maybe this'll be the one

 

[TopTen2003]

I mean...show what?
His form for Irish was poor this season, realistically he shouldn't be in the squad - he's there because of two highlight reel wonder tries, but you can't expect him to produce one of those every game
Whilst I wouldn't have been against him being on the bench Watson/Daly/Lawrence are all far more likely to feature in the big games so need to game time more ATM

I know what you mean, but I guess what I’m saying is we’ve hardly given him an opportunity to show his wheels have we?

It just always feels like with England, we discard a maverick far too quickly and I’m just looking for us to be that bit bolder.

I really like Lawrence and Manu in the middle as two strong centre options to rotate for 60/20 off the bench, would possibly prefer them paired with Slade over Marchant but he could come good, so fingers crossed

Watson, Daly, Arundell would be my back 3 as all can play 15 and wing interchangeably, and Dalys boot is always a strong option up our sleeve.

Really hope Steward proves me wrong - desperately want him to succeed and add some real threat to his excellent high ball game.

 

[Juggler]

I think Marchant has already come good. Not the defensive leader that JJ was, but no fool. Him and Ollie in the centre (Manu will break) could be great, if only they'd get the ball half a second quicker, and running on to it not static

 

[LIONSxv]

I fail to see any strengths in that side. So many discarded great back row options. Underhill, Mercer, Simmonds, T Willis, T Pearson. The list goes on
The we have the non wing wingers that we continue to select. Coupled with a series lack of pace and 8,9 and 10.
Tighhead looks paper thin, an injury to Jamie George and we are done at hooker
A fullback that gets skinned or is out of position at least once a game
Apart that it's a great team

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

You never know, Youngs normally has a blinder of a game every other season or so - maybe this'll be the one

Almost certainly. There’s nothing at stake.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Seeing how Ford goes and whether he can get the backline firing will be really interesting.

Looking forward to seeing what kind of shape Chessum’s in. Irrespective of game situation Dan simply must get some decent minutes.

But the one I’m really looking forward to watching is Earl who went so well last week. It’s a step up, but go OK against VdF and that pack and real options suddenly start to open up.

 

[AlRums]

'Circus' around son Owen is 'disgusting' - Andy Farrell

Ireland coach Andy Farrell says the "circus" around his son Owen, the England captain, is "disgusting" as World Rugby appeals against the decision to overturn his red card.

www.bbc.co.uk

Papa Farrell defending his son. No surprise. But no comment on his tackle technique.

He's tone deaf

 

[TommiG88]

He's tone deaf

To be fair the witch hunt against Farrell is over the top. He did not rescind the red card himself, and players with similar reputation get no where near as much as flack or air time than he does. You’re constantly berating England, but I feel I have to respond to you every so often, just so you lift off those blue tinted glasses of yours every so often.

—

On to the match, I won’t be watching as I’ll be pre occupied by reading a book. No interest in Borthball until I have to watch it during the World Cup.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

He's tone deaf

He's his dad FFS

Stupid story to run in the first place

 

[Becca]

To be fair the witch hunt against Farrell is over the top. He did not rescind the red card himself, and players with similar reputation get no where near as much as flack or air time than he does. You’re constantly berating England, but I feel I have to respond to you every so often, just so you lift off those blue tinted glasses of yours every so often.

—

On to the match, I won’t be watching as I’ll be pre occupied by reading a book. No interest in Borthball until I have to watch it during the World Cup.

I do partly agree with your assessment of the furore etc.
Don't think for one moment that I don’t think it was a straight Red nor that he deserved a hefty ban. But it has become a little OTT.
I also wonder what impact the whole scenario is having on the Squad, it must be unsettling them.

I also hope that, when the inevitable ban comes, any other incidents will be dealt with in a similar fashion in the future, no matter who the guilty party is. So we don’t have to go through this whole rigmarole again.

I shall be watching, for my sins. Not looking forward to it but sometimes things just have to be done !

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Yeah Farrell hasn't done anything wrong since the tackle. He's not going to ban himself like.

 

[ncurd]

He did plead not guilty which is a rarity in these cases. So he does deserve some flak.

 

[Becca]

He did plead not guilty which is a rarity in these cases. So he does deserve some flak.

Agreed.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

He did plead not guilty which is a rarity in these cases. So he does deserve some flak.

By pleading not guilty was he risking a longer ban?

 

[Saintjay]

My understanding is he accepted that he had made contact with Basham's head, that it was a dangerous tackle and that the degree of danger involved warranted a red card. However it was argued due to mitigation the on field decision of a yellow was the correct call.

He deserves flak for failing to learn and how to adapt his tackle technique. He'd have taken the advice of his legal team and ultimately in the first hearing it was the right decision as he was found not guilty.

He's the only person who knows what he really thinks. If he really believes it was just a yellow why would he plead guilty to it. Forcing guilty pleas to get lighter sentences doesn't sit well with me. Look at the poor sod who recently spent years longer in prison because he didn't plead guilty to something ultimately he never did.

 

[AlRums]

He's his dad FFS

Stupid story to run in the first place

That's essentially what I meant, he should have kept out of it

 

[Zed]

To be fair the witch hunt against Farrell is over the top. He did not rescind the red card himself, and players with similar reputation get no where near as much as flack or air time than he does. You’re constantly berating England, but I feel I have to respond to you every so often, just so you lift off those blue tinted glasses of yours every so often.

I think it's probably a reflection of how everyone feels about the England team and their shite performances. I think if they'd won the 6N and were looking good for the WC, people would be calling the red card an injustice. Plus people are blaming him (rightly or wrongly) for the back-line misfiring. I think Marcus Smith is a far better player, but one of the reasons he hasn't gone so well, is the English forwards aren't going so well. Doesn't matter how good your 10 is, if they're getting slow ball on the backfoot 90% of the time, they're going to struggle. Same with the rest of the backs. Tuilagi should run amok, but if he gets static, slow ball with defenders already on him, he's not going to do ****. Getting the ball flat out with defenders back-pedalling, see ya later! Fix the forwards and that's 80% of the job done.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

That's essentially what I meant, he should have kept out of it

Farrell Snr refused to comment on the incident in a professional capacity and then stood up for his son. Any criticism thrown his way just proves his point really.

We really need meaningful rugby to start. People want Sexton and Farrell to miss the world cup even though neither deserve to (Farrell should miss two games) and are getting way too much time to get their points across given the lack of other news.

 

[Reiser99]

I think criticising Farrell for the panel's decision is ridiculous because obviously he had very little to do with it. The three Australians and possibly the RFU's lawyer are to blame for finding a technicality that undermines the whole process.

Farrell does deserve criticism for continuing to tackle in such a stupid, ******* way. He's got a history of red and yellow cards for these tackles (should probably have more reds) and yet he continues to do it. If he learned the tackle properly none of this would be happening.