I was expecting a UFC style move from Williams. Clumsy but never red

They were both shoulder to shoulder chasing a ball, that’s not a penalty. Cuthbert did pull on the shorts but there was little in it. 22 was correct I think. However Cardiff should have had a penalty try for Allen’s Ronaldo style gesticulation 😀

I just tuned in as Williams returned so haven’t seen it yet. I’m watching on Bbc NI so will be interesting to hear what they say at half time

Sorry for your loss

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/alternative-to-thermalite-building-blocks

He didn’t lift him.

It was late. Nothing else

Yeeeeeeoooooo!!!!!!!’ Well done Ireland- Joe Schmidt 2 from 2

So according to Neil Francis Warren Gatland has the intellectual properties of a tub of flora

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/neil-francis-warren-gatland-has-the-intellectual-properties-of-a-tub-of-flora-31060289.html

Just the one change for Ire, Heaslip back in for Murphy

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)
10. Johnny Sexton (Racing Metro)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) captain
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7. Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster)
23. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)

The Marshall incident is at 54.50 on the game clock on this vid. Luke is certainly not a dirty player but I think it looks like a dragging foot on purpose when it is replayed. So fair enough IMO

As for Marshall playing for Ire, if he wasn’t banned, I don’t think his current form is good enough. 2 seasons ago he was playing really well and deserved his place but since then he has been very average. He has had a few injuries which has held him back a bit and of course competion from Olding and McCloskey. Olding is the best runner and natural footballer while McCloskey is bigger and more of an off loading type player. Of the three I have been most impressed with him this year.

For the Ire 13 I think Joe will go for Fitz. He is in good form and it means he won’t need to move Henshaw to accommodate him. He doesn’t tend to make too many positional changes.

Yes of course you are quite right. I was thinking Cuthbert and North. Interestingly Murray mentioned how Zebo had improved his defence under Joe. I hope he is right!

I’m happy with the way we play, I’m a prop so anything that goes to touch and cuts down the running was always good with me. Seriously, I’d love to see a bit more flair but I’ll take a win first and foremost. North will be facing Bowe so I can’t imagine he will get much space. But if Sexton is out he could do well inside against Madigan.

Drovers inn!

Not at all aa. Schmidt is a pragmatic coach who will play to his strengths and do what it takes to beat the opposition. We haven’t even started to play yet. The Irish Times this morning was talking to Murray and he intimated that there would br s bit more running rugby againstyou boys.

We have equalled our best run of results ever, beaten SA and Aus, and should have beaten NZ so we have moved on massively from the team that finished 5th two years ago. In Joe we trust!

Are you getting w.spoon on it or just spoon?

After the mcBride program I’m claiming an Irish grand slam in 72 cause Wales and Scotland were too chicken to travel to Dublin, even though the trouble was up north. Loved McBrides quote to Iain Henderson, ‘I miss the rucks’

From Durban you could go to Hluhluwe for a night

PSA for the rugby fans- documentary on Willie John McBride on BBC1 NI at 10.45 tonight. If you have Sky it will be somewhere between the mucky stuff and the radio! I think it will be on iplayer afterwards as well.

Bowe was quiet by his standards but did all that was asked of him. He will be keeping a bit in reserve for the return to his adopted land in a couple of weeks.

I can’t get my head around Payne he’s not even the best 13 at Ulster. I suppose i have to accept that Joe sees something I don’t.

Just like our previous two games we controlled the game well and never looked like losing. In every part of the game we were significantly better than England. The English pack in particular should be hanging their heads in shame tonight, not one of the eight made any meaningful contribution.

In contrast our pack were intense and ferocious throughout the game. The only worry I have is the back up to Sexton isn’t really good enough. We lost a bit of direction for 10 mins after he went off.

I though Henshaw played very well considering he only has a handful of caps and is around 21 years old. He looks like he will have a bright future.

3 rounds to Carl?

