Irish Wolfhounds vs England Saxons 30/1/15 Independent Park ko 19:45

[ruggabee]

Love a bad but very generous loser!! Could have been me that made that comment

Haha the bracketed comments were sarcasm!!! Or were they....

 

[TommiG88]

Ewers and Kvesic were brilliant. Waldrom, Itoje, Slade, Pennell, Mullan and Ashton (surprisingly) all good also. Disappointing that the ref didn't let the game flow however.

Slade played well with ball in hand however his kicking from hand was questionable. Although the ref didn't help with letting the game flow.

Thoroughly impressed with our back row, gave us some very good front foot ball which the elite team have been missing. Simpson looked energetic when he came on and found a lot of holes. Ashton looked closer to his older self.

There weren't many negatives apart from the line out which was pretty suspect.

All happened whilst playing a game without a good 12. I know a bit harsh but he isn't a centre in the making.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I liked how Simpson injected pace into the England side, quick running and good delivery, not constantly *****ing like Dickson.

On the whole decent by England but my god have Hookers forgotten all the skills that they need? Itoje, Simpson and Ewers stood out for me as players who need a look at the main England squad. Slade messed up too many kicks IMO but good with ball in hand. Burgess did exactly what I expected and that's not meant to be an insult. He's just not had enough time to adjust and throwing him into this was stupid.

 

[ratsapprentice]

19 tackles from Big Dave.

Just in case people forgot.... Sam should be playing 6.

 

[Peat]

Delighted with our defence. Attack and set-piece patchy. Ewers and Kvesic in particular are doing everything they can to demand inclusion.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Anyone notice the scrum going forward at a rate of knots when Ewers was put into the row?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Anyone notice the scrum going forward at a rate of knots when Ewers was put into the row?

Nope, referee was too busy being whistle happy.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

How many Irish caps was it?



Didn't see the game but delighted to see us actually get a result.

 

[Thingimubob]

Nope, referee was too busy being whistle happy.

Not his fault whatsoever... What choice did he have, let them get away with not scrummaging properly?

 

[goodNumber10]

19 tackles from Big Dave.

Just in case people forgot.... Sam should be playing 6.

not quite getting that comment mate, are you saying burgess should be playing 6, or are you saying Dave is a better 6 and talk of burgess is silly?


I feel sorry for burgess he's really not being helped by anyone with this fast tracking or how they are using him - and they simply aren't involving him anywhere near enough, he's a big lump of ball carrying power just let him loose off the 10's shoulder and get him into the game, he wasn't a block and slide guy in league he was just a catch step and smash em guy.... for all the talk of let him play his game, no one actually has,

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I didn't catch the whole game, but I though Daly looked good. Is he going to feature for the first team at any point? All of the other options have been decidedly average over the last couple of years.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Two separate comments there... just re-enforcing the assertion that he doesn't look like a centre.

I didn't catch the whole game, but I though Daly looked good. Is he going to feature for the first team at any point? All of the other options have been decidedly average over the last couple of years.

Possibly at some point in his career, but unlikely in the next year or two.
Tuilagi would almost certainly have to be ruled out long term.
And even then he's behind Jonathan Joseph, who is broadly similar, in that he's a pacy OC with a pretty well rounded game and a strong outside break.

 

[Peat]

How many Irish caps was it?



Didn't see the game but delighted to see us actually get a result.

Probably the right way to do it. Neither side supported their ball carriers well and it was scrappy as hell as a consequence.

 

[munstermuffin]

Result wasn't important tonight and I think Schmidt will be happy overall. He learned a lot and got some questions answered, got some guys vital time and got more guys in on his project.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The enthusiasm, or lack thereof, of the Irish team walking off the pitch at the end of both halves was interesting...

Typical A game, always a disappointment after much excitement!

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Not his fault whatsoever... What choice did he have, let them get away with not scrummaging properly?

Not saying it's his fault but when the majority of refs ref the game one way and others ref it another way, it isn't good. I liked the ref in that he actually enforced the rules but it's bad for play when one guy is enforcing rules on a bunch of players who are not used to them being enforced. By all means I'd love to see proper reffing and thus players actually learning the proper skills but having inconsistent reffing (between refs) ruins the game. A little leeway wouldn't have hurt.

 

[munstermuffin]

The enthusiasm, or lack thereof, of the Irish team walking off the pitch at the end of both halves was interesting...

Typical A game, always a disappointment after much excitement!

In my view Henderson SOB and Earls were only guys that seemed good. Ryan and Conan had moments.

But guys like Mike McCarthy aren't good enough and I think he knows it in terms of he will never play for main team unless there's huge injury crisis. And that was the body language.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Stand out guys for England- all the starting forwards in the loose. Thomas was a great carrier and over the ball, think he has been overlooked by some of us. Obviously the back row, Ewers just carried everyone. At one point he has SOB on his back and he just kept going ! Kvesic latched onto everyone on the ground and is that something England miss ? The problem is that Robshaw is nailed on so you either Ewers or Kvesic and I feel we need a carrier more than a poacher IMO. Itoje was very good and post 2015 he should be looked at. I wouldve moved Garvey in instead of Day, a great bit of grunt when he plays. Fearns instead of Easter.

