6n 2019 Ireland v England Build Up Thread

aloooof

Perifect wrote: »

If he's not playing well and others overtake him, he'll be dropped. Sentiment won't come into it.

It would take an unprecedented loss of form for 3 other hookers to be considered ahead of him. Add into that his leadership qualities, and Best having a lot of Credit in the bank.

There is as good as zero % chance that Best doesn't make the plane if he's fit.

Perifect

aloooof wrote: »

It would take an unprecedented loss of form for 3 other hookers to be considered ahead of him. Add into that his leadership qualities, and Best having a lot of Credit in the bank.

There is as good as zero % chance that Best doesn't make the plane if he's fit.

Well, we'll see. He'll be 37, it mightn't be a form issue. He just might be finished at the top level. We'll find out later in the year.

troyzer

Sky Sports have the England squad announced:

England: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Jonny May, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Jack Nowell, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Kruis, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 Nathan Hughes, 21 Dan Robson, 22 George Ford, 23 Chris Ashton.

Eod100

England team out: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/status/1090938901420748801?s=19

AdamD

Interested to see how Daly fares, completely phoned it in against Leinster and was dreadful. Not sure how easy it'll be to suddenly regain form.

arsebiscuits1

AdamD wrote: »

Interested to see how Daly fares, completely phoned it in against Leinster and was dreadful. Not sure how easy it'll be to suddenly regain form.

That was definitely an attitude issue as opposed to a talent/ form issue.

Wasps were dead and buried and he'd signed for Sarries anyway.

Daly a very impressive player and wont have any problems getting up for a game away to Ireland

Buer

AdamD wrote: »

Interested to see how Daly fares, completely phoned it in against Leinster and was dreadful. Not sure how easy it'll be to suddenly regain form.

He's not a full back. I don't know why Jones keeps selecting him there and he seems completely disinterested for Wasps of late and was mediocre at best in the autumn. I don't think he's someone who can just turn on a big performance when needed despite being out of form so hopefully we look to bomb him early via Murray and see how he handles it.

aloooof

Buer wrote: »

He's not a full back. I don't know why Jones keeps selecting him there and he seems completely disinterested for Wasps of late and was mediocre at best in the autumn. I don't think he's someone who can just turn on a big performance when needed despite being out of form so hopefully we look to bomb him early via Murray and see how he handles it.

Is he more capable at FB than Anthony Watson? We clearly targeted him last year with some kicks, which paid off very well. I'd suspect he's probably better under the high ball?

Buer

aloooof wrote: »

Is he more capable at FB than Anthony Watson? We clearly targeted him last year with some kicks, which paid off very well. I'd suspect he's probably better under the high ball?

I wouldn't have him down as any better than Watson (who is probably better than he showed that day) but Daly was rubbish under it against SA in the autumn and they repeatedly went after him.

I'd have strongly considered Mike Brown. Daly's performance levels have been below par for a while and, against Conor Murray, I would be a bit nervous if I was an England fan.

aloooof

Buer wrote: »

I wouldn't have him down as any better than Watson (who is probably better than he showed that day) but Daly was rubbish under it against SA in the autumn and they repeatedly went after him.

I'd have strongly considered Mike Brown. Daly's performance levels have been below par for a while and, against Conor Murray, I would be a bit nervous if I was an England fan.

Daly seems like a really good fit for the 23 jersey, even if his form hasn't been amazing. Really hard to say for sure who Jones considers to be first choice in a number of positions/combinations, which is pretty bad this close to the RWC.

kuang1

One thing I'd add to the Henshaw discussion is his GIGANTIC kicking. That man can kick a ball harder and higher than most. The hang time that he'll be able to put on the ball is crazy.
I'm expecting a lot of high balls from himself to chase if he starts at 15.

errlloyd

kuang1 wrote: »

One thing I'd add to the Henshaw discussion is his GIGANTIC kicking. That man can kick a ball harder and higher than most. The hang time that he'll be able to put on the ball is crazy.
I'm expecting a lot of high balls from himself to chase if he starts at 15.

