Ireland v England - Armchair Fanzine Match Thoughts Review
By robmazza
March 23 2011
Ireland v England - Armchair Fanzine Match Thoughts Review by Robmazza. He also poses a few questions for the RWC later this year.
RBS Six Nations 2011
Ireland v England
19/3/11 - Dublin
Ireland were the better team on Saturday, don't get me wrong, thrashing
England both convincingly and emphatically. The obvious "questionable"
decisions by Bryce Lawrence towards the end of the game killing off any chance
of a comeback. Despite this I firmly believe England had more than enough
chances to win. Ashton breaking through twice. Flood and Wilkinson
missing kickable goals. As it is, I find it hard to find negatives
other than the loss, assuming a negative would be a mistake on England's
part. Young's sin binning was brainless and reminiscent of
Danny Care two years ago as was the knock down at the scrum, however even here
we can find a positive in the fact that Care is now more than able on the
international stage and could well be pushing for a starting spot by the world
cup.
James Haskell - All Pictures by Empics
In the pack Haskell was once again immense, as was Wood and even Easter
turned up. Palmer was a big loss, carrying well
from the start. Deacon just doesn't cut it for me and neither does Shaw
unfortunately, neither offering anything outstanding or out of the ordinary
that say a Hudson, Kennedy, Day or (Dread the thought Borthwick) would.
The front row are turning into a world class unit and in particular Corbusier
who is surely Sheridan's long term replacement. Hartley is
turning into a great thrower of the ball (An underrated skill -Think Huw
Bennett!) and a great rucker of the ball too. Cole doesn't seem to
be carrying very well, but his breakdown work is terrific for a tighthead and
as ever his scrum work is top notch, hopefully he will move to a club where he
sees more first XV action, to really develop.
In the backs Foden was isolated yet still composed despite Donncha O'Callaghan
trying to take his head off. Ashton as mentioned above created chances, but
really needs to be the one taking the scoring pass. Perhaps we need more line
breakers (Strettle please).
Banahan was shown
how to play 13 by a very good O'Driscoll, although not made any easier by
playing out side "Side-step, nailed" Hape. I still firmly believe we are crazy not picking Barritt.
Moving onto Cueto who unfortunately doesn't offer express pace or a poachers
instinct, on the bench as fullback cover but I wouldn't be worried facing him. Flood has faded since his injury, with the more than Able Wilkinson stepping
in terrifically (His passing game is just unbelievable off both hands).
Ben Youngs
Youngs was our worst player against Ireland and was deservedly taken
off. However it is a learning curve for a player who should be following the
example set by Will Genia of becoming a great controller of his pack and
the game, before trying to win it all by himself.
The performance though has been greatly blown out of the water by the media,
merely because a grand slam was there for the taking. A 24-8 away loss
against a strong Ireland side at the start of the tournament
wouldn't have been considered catastrophic then, so why now? The fact still
remains that England won the championship. Finishing with the most points, top
scoring points and try scorer, we are the best team in the Northern
Hemisphere and certainly the best at the six nations.
We can now look forward to the Argentina match in September at the start of
another tantalising World Cup journey full of hope and excitement. This
England side may not be full of Carter's and McCaw's however with match
winners and talent all over the field, held together by the backbone that is
Johnson, come World Cup time we will be a force.
Q: Can New Zealand hold the weight of a devastated nation and bring hope to thousands that have lost their home's and lives on their shoulders?
Q: Do South Africa have the old heads to carry them to the final and drag them over the final hurdle again?
Q: Or can Australia overcome Wilkinson's boot?
Jonny Wilkinson
All I know is, England will go in fearless, with nothing to lose and
perhaps allot to gain. Many will hang up their boots after
2011 with the most talented group of youngsters (In the U20s) in a decade
ready to burst onto the international scene. Tindall, Easter, Flood, Wilkinson
and most importantly Johnson embark on another chapter in England's impressive
World Cup runs, and I for one cannot wait...
