Ireland vs England, Sunday 1st March 3pm; RTE/BBC

Pudsy33

Tugboats wrote: »

Dreadful stuff again. 2 hours of rugby without a sniff of a try

If you can't appreciate that you're watching the wrong sport.

dublinman1990

That was a great 1st half for Ireland. That 1st 40 minutes went by very quickly.

ThisRegard

Tugboats wrote: »

Dreadful stuff again. 2 hours of rugby without a sniff of a try

Seriously? It's been great.

Nib

England

Tugboats wrote: »

Dreadful stuff again. 2 hours of rugby without a sniff of a try

What game are you watching?

We're in total control of this match but it's not showing on the scoreboard.

19543261

England

Tox56 wrote: »

Good half, extremely inventive, we have a lot of control over the game. That move that sent Henshaw through the middle was a thing of beauty

Wasn't it?! My mind all but exploded.

UnitedWeStand

If only Sexton got that last penalty. If we get the first score in the second half we should have this.

LuckyGent88

Take that score at half time. Expected nothing else but a massive battle and that's what it is.

Stheno

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Best has been tremendous in the loose.

He has. Did you see the state of his shirt at half time? It's ripped to pieces

Gits_bone

UnitedWeStand wrote: »

Go find a different sport then.

Hate this fcuking attitude. A man can support his country in a sport he likes. He can criticise the style if he likes.

bilston

Best, Toner, Sexton, Henshaw (looking really sharp) Payne and Zebo have all been excellent. TOD has done really well since he came on. Need to keep it up and just been a tad more accurate and this game is ours in the second half.

matthew8

England

Definitely would have scored a try if England weren't cynical on their line. I wish referees would give yellows for those, you need to deter it because teams are all too happy to concede 3.

Celly Smunt

Healy on at 60 to finish the scrum.

Gits_bone

Pudsy33 wrote: »

If you can't appreciate that you're watching the wrong sport.

Would you agree that it's been the defence that's gotten us where we are?

How many times has Murray kicked the ball away - it's awful stuff to watch when it happens.

TheCitizen

England have been offside the whole time, ref only copping on to it in the latter stages of the half.

ThisRegard

Gits_bone wrote: »

Hate this fcuking attitude. A man can support his country in a sport he likes. He can criticise the style if he likes.

There's criticism, and then there's just nonsense.

helimachoptor

Best is immense out there, henshaw playinh well.

Need to push on now

Lapin

Warren Gatland

We're well on top mentally and have that edge over England.

Celly Smunt

bilston wrote: »

Best, Toner, Sexton, Henshaw (looking really sharp) Payne and Zebo have all been excellent. TOD has done really well since he came on. Need to keep it up and just been a tad more accurate and this game is ours in the second half.

In fairness I cant bring to mind a player who isn't doing much. Bowe perhaps though he usually comes out flying in the second half when he's quiet in the first

Gits_bone

Conor O Shea agrees.

Pudsy33

Gits_bone wrote: »

Would you agree that it's been the defence that's gotten us where we are?

How many times has Murray kicked the ball away - it's awful stuff to watch when it happens.

I would agree, how does that take away from the spectacle?

Clegg

Good first half but still very worried. Not making the very most out of good attacking ball. England are too good to not raise their level a bit higher and we're down SOB now. Need to score early in the second.

Wang King

Gits_bone wrote: »

Would you agree that it's been the defence that's gotten us where we are?

How many times has Murray kicked the ball away - it's awful stuff to watch when it happens.

Murray is doing brilliantly, his kicking is a potent offensive weapon, you should realize that

Happyman42

Gits_bone wrote: »

Hate this fcuking attitude. A man can support his country in a sport he likes. He can criticise the style if he likes.

Not being able to appreciate that you have to play the game you are in and not one in your head is an awful attitude imo

Gits_bone

ThisRegard wrote: »

There's criticism, and then there's just nonsense.

Listen to the experts on TV.

O Shea - It's a matter of who wins the kicking game.

Mahatma Geansai

Not an exciting style of rugby, but its an exciting game and fantastic contest. A 6 point lead after that half of rugby isn't a great return, but we've been in control of the game nonetheless.

Pudsy33

How good is the Irish scrum though? Making it look easy

UnitedWeStand

Gits_bone wrote: »

Hate this fcuking attitude. A man can support his country in a sport he likes. He can criticise the style if he likes.

