Must be the reason South African players seem to settle in so well in Belfast.
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[RWC19 Warm-Up] - England vs Ireland
- Thread starter TRF_heineken
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Looking at the team I don't think Schmidt is drawing any lines in the sand yet, Byrne aside maybe? I'd like to think Killer will get another shot. I don't think McGrath will go into the world cup second choice 9 either. Neither he nor Jack have had a good audition so far, but we'll see how they go. Larmour and Stockdale on the wings is exciting. Plenty of beef in the second row. Should be a good game. Interested to see how strong England go.
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Ross Byrne to steer Ireland to top spot in the world rankings. As it should be.
England starting XV v Ireland
15 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 32 caps)
14 Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 6 caps)
13 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 34 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 71 caps) C
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 45 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 57 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 87 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 60 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 38 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 23 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 28 caps)
5 George Kruis (Saracens, 34 caps)
6 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 11 caps)
7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 43 caps)
Finishers
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 13 caps)
17 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 53 caps)
18 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 87 caps)
19 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 73 caps)
20 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons/Sale Sharks, 13 caps)
21 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 2 caps)
22 Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
23 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 42 caps)
That is about as strong a lineup as possible, I think? With Mako and Wilson just coming back from injury at any rate. It's certainly an aggressive one.
Loving the back row, and stoked to see Ford-Faz-Manu get some decent time.
15 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 32 caps)
14 Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 6 caps)
13 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 34 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 71 caps) C
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 45 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 57 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 87 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 60 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 38 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 23 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 28 caps)
5 George Kruis (Saracens, 34 caps)
6 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 11 caps)
7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 43 caps)
Finishers
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 13 caps)
17 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 53 caps)
18 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 87 caps)
19 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 73 caps)
20 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons/Sale Sharks, 13 caps)
21 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 2 caps)
22 Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
23 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 42 caps)
That is about as strong a lineup as possible, I think? With Mako and Wilson just coming back from injury at any rate. It's certainly an aggressive one.
Loving the back row, and stoked to see Ford-Faz-Manu get some decent time.
He’s like Morrissey
That’s got to be close to first team, although I didn’t think he was planning on Ford-Farrell. Good team though
Why oh why oh why, after we find our first choice 7, doesn’t jones play him at 6 ffs. Why!!!
And why back to the Ford, Farrell axis? Is Ford our first choice 10 again?
And why back to the Ford, Farrell axis? Is Ford our first choice 10 again?
We're really going balls deep on having no back three cover.
I'd have had Watson in at 14 or 15 with whoever he replaces on the bench in place of Francis.
Odds on several of these players not actually making it to the game?
I'd have had Watson in at 14 or 15 with whoever he replaces on the bench in place of Francis.
Odds on several of these players not actually making it to the game?
Hopefully
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Ford Faz Manu im looking forward to seeing.
Curry 6 underhill 7? Is that a mistake.? Youd think it would be the other way around..curry is an out and out 7 in how he plays. Although i do like the back row.
We have no back 3 cover? Back 3 goes down then what JJ to wing? Manu to wing? Is Watson injured?
Watson for Francais is the only chsnge id make. Obv if fit
FARK this is going to impossible to watch, going to be wincing at every contact.
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Big win for England I'd say.
Hopefully not as that will mean failure for guys like Byrne, McGrath and Kleyn in their quest for spot in 31 as well as some front line guys not having form. A narrow loss a worst I hope
Yeah, every Exeter fan knows that your smallest, fastest back row plays #8!
Won't it be the same answer as 2 weeks ago? Yes, it looks odd to me (and I'm no expert of flanker play) but maybe left/right, maybe Underhill is faster off the scrum? Maybe they want his destructive tackling at openside? I agree that Curry is a more "natural" openside, in the skills around the park, which don't really care what number is on the shirt. But... I couldn't resist the #8 thing.
And yes, 2 centres on the bench is about the only thing I'd change, even with both Manu and JJ having international experience on the wing
I’m no expert in the fatties but I feel like 6/7 can mix it up a bit in open play, if the two of them compliment each other well in terms of skillset then I’m not convinced the open/blind distinction is important. I certainly feel like the distinction between insider/outside centre is much more significant for example.
