Ireland vs England - 5:30pm Saturday

[Mikey Brown]

Trying to steer this back to selection. Now that Ford has shown his quality again and Farrell is back at fly-half, is there any way we avoid the dreaded 56th minute shuffle?

Maybe it’s not that bad? Maybe that’s the best we can hope for until 2028?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Hopefully Silly Bollocks gives Farrell the week off to let the dust settle, and we can play a fly half that can pass and doesn't have an inbuilt tic to kick the ball once he crosses the 22.

[FKAS]

Hopefully Silly Bollocks gives Farrell the week off to let the dust settle, and we can play a fly half that can pass and doesn't have an inbuilt tic to kick the ball once he crosses the 22.

Hmm Ford plays at 10 in an ultimately doomed attempt to beat Ireland in Dublin. Loss blamed on Ford by the media. Farrell back in for Fiji game and heralded as the saviour as we scrape a win there, Farrell confirmed as starting 10 for the tournament.

Yep that tracks.

[Oakboy]

Hopefully Silly Bollocks gives Farrell the week off to let the dust settle, and we can play a fly half that can pass and doesn't have an inbuilt tic to kick the ball once he crosses the 22.

I fully agree with that sentiment but both Ford and Smith have shown similar tendencies to kick too much, presumably on instruction. To change our playing style, I'd suggest that SB needs to change philosophy and not pick Youngs at SH. I'd be tempted to start with Mitchell and Ford with Care and Smith on the bench.

Give Ford the freedom to play it as he sees it and let's find out what he can do next to a SH who is quick in thought/action and who does not kick by default. To get the best out of the whole backline, I'd stick with Lawrence and Marchant at centre, together with a back three of Daly, Watson and Steward.

[FKAS]

I'd like to see in terms of selection;

1. Genge (c)
2. Walker
3. Sinckler
4. Chessum
5. Itoje
6. Lawes
7. Curry
8. Earl
9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Daly
12. Manu
13. Lawrence
14. Watson
15. Malins/Steward

Dan, Marler, Stuart, Ribbans, BillyV, Mitchell, Smith, Marchant.

Unsure whether to bring Steward back to start at the place he was unfairly red carded and which he admitted knocked his confidence. He does need resting for one of the friendlies. A few in there that are dependent on recovering from injury. Ireland's scrum does tend to tire and their replacements don't tend to be as good as their starting props, hopefully Marler can help exploit that.

[fivepointer]

Ideally those who havent featured so far will get some game time.

8 will be an interesting call. Earl showed up well and there is a temptation to give him a run. I'd stand Steward down and have a look at someone else at FB.

[jngf]

Ideally those who havent featured so far will get some game time.

8 will be an interesting call. Earl showed up well and there is a temptation to give him a run. I'd stand Steward down and have a look at someone else at FB.

My issue with starting Earl at 8 is that there may be a lot of heavy trucking in tight traffic needed and nobody does this better than Billy. Further for me Curry looks best at 6 rather than 7 and I think it suits his game better.

[p/d]

I'd like to see in terms of selection;

1. Genge (c)

Noooooooooo!!!!!!
.
.
.
that's all.

[FKAS]

I'd like to see in terms of selection;

1. Genge (c)

Noooooooooo!!!!!!
.
.
.
that's all.

Why? If Farrell, Genge and Lawes (the captain and two vice captains), Genge is my preferred on field captain. Surprisingly good at talking to the ref and one of the few players that flourishes in the role of captain.

[p/d]

Nothing in his body language or engagement of ref/firing up his side 2 weeks ago hint at him be the ideal captain.

I want him to be the snarling dog at the end of a another’s lead

[Puja]

Nothing in his body language or engagement of ref/firing up his side 2 weeks ago hint at him be the ideal captain.

I want him to be the snarling dog at the end of a another’s lead

Before that game, I was absolutely with FKAS on this - he was a superb captain for Leicester and a massive influence for Bristol. However, he was not exactly visible against Wales and Lawes has been shown to be a very good captain, so I'm leaning that way right now.

Aw shit. I forgot that Farrell's not banned for a moment there. Now I've got to deal with the disappointment all over again.

Puja

[Margin_Walker]

Times going with Youngs, Ford, Daly, Manu, Marchant, Watson, Steward backline.

[Puja]

Times going with Youngs, Ford, Daly, Manu, Marchant, Watson, Steward backline.

I think that's our best backline right now. I am yet to be convinced that Lawrence is a 12 - he's certainly not the kind of 12 that we can just send up on the crash ball all the time - so I'm interested to see Manu and Marchant play together.

Puja

[Margin_Walker]

Yeah, it's a bit retro, but not unhappy with that.

[Mellsblue]

Times going with Youngs, Ford, Daly, Manu, Marchant, Watson, Steward backline.

I think that's our best backline right now. I am yet to be convinced that Lawrence is a 12 - he's certainly not the kind of 12 that we can just send up on the crash ball all the time - so I'm interested to see Manu and Marchant play together.

Puja

I think it’s Slovenly Backslide’s first choice, too, other than Faz for Ford (or Lawrence), obvs.

[Spiffy]

Times going with Youngs, Ford, Daly, Manu, Marchant, Watson, Steward backline.

I think that's our best backline right now. I am yet to be convinced that Lawrence is a 12 - he's certainly not the kind of 12 that we can just send up on the crash ball all the time - so I'm interested to see Manu and Marchant play together.

Puja

It would also be interesting to see Manu (12) and Lawrence (13).

[Puja]

Times going with Youngs, Ford, Daly, Manu, Marchant, Watson, Steward backline.

I think that's our best backline right now. I am yet to be convinced that Lawrence is a 12 - he's certainly not the kind of 12 that we can just send up on the crash ball all the time - so I'm interested to see Manu and Marchant play together.

Puja

It would also be interesting to see Manu (12) and Lawrence (13).

Maybe, but that only works with Ford IMO and even then, only dubiously. It's two runners, no passers and, while we appear to have little intention to pass to our wings right now, I can still dream, and the majority of the occasions where it's happened, it's come through Marchant so far.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Times going with Youngs, Ford, Daly, Manu, Marchant, Watson, Steward backline.

I think that's our best backline right now. I am yet to be convinced that Lawrence is a 12 - he's certainly not the kind of 12 that we can just send up on the crash ball all the time - so I'm interested to see Manu and Marchant play together.

Puja

It would also be interesting to see Manu (12) and Lawrence (13).

Bloody hell. I automatically assumed that was the centre combo. Ignore all my previous comments on the topic. Mea culpa.

[rjjb]

That's a relatively pedestrian backline. Any hints re the pack?

[rjjb]

Any odds being offered on a hatrick of yellows for Steward?

[Puja]

That's a relatively pedestrian backline. Any hints re the pack?

Marchant, Daly, and Watson are all pretty rapid?

Puja

[Mellsblue]

I’ve missed the days of cross Offa’s Dyke wummery.

[Puja]

That's a relatively pedestrian backline. Any hints re the pack?

Telegraph reckons Tuilagi's struggling for fitness ( ) and that JWillis, OChessum and Walker are all starting.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Telegraph reckons Tuilagi's struggling for fitness ( )

Puja

Dors incoming…

[rjjb]

That's a relatively pedestrian backline. Any hints re the pack?

Marchant, Daly, and Watson are all pretty rapid?

Puja

Seriously? By top international standards?