 

[ratsapprentice]

The problem is that Robshaw is nailed on so you either Ewers or Kvesic and I feel we need a carrier more than a poacher IMO.

Kvesic is a better carrier than Wood, Clark and Haskell, IMO.

 

[goodNumber10]

Two separate comments there... just re-enforcing the assertion that he doesn't look like a centre.

Agreed, he is drawn to the action, he wants to be right in there in the mix.... I wonder if they could loan him out to a championship club for a month or so? they won't but he'd learn a lot from playing down one level where the pressure is off.

 

[profitius]

Henderson was Ireland's best player. Good to see Ross looking a bit better in the scrum. Maybe being dropped by Leinster will give him the kick in the are he needs to get going.

I'm sorry to say though that D'Arcy's international career looks finished. He is a shadow of what he was and turning into a liability now.

Madigan didn't look comfortable playing at 10. That's the most worrying thing from an Ireland point of view. Its a joke that Hanrahan was left out of the squad.

 

[Peat]

Agreed, he is drawn to the action, he wants to be right in there in the mix.... I wonder if they could loan him out to a championship club for a month or so? they won't but he'd learn a lot from playing down one level where the pressure is off.

Particularly not during the Six Nations when they'll be short some of their centres as is. Shame, it's not a bad idea in general, consistent gametime could be really good for him.

 

[munstermuffin]

Henderson was Ireland's best player. Good to see Ross looking a bit better in the scrum. Maybe being dropped by Leinster will give him the kick in the are he needs to get going.

I'm sorry to say though that D'Arcy's international career looks finished. He is a shadow of what he was and turning into a liability now.

Madigan didn't look comfortable playing at 10. That's the most worrying thing from an Ireland point of view. Its a joke that Hanrahan was left out of the squad.

No I agree with them leaving JJ out. I want it to be more appealing to guys to stay in Ireland. And they were right to try Madigan here. I still think he will play a valuable role. Keatley should start vs Italy but Madigan should have 22 shirt even when Sexton is back.

Agree regards D'Arcy.

Ross I'm still 50/50 about. Yes scrum was good but nothing is offered elsewhere.

 

[Peat]

Needless to say I was watching Henderson closest of all the Ireland players and was slightly disappointed with some of his work rate/rucking. There were times when he looked off the pace. There has never been any question about his ability to do big things that other players simply can't do; the question is his consistency in doing the small little things right. His ball protection and decision making around the ruck looked a little rusty, which is not new.

When he corrects them I think Ireland will find it very difficult to leave him out.

 

[munstermuffin]

Needless to say I was watching Henderson closest of all the Ireland players and was slightly disappointed with some of his work rate/rucking. There were times when he looked off the pace. There has never been any question about his ability to do big things that other players simply can't do; the question is his consistency in doing the small little things right. His ball protection and decision making around the ruck looked a little rusty, which is not new.

When he corrects them I think Ireland will find it very difficult to leave him out.

I'd agree with bits. He entered rucks from side at times and was lazy but that comes with working back to fitness. At least the willingness and effort was there though. The long hair is what bugs me and the hat. He doesn't look like a baby assassin anymore.

 

[Maverick1987]

Just had chance to watch the game over . From an England perspective Kvesic and Ewers were fantastic ! Obviously it was a patchy game but they really stood out for me . It really showed how important getting over the ball at the breakdown is and a heavy carry is exactly what we need in the senior team . Slade went reasonably well too considering the set piece was quite frankly shocking . Itoje showed some good things too and has power in abundance for a young guy

 

[HenryChinaski]

Maverick, how did you watch the game back? Its not on Acrossthetasman is it?

 

[Captain Robshaw]

Have to say I think the standout player was Ewers. I was seriously impressed by his workrate and strength. Scrum went OK, Webber and Thomas were great in the loose.

Pennell was very impressive also.

Off the bench, Simpson and Wade have got to be in the 23 for England surely. Wade showed his class, how can you leave that guy out? He's got to at least make the bench as an impact player.

Burgess was absolutely miles off but then we know he's not had nearly enough time. Have to say I've always thought he'd make a far better 6 than 12. He needs to be involved in the thick of it and at 6 he could be all over the park. Think Mike Ford has been right on that one all along.

 

[Kapa O Pango]

I heard that Burgess didn't make any significant impact and made several errors. This fast-tracking stuff won't help him, definitely not ready and needs more time.

 

[Captain Robshaw]

Funny, despite what people have been saying I think Sam needs more time to learn centre than he'll need at 6. Yes there's much more to learn at the breakdown so he doesn't get pinged but he's naturally competitive and has a great physique and engine. It's the positioning at 12 that he is struggling with big time at the moment. Yes it's early days but if he plays at centre, they have to start using him as a crashballer for now and let the rest of his game develop over time like Nonu.