Keep it to yourself. Don't bring down the mood of the thread and enjoyment if the game for others. Nothing worse than loving a game and coming on to discuss it l, just to see someone moaning about how rubbish they thought the game was.

Swiwi.

Belated well-wishes for this game to all the fans on this forum, including English Lurker - we all want Ireland to win, but I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say we genuinely appreciate EL's contribution.

My thoughts at the interval

• Best test match I've seen in ages, an absolute game of chess, and completely absorbing
• I couldn't believe how poorly England started. Even the most casual of fans knew Ireland would give the ball air, but England was almost diabolical under the high ball in the first 10 minutes.
• Ireland should be proud of their halves pairing, Murray just controls the tempo of the Irish game so well, and Sexton's defence in particular has been class...
• ...as has Robbie Henshaw's defence. Again.
• And look, a hint of attacking midfield thread from Henshaw & Payne. Nice!
• This game might come down to the top 2 inches, can easily see one error or brain explosion being very costly
• I don't think this lead is enough. Ireland need to score first after the break. Ideally a try. But man, Ireland look so well-coached. So well.

Gits_bone

Pudsy33 wrote: »

I would agree, how does that take away from the spectacle?

Because attacking play is nicer to watch than defensive play.

Micky Dolenz

Best stepping up a gear to cover SOBs intensity.

A lot more drama to come. C'mon the boys.

CIARAN_BOYLE

England

Gits_bone wrote: »

Listen to the experts on TV.

O Shea - It's a matter of who wins the kicking game.

Which shows the importance of kicking like we are doing

No one saying anything bad about it

Tox56

Pudsy33 wrote: »

How good is the Irish scrum though? Making it look easy

McGrath isn't the finished article but he's turning into a serious international

Gits_bone

UnitedWeStand wrote: »

Keep it to yourself. Don't bring down the mood of the thread and enjoyment if the game for others. Nothing worse than loving a game and coming on to discuss it l, just to see someone moaning about how rubbish they thought the game was.

That would be called a circklejerk.

Lapin

Warren Gatland

I really hate that bloody Guinness ad.

A-Train

Clive Woodward on bbc just said sexton was just shading the 10 battle??? Wtf???

Celly Smunt

I'm amazed at how people aren't entertained from a garryowen, people say its boring but my bum cheeks are very sore from squeezing every time Murray kicks the ball.

ThisRegard

Gits_bone wrote: »

Listen to the experts on TV.

O Shea - It's a matter of who wins the kicking game.

You mean the man who just said, and showed the clips of, how potent a weapon the kicks have been and how much territory and penalties gained from them?

Barring the up and under near the end of course, you don't need an expert to point that out.

Celly Smunt

A-Train wrote: »

Clive Woodward on bbc just said sexton was just shading the 10 battle??? Wtf???

There's a battle?

Lapin

Warren Gatland

Gits_bone wrote: »

Listen to the experts on TV.

O Shea - It's a matter of who wins the kicking game.

And ?

Gits_bone

ThisRegard wrote: »

You mean the man who just said, and showed the clips of, how potent a weapon the kicks have been and how much territory and penalties gained from them?

Seemingly you think effective and nice to watch are the same thing.

.ak

This is a proper test match. Really enjoying it. A ding dong battle. Both teams punching well but ireland are boxing smarter.

I am quite impressed with Murray, sexton and henshaw - Robbie MoTM so far. Looks injured tho Payne needs to straighten and give a pass.

ThisRegard

Gits_bone wrote: »

Seemingly you think effective and nice to watch are the same thing.

You want pretty rugby? That's your main concern?

19543261

England

The impact Henshaw has is amazing, coming off as a bit of an enforcer himself

Gits_bone

.ak wrote: »

This is a proper test match. Really enjoying it. A ding dong battle. Both teams punching well but ireland are boxing smarter.

I am quite impressed with Murray, sexton and henshaw - Robbie MoTM so far. Looks injured tho Payne needs to straighten and give a pass.

Would say Jonny. Made some great tackles for turnovers.

mfceiling

Worried about the ref...Jordi was over that ball for an age before he gave the penalty.

ssaye2

Well done rob

LuckyGent88

Good man kearney.

Poor kicking from us so far.

ssaye2

Cmon
Well done goode

LuckyGent88

Ah that was criminal