I'd say Daly's boot is bigger to be fair. If a kicking duel came down to length I'd say Daly has it. Henshaw has a lovely neat long low raking grubber though.

kingofthekong

Thats a very good english team

kuang1

errlloyd wrote: »

I'd say Daly's boot is bigger to be fair. If a kicking duel came down to length I'd say Daly has it. Henshaw has a lovely neat long low raking grubber though.

True.
I'd have no reservations about Henshaw's ability to contest in the air though.
I'm expecting more high balls than usual in this game. Hopefully we'll see no red cards resulting from aerial contests.

Clegg

Slade can be gotten to. He's not a great tackler. I'm rather surprised he was selected tbh. He hasn't impressed for England. Lovely passer though so it dovetails with the forwards selection and Tuilagi at 12. Win the gain line and get Slade to spread it to the back 3.

Squidgy Black

errlloyd wrote: »

I'd say Daly's boot is bigger to be fair. If a kicking duel came down to length I'd say Daly has it. Henshaw has a lovely neat long low raking grubber though.

Daly's left foot is like something out of terminator.

dub_skav

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Daly's left foot is like something out of terminator.

sydthebeat

kingofthekong wrote: »

Thats a very good english team

apart from the two V's, itoje and farrell... theres none of the rest that id consider top international class.

that midfield is chalk and cheese. Tuilagi will look to hit hard and try to off load out of contact... but aki wont be stepping backwards. im also expecting a lot of dummy lines from him trying to suck in our centers... but i think ringrose is too clever for that.

Slade as a second playmaker has never really shone at test level, despite being a very good footballer.

Sangre

kingofthekong wrote: »

Thats a very good english team

Individually as players yes but that backline will have played very little together. The backrow combination is quite untested as well. The bench is quite green.

Mr Tickle

Sangre wrote: »

Individually as players yes but that backline will have played very little together. The backrow combination is quite untested as well. The bench is quite green.

The backline could be more dangerous in the 2nd half if they bring ford on for slade and push farrell and tuilagi out one.

shootermacg

What's key is to not give them a sniff at the start. England generally start games very well. If you don't start well, you could find yourself down 14 points fast.

mfceiling

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Daly's left foot is like something out of terminator.

Any penalties near half way and he'll have a shot.

sydthebeat

what we want is on the first phased play to get bundee to run hard outside of Farrell and test out that thumb of his.......

Rigor Mortis

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

That was definitely an attitude issue as opposed to a talent/ form issue.

Wasps were dead and buried and he'd signed for Sarries anyway.

Daly a very impressive player and wont have any problems getting up for a game away to Ireland

No, its a talent issue. His stats under the high ball, one of the key tasks of a full back, are terrible.

Clegg

I'd like to see Henshaw* run a hard short line on Slade. Test out his defence.

* Presuming he starts at 15.

troyzer

https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/1090966305270910976

Stheno

troyzer wrote: »

https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/1090966305270910976

It's true!

troyzer

There's clearly something wrong with Jack McGrath.

aloooof

Kilcoyne on the bench. Is Jack McGrath injured?

EDIT: What troyzer said.

clsmooth

troyzer wrote: »

There's clearly something wrong with Jack McGrath.

Out of form/fitness?

Sangre

Obviously confident with SOB's fitness if he is on the bench.

awec

Kearney dropped after all. I guess the notion that playing terribly the week before Ireland teams are announced doesn't matter is false.

troyzer

clsmooth wrote: »

Out of form/fitness?

Probably the latter but he missed the Toulouse game as well even though he was ostensibly healthy. There's something niggly going on which is keeping him off the pitch for big games.

Henry Ford III

Super Rob discarded. I think it'll strengthen the defence.

thomond2006

This will be the first Six Nations appearance for Dave Kilcoyne since 2013.

