Eng V Ire

[againstthehead]

Not a great game but a real nail biter!! Lots of possession for england but they could do precious little with it. Great result for Ireland and a step up in performance level from the past 2 games. Ireland played with an intensity that's been absent for a few weeks, well, defensively anyway... That said, 3 tries away from home is a pretty impressive return!
Thought o'leary was a bit slow today and the Irish backrow absent without leave... Quiet day also for BOD and D'arcy but defensively superb. ROG was the right man to come on and did well on his cameo.
IMHO, France are way ahead of both these sides at the minute and are a side which looks as though it can only get better.

[fermain]

not great? It was brilliant!!!!!!
who hooo who hoo hoooooo!!
2 tries for Tommy! luvvvv it!

[Jackie Brown]

Jez George Hook's a laugh. Really back peddling on his abuse of Tommy Bowe. Then says he only came good when he left Ulster, really shows he didn't watch him for the 2 seasons before he left us. ROCK ON TOMMY!!

[bogboy]

The Irish back went missing ??? who was putting in the tackles then ??

Ireland score three trys by the wings --- did the English wings receive one pass during the game ?

Barge ball and kick -- and yes the English did run more with ball in hand and kicked less but on average it was three passes a phase and seldom four. Ireland of course weren't that much better -- but then Ireland were seldom in the England half in possession.

O'leary is a slow scrum half but at least this week his pass more more consistent.

[scrum5]

the Irish backrow absent without leave...

Maybe you should watch the game again, Ferris Wallace and Heaslip tackled their hearts out, and Heaslip was MOTM.....

[ArticDonkey]

the Irish backrow absent without leave...

Maybe you should watch the game again, Ferris Wallace and Heaslip tackled their hearts out, and Heaslip was MOTM.....

Ferris was immence, he seemed to be everywhere, for a guy whos hardly trained in the past few weeks it was impressive.

[Article]

Great game almost ruined by the pickest ref ...he made so many technical interventions on both sides it was laughable...who lets these SH idiots ref these games ?

Ireland are still no firing on all four, if we had a full squad back and played to form we would be amatch for anyone...missing Kearney, Fitzgerald, Flannery, Leamy, O'Brien.....and to crown it all the U20s also beat england.

Good coaching decision to use th ebench as he did ... and I must eat come humble pie....Buckly did OK.

[scrum5]

Ferris was immence

Agreed at one point midway through the 1st half a three man England maul had formed when Ferris hit it, the commentator said, "Ferris hit the maul on his own and drove it back" thought he had a great game though the scrum is a worry.......

[browner]

What is the deal with O'Leary?
Outside his physicality he really is a very limited scrum-half at this level.....or is it just me.

[Article]

What is the deal with O'Leary?
Outside his physicality he really is a very limited scrum-half at this level.....or is it just me.

Agree...very physcial like Phillips for Wales, like a backrower and put in some graft in defense toady and set up Bowe try,but his pass is slow....I think he's still No.1 with Boss a close second...reddan no 4 after stringer.

[Jackie Brown]

What is the deal with O'Leary?
Outside his physicality he really is a very limited scrum-half at this level.....or is it just me.

It's not just you, he is like a 4th backrow forward but his passing, kicking and vision is lacking. Maybe if his biceps weren't bigger than his head he could get the ball passed across his chest quicker!!!

[Harold7]

and the Irish backrow absent without leave...

You're kidding right???

Enjoyable game and Ireland took their chances well.

[for dog and ulcer]

Not a great game but a real nail biter!!

Not at all- I was never in doubt or worried at any stage.

Agree re TO'L- I don't see any point in this deliberate delay of the ball- nearly resulted in a turnover at the death. Many teams do this but apart from winding down clock I see no value.

[bogboy]

for those who wear dark glasses.

Ireland kicked possession more often than England because they were kicking out of defence and into touch but unfortunately giving away possession by doing so. England opened the ball out more in this game than they did against either Italy or Wales but seldom if ever did they manage to get the ball to the wings . Yet Ireland scored 3 trys and they were all scored by the wings.

ie England land still have not learnt how to pass a ball effectively.The last effective centre to play for England was Greenwood who was the player who made Wilkinson look good because he not Wilkinson controlled the play of the English backline.

The English pack will always make any team play hard for a win and provide a lot of possession for the English backs at the moment England lack the backline to used the possession effectively even with Wilkinson at outhalf.

[dropkick]

IMHO, France are way ahead of both these sides at the minute and are a side which looks as though it can only get better.

I don't think they're way ahead. They are ahead though. The last game against England should be interesting because England have a big pack that'll cause them a different sort of problem then the Irish pack. England beat them well last year.