Robmaza
Ireland v England - Armchair Fanzine Match Thoughts Review
Posted by: Unofficial England Rugby Union (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2011 10:33
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Re: Ireland v England - Armchair Fanzine Match Thoughts Review
Posted by: Rarua (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2011 20:33
Oh dear!
Very confused. Did Lawrence rob you?
From what I saw, the Irish loose forwards gave their counterparts in white a damned good seeing to.
And that was the game won and lost.
Everything else was "by how much?"
Should have been a lot more. That is how I'd allot it.
And Haskell wasn't good enough.
Very confused. Did Lawrence rob you?
From what I saw, the Irish loose forwards gave their counterparts in white a damned good seeing to.
And that was the game won and lost.
Everything else was "by how much?"
Should have been a lot more. That is how I'd allot it.
And Haskell wasn't good enough.
Re: Ireland v England - Armchair Fanzine Match Thoughts Review
Posted by: PoyntonShark (IP Logged)
Date: 24/03/2011 01:15
Hmmm, I usually find my self agreeing with Robmaza, but can't on this occasion. I found it difficult to take a positive from the game (the tournament yes, but not that game). you are right a 24-8 loss in Ireland wouldn't and shouldn't have been seen as a disaster, but sometimes the scoreboard lies, Iraland were considerably more than 3 times better than us on the day. As Rarua pointed out, the Irish back row assumed control of the ball for most of the game and that basically won the game for Ireland.
To be fair Rarua, Robmaza never claimed that Lawrence robbed England, Ireland were clearly the better side, that doesn't in any way excuse Lawrence's awful performance.
Unhappiness, where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as a fun and take it if we can
To be fair Rarua, Robmaza never claimed that Lawrence robbed England, Ireland were clearly the better side, that doesn't in any way excuse Lawrence's awful performance.
Unhappiness, where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as a fun and take it if we can
Re: Ireland v England - Armchair Fanzine Match Thoughts Review
Posted by: robmaza (IP Logged)
Date: 25/03/2011 13:45
I can see what both of you are saying. My point is that the best team on the day doesn't always have to win. Had Flood and Wilkinson kicked their goals the score would have been 24-13. Had Lawrence pinged Ireland (Court) for collapsing the three consecutive scrums in the second half, we may well have set up a good field position and grabbed a try, perhaps even a sin binning thrown into the mix.
Re: Ireland v England - Armchair Fanzine Match Thoughts Review
Posted by: Rarua (IP Logged)
Date: 25/03/2011 18:52
England weren't the best team last weekend.
Re: Ireland v England - Armchair Fanzine Match Thoughts Review
Posted by: Patrick (IP Logged)
Date: 25/03/2011 19:24
Quote:Rarua
England weren't the best team last weekend.
Far from it. Just the best team over the previous 4 weekends, and deserved championship winners. As McCaw's recently said, the loss in Dublin will make England stronger.
Mind you I do think Ireland's performance was also down to not actually having anything to play for but pride. If there was something at stake for them they may have gone into their shells a bit, understandably I suppose.
Re: Ireland v England - Armchair Fanzine Match Thoughts Review
Posted by: Rarua (IP Logged)
Date: 26/03/2011 02:40
I don't think that it was as clean cut as that.
England wasn't a stand out better team. To me it was more a three way draw.
England wasn't a stand out better team. To me it was more a three way draw.
Re: Ireland v England - Armchair Fanzine Match Thoughts Review
Posted by: Mr lumpy (IP Logged)
Date: 26/03/2011 10:09
I am getting a bit confused at how the scrums are controlled these days.Nearly all the scrums either stood up or went down in the last three matches with out the ref penalising any one.We either have clear and consistent rules or lets just throw the ball in and hope.At this level its about time that the refs are told to raise their game in this area or are they waiting for a few more injuries and fights to occur before something is done