Buer

A few guys who can be quite disappointed, mostly those who didn't make the bench. Excited to see how Henshaw goes. If it's a success, it could be a very interesting solution to a significant problem that was coming down the tracks. I'd be curious to see how things go with selections for Leinster next season. It would leave a hole for Leinster at 12 which would need to be addressed.

I mean....is it time to bring forward Aki's relocation to Leinster to back up Conor O'Brien? We'll need to think deeply on this.

PhlegmyMoses

awec wrote: »

Kearney dropped after all. I guess the notion that playing terribly the week before Ireland teams are announced doesn't matter is false.

Or he just is not match fit. Or a combo of both.

sydthebeat

is there no live presser?

AdamD

Think Kilcoyne has deserved that spot. Pity we're missing Beirne/Henderson, would be some bench with 1 of those.

CMcsporty

i await the Henshaw hamstring tweak!
Full-Back STOP

Quint2010

A little surprised Schmidt didn't keep VDF for impact and upping the pace. Plus if he gets injured early can SOB last the whole rest of the game? Good to see Kilcoyne on the bench. Super player in form. Otherwise a fantastic team-stronger than the one that beat the AB's.

thomond2006

Roux in ahead of Dillane is interesting. Dillane was in the original squad and Roux wasn't.

stephen_n

awec wrote: »

Kearney dropped after all. I guess the notion that playing terribly the week before Ireland teams are announced doesn't matter is false.

Possibly has more to do with him not playing little or no rugby for 2 months and not being fit enough. No doubt last Friday would factor into it, but a one off poor performance is probably the least important part of the selection process.

LuckyGent88

Delighted with the team really. Going to be plenty of pressure on Henshaw’s shoulders and I’m sure Farrell will be testing him out with variable kicks.

Bit of a set back for McGrath but hopefully he turns his form around just like Healy did. Great to think we still have Henderson and Beirne missing from that squad.

troyzer

Buer wrote: »

A few guys who can be quite disappointed, mostly those who didn't make the bench. Excited to see how Henshaw goes. If it's a success, it could be a very interesting solution to a significant problem that was coming down the tracks. I'd be curious to see how things go with selections for Leinster next season. It would leave a hole for Leinster at 12 which would need to be addressed.

I mean....is it time to bring forward Aki's relocation to Leinster to back up Conor O'Brien? We'll need to think deeply on this.

bennyl10

troyzer wrote: »

Probably the latter but he missed the Toulouse game as well even though he was ostensibly healthy. There's something niggly going on which is keeping him off the pitch for big games.

Killer deserves every bit of that selection.
His game has improved leaps and bounds this year, and it wasn't far off to begin with!

troyzer

bennyl10 wrote: »

Killer deserves every bit of that selection.
His game has improved leaps and bounds this year, and it wasn't far off to begin with!

I mean, he'll do a job and I'm not overly worried with him on the bench. But McGrath is next level when he's healthy.

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

It's rare that a team selection that is widely reported ends up wrong.

stephen_n wrote: »

It’s only 2 journos so far? One of whom I wouldn’t trust with directions to the toilet.

Cosmo Kramer

thomond2006 wrote: »

Roux in ahead of Dillane is interesting. Dillane was in the original squad and Roux wasn't.

Possibly to do with lineout calling. I thought Roux was a surprise omission in the original squad in any case.

A significant team selection in that Kearney and SOB are for the first time in years not first picks when fit. Hard to know with Kearney, anything from regaining his place next week to not even making the RWC squad is a possibility at the moment.

PhlegmyMoses

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Delighted with the team really. Going to be plenty of pressure on Henshaw’s shoulders and I’m sure Farrell will be testing him out with variable kicks.

Bit of a set back for McGrath but hopefully he turns his form around just like Healy did. Great to think we still have Henderson and Beirne missing from that squad.

Second row impact is my only concern there. Roux is a decent player, but having Henderson or Beirne on the bench is a different beast altogether.