Ireland team. No surprises Murphy for Heaslip and TOD on bench.

Kearney
Bowe
Payne
Henshaw
Zebo
Sexton
Murray
Murphy
SOB
POM
POC
Toner
Ross
Best
McGrath

Cronin
Healy
Moore
Henderson
TOD
Reddan
Madigan
Jones

I think any car can be a Friday afternoon car.

I’ve had 4 French cheap cars(2 Citroen,Renault and Peugeot), all under £1000. Three were great one was woeful. The worst one was my dad’s and serviced at a main dealers so no benefit there.

I’ve had two new cars an Insignia and a Golf. Both got at the same time and serviced at a main dealer. The Golf has been flawless and the Insignia was the most unreliable car I have ever had the misfortune to own.

In summary the only car I wouldn’t buy would be a Vauxhall.

Pape knee:

It’s being reported in the Irish press Heaslip has 3 broken vertebrae in his back. I hope they are wrong

Defence wins games and indeed World Cups, you England fans should know that 😉

Sure I could have scored that quick tap! Seriously it’s going to be some battle in two weeks I agree with jambo that no side has been that convincing. but I do think that the front five is about evens, back row and half backs Ireland are superior. Centres advantage England on current showing and Ireland back three look much more accomplished. May in particular is a liability.

Of course the best player we have ever had will be missed. Sorely missed? I’m not so sure, he wasn’t around in the autumn and we had our best series I can remember.

We were +23 pts in Rome conceding 0 tries. Eng at home were +30 conceding 3 tries to a terrible team. France were woeful but were never looked like we were going to lose the game. Plenty of room for improvement however.

Last time I checked SA and Aus were in the southern hemisphere 😆 29-15 and 26-23 the last time we played them

I don’t think any team has been that convincing but Ireland have been the most controlled. Much more to come from them in this championship.

Gum shield case?

http://www.trailbadger.com/

I like Warres Otima 20 year old Tawny. Lovely stuff

Liked this review on master of malt. “Better scotch can be had from wringing a hefty scotsman’s codpiece on a warm summers day.”

Pale straw colour?

France are looking to try and destroy Ireland up front I think. De Batty is in the team because of the job he did on Moore last year.

Moore is on the bench so should get 50 mins out of Ross.

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)
10. Johnny Sexton (Racing Metro)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) captain
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7. Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster)
23. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)

France have been poor for a good few years now. I think the last 3 years 6N they have finished 4th, last and 4th so I’m hopeful we can take them in Dublin. Sexton, Heaslip and SOB should be back and Healy prob on the bench.

Eng will win well against Italy. It will probably be a grind first half and then they will pull away in the second, much like Ireland last week.

Sco/Wal I think is very hard to call. On paper you would think Wal should win but if they both play like they did last week then Sco should win. I’ll go with form and ancestry and say Sco by a score.

Bowe

We want a team of Tommy Bowes. Even when he is mediocre he is better than most.

Apparently the IRFU are looking to see if the Liverpool player Sakho has an Irish granny

Interesting article on Rory Best’s concussion

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/concussion-problem-not-going-away-any-time-soon-30978496.html

Two quick tries saved irish blushes.

They perhaps put a better look on the final score, but saved our blushes, no.

While we didn’t play to our potential we dominated the game and won well. Our scrum and line out were excellent, our defence solid and the 6N debutants all stood up well. Our breakdown work however was slow and we need quicker ball to do more damage in the wider channels.

Remember that our 7,8,10, 12 and 13 were making their first 6N starts and our centres have only had one match together in the autumn. Next weekend we will have Healy, Heaslip and SOB back in the pack and Sexton as well.

Game on, enjoying this as a neutral. Poor Wales defence

Haskell woeful there. Good scrum though

I’ll go

Ire
Fra
Eng
Wal
Sco
Ita

Slightly anxious about Ire tomorrow. We have struggled in Rome recently and from 8-13 we only have Murray that has ever started a 6N game