Not the greatest spectacle but a big game from a developing England team.
Well, beating Ireland away is a pretty big ask. Happy to win at all.
Inverdale desperatly trying not to look smug. (Fail?) Woodie gutted but dignified.
Boy what a depressing match to watch.
no like I said yesterday when england win an error strewn ecounter its all about intensity.
Was a shit game though to be honest.
Well, beating Ireland away is a pretty big ask. Happy to win at all.
indeed.
Farrell is a machine. Best nr 10 in the world in the making ( if not already ) . Youngs played a good game too.
Great result for England, not to be underestimated. However, the scrum had its iffy moments today, to say the least.
Keith wood getting a kicking on the red button over that stamp.
I feel sorry for him, I do like Keith Wood though
Solid performance by England. Good contribution by all.
Don't get carried away Sputnik....Carter has the best 10 in the world monopoly.
Robshaw put his hand up for the Lions, as did Farrell, as did Ben Young's. If Tom Youngs can sort his lineout throwing then he will shut me up in calling for the kiwi thug to start.
Heaslips Lions captaincy credentials took a real hammering!
arrell is a machine. Best nr 10 in the world in the making ( if not already )
yeah!!!
BOD as Lions captain if he stays fit. Best is the best hooker. Ashton will be the water carrier!
Zebo is out for a while according to the bbc. Metatarsal injury
Tom , I may be gettting a little bit ahead of myself but it is only a matter of time. Farrell nearly 10 years younger than Carter. Love the fact that he is not scared commit to tackles and getting into the thick of things. A real asset to the England side .
Real shame about Zebo and Sexton. Interesting that KW said that Irelands big hitters didn't really turn up. Lions favourites especially. Heaslip and Kearney were not up to usual standards and I thought Goode was very composed all day.
So #15 pecking order: 1/2p, Goode or Hodge, then Kearney? Hartley maturing at last? Must be better start than Youngs at 2 for England. Is this first time for a while that Care hasn't come on?
Ashton was very good today a_a. Better than Cuth Burt can dream of being 🙂
BO'D really never ceases to amaze me. Ok, he didn't have a great game today, but the footage they showed before the match - he was playing matches against Dallaglio and Dawson! That was a different ERA!
What a legend. Be a shame if this is his last 6Nations.
I think its a bit premature to be calling Farrell the next greatest No.10
Ok he is properly showing the signs but look at Cips. Fair enough Andy Farrell will bash heads if Owen gets like that but still.
Got a way to go to be where england were on the way to 2003, but showing good signs.
For a young side thought they played very maturely and the Robshaw / SL method is working well at moment.
i'm not a big Ashton fan but thought he 'fived' Zebo when he went off early as a mark of respect. Fair play to him, went up in my estimation for that.
Healy though deserves a long ban for a very deliberate piece of dangerous play.
Whilst I think that England have appeared at times to be arrogant (maybe even once or twice deserved it!) think this side have stamped out that behaviour and look a very tight unit.
I agree Bear! What a nice Bear you are 🙂
Not sure I like being nice.... Grrrrrrrrrr!
England beating Ireland for the first time in ten years at Lansdowne Rd makes todays victory even more significant .
This feels all wrong to write, but Hartley played well when he came on, Robshaw is looking like a very decent 7 and Farrell is getting better with each England game, his field play is getting good, his kicking has always been good but the thing that really impresses me is his total commitment. Whether a tackle, a charge down or clearing out a ruck. The lads got some serious aggression which so far seems wonderfully controlled. Damn it, I'm a fan if the Saracens boring man!
I still want to see 36 and Tuilagi play in the centres. Not giving away much defence and worked very, very well at Tigers last year. Now both are better players...
Hmm Barritt was excellent today though whereas 36 was average.
What tiny bits said
Wasn't a game for 36 though. Right up Barrit street though. He does do a lot of work in defence. Doesn't offer much with the ball though but sometimes that's what you need.
I'm starting to like him....he is always in the thick of it in defence.
Lions 15 in order
Halfpenny
Carney
Hogg............maybe second choice
Goode
Backrow is where the intrest is
Robshaw
Beattie
Woods
england played well, scotland to beat ireland?
I'd go 1/2p then Hogg...purely on the basis that there's gotta be a Scot in there. SOB and Robshaw fighting it out for the 7 jersey. Farrell v Sexton is looking tougher to call than a few weeks ago....Young's at 9? I don't see Tom Woods even going myself...
Oh and Lydiate is due back next weekend-he'll be right in contention if he's kept half the form that he had last year.
As a kid bought up on fast rucking All Blacks and Scottish play, I am loving England's new-found ability to produce fast(er) ball and to clear out effectively. Relief to wave good bye to the stick it up the jumper and maul-it approach that lost England so many admirers in the past. Guscott made the point pre-match that Youngs was looking good because of the great work done by the forwards in presenting the ball - silver service from the England forwards.
Right lions after 2 weekends.....
1. Corbisiero if fit
2. Best
3. Cole
4. Ryan
5. Lawes
6. R. Jones
7. Robshaw
8. Beattie
9. Young's
10. Sexton
11. North
12. Tuilagi
13. BOD cpt
14. North
15. 1/2p
England forwards gave ireland very little today
I was impressed by england fullback, very capable and good at clearing the lines.
Farrell did well with spot kicks, O'Gara was disappointing
I think wood will be there in june, not flashy but a real richard hill alike. I can still see that dirty c--t gray elbowing hill in the second lions test which changed the game and the series in australias favour. Was it then they put yellow covers on the empty seats cus the lions supporters out numbered the ausie lovies.
Toemul can you edit that language please before this thread gets locked - we are very much enjoying it.
Thanks.
Edit. Thankyou, appreciated.
i'm not a big Ashton fan but thought he 'fived' Zebo when he went off early as a mark of respect. Fair play to him, went up in my estimation for that.
Agreed in full.
It was, however, the only thing he did all game, wasn't it? 😉
Nope, excellent turnover towards then end of the game....some excellent work in defence throughout the game.
I was impressed by england fullback
In defense, yes. Foden is better in attack.
I think the comment about 36 are unfounded - not much for him to do today and when he did they closed him down fast - they've watched the tapes and know he is the more attacking threat. I think him and Tualagi would be great, but if I was SL it'd be hard to turn down Barrits defensive capability.
It's been a little difficult to judge any of the centres this weekend. Its all been high balls and rucking. Trying to turn or run lines on the pitch in Paris or Dublin would not have been wise.
Plenty of games left and still plenty of lions spots up for grabs I reckon.
What is becoming apparent is that there are selection issues in the England camp, with even the likes of the unfancied Barrit begining to gain some favour here. Another case of the sum of the parts....?
Tom, beaten for pace by forwards and looked like he backed out of tackles as well.
He's a busted flush, which must be a shame for all his fans. However, I gather Tom Daly is doing another season of his diving show. Ashton would fit right in there....
😉
Sexton still way ahead for me at 10. Farrell has come a long way in a short time but he may run out of time to demonstrate the full repertoire required.
Flashy you must be aware that I'm one of Ashtons biggest critics..he was good today though.
Cuthbert and visser pick of the wings for me so far.
After Gogzilla scored that try come on Wrecker time to re consider