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Not necessarily, those three aren't going to be the ones dragging Ireland to victories this year at all. England have had two tune up games of higher quality than our one and look like they're focusing on this one for their big performance before the RWC, most of our team are only going to be dusting the cobwebs off.
Depends how England start, if they get frustrated we have a chance but it'll probably have to be their failings rather than us using any nuance or power to frustrate them, I just can't see us being match sharp yet.
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The world has spun on it axis when all 4 starting Tigers are in the backs.
Not particularly bothered by the numbers on the flankers' shirts. Good to see them both out there (assuming they manage to stay fit for 48 hours). Maybe they've gone all Saffer in the numbering. Maybe they've gone all French left and right. Or maybe Jones is just downright perverse.
Said all along we'll be reverting to Ford Faz. Given the other 12 options it's probably a good thing on balance.
Although JJ's gone OK, the backs on the bench don't exactly scream finishers.
I am just going to have to get over the fact that Daly is going to be our first choice 15. Not going to be easy.
Its fullish strength. At home. We should win. This is our last proper opportunity to get some confidence going into Japan.
Oh and Mako's apparently the leanest he's ever been. I'll look forward to the scrums when he comes on.
Not particularly bothered by the numbers on the flankers' shirts. Good to see them both out there (assuming they manage to stay fit for 48 hours). Maybe they've gone all Saffer in the numbering. Maybe they've gone all French left and right. Or maybe Jones is just downright perverse.
Said all along we'll be reverting to Ford Faz. Given the other 12 options it's probably a good thing on balance.
Although JJ's gone OK, the backs on the bench don't exactly scream finishers.
I am just going to have to get over the fact that Daly is going to be our first choice 15. Not going to be easy.
Its fullish strength. At home. We should win. This is our last proper opportunity to get some confidence going into Japan.
Oh and Mako's apparently the leanest he's ever been. I'll look forward to the scrums when he comes on.
spartan32
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Well that’s a pretty serious England side, up against an equally serious Irish side. Should make for a good game with good weather expected. Will all the England players actually make it to game day though?
Some grumbles on here about back three cover. I think 15 is the serious problem!! JJ could play wing with no real issues, but neither May nor Big Joe are capable of playing 15. I mean what do we do if Daly goes down?!
All I can think of is move Faz to 15 and put JJ in at centre. At least Faz is a beast in the tackle and can kick.
Loving that back row. If all proper fit they could tear it up. Underhill and Curry tend to manage around 20 odd tackles a game each. Combined no one else need bother!
But honestly I wouldn’t want to call this one. It’s al just so close in the top 6 nations at the moment. Rub of the green, dodgey ref decision, that’s to sort of thing that may well decide this game and many to come in the WC.
Some grumbles on here about back three cover. I think 15 is the serious problem!! JJ could play wing with no real issues, but neither May nor Big Joe are capable of playing 15. I mean what do we do if Daly goes down?!
All I can think of is move Faz to 15 and put JJ in at centre. At least Faz is a beast in the tackle and can kick.
Loving that back row. If all proper fit they could tear it up. Underhill and Curry tend to manage around 20 odd tackles a game each. Combined no one else need bother!
But honestly I wouldn’t want to call this one. It’s al just so close in the top 6 nations at the moment. Rub of the green, dodgey ref decision, that’s to sort of thing that may well decide this game and many to come in the WC.
Chistera
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Such a solid team, no real weakness to be seen.
However that makes three starts in a row for Billy Vunipola doesn't it ? Jones really is playing with fire here.
One thing that's odd about the 6/7 thing is that when Underhill dropped out last time Curry went to 7 and Ludlam 6, but then when Ludlam started the following week it was at 7.
If it was just left/right surely theyd have just left it as 6. Curry 7. Ludlam?
I don't think it matters either way, it's only at the scrum it'll make a difference, but just another EJ eccentricity
If it was just left/right surely theyd have just left it as 6. Curry 7. Ludlam?
I don't think it matters either way, it's only at the scrum it'll make a difference, but just another EJ eccentricity
