Ireland vs England - 5:30pm Saturday

[Oakboy]

Team announcement delayed from 12 till 4pm, presumably so we can see if Farrell's going to be allowed to wear the 22 shirt.

Puja

You are mostly likely right but I thought they were waiting on a fitness test for Chessa

That's worrying if true - we shouldn't be taking him if his fitness is so touch and go that he's struggling to make the penultimate warmup game, and we definitely shouldn't be rushing him back if he's not fully recovered. Would rather have 10 years of OChessum than utterly bork him now.

Puja

It really questions SB's judgement, IMO, choosing so many players iffy with injury. Frankly, none of the ones involved are so good that reasonable alternatives could not have been picked. George and Itoje are about the only ones who might be considered very difficult to replace currently.

[jngf]

I suspect because of the captaincy issue Lawes is more nailed on but I think T Curry, J Willis and Ludlam are all better 6s. Would be happy enough with Lawes at 4 or on the bench.

....Did you just praise Tom Curry?

I think he’s a very good workrate 6 more in the style of a Robshaw or Richard Hill , as opposed to a carrying 6 of the style of Mike Teague or early England career Dallagio

[paddy no 11]

England are 7-1 before teams named I'm sure they have never been that price in previous history

[FKAS]

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Byrne, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, O'Mahony, van der Flier, Prendergast.

Replacements: Herring, Loughman, Bealham, McCarthy, Doris, Murray, Crowley, Earls.

[FKAS]

That's a pretty strong Irish side. Almost first choice. Going to be a tough watch for English fans.

[paddy no 11]

Full strength bar Doris on bench

I predict prendergast to get carded at some point

[FKAS]

Full strength bar Doris on bench

I predict prendergast to get carded at some point

Two yellow cards (none last season) in 49 games for Region and Country. Why you tipping him to fall foul of the ref?

No Conan either, is he still injured?

[paddy no 11]

He's pretty aggressive I can see it going the wrong way in the current environment

[FKAS]

[FKAS]

Don't like Lawes as captain but other than that it's a pretty good side.

[p/d]

Don’t like Lawes at 6, but glad he is captain

[Banquo]

Prob the best backline we can put out from those who are left IF Manu is anything like fit, standard Youngs caveat applies. Bit of a concern that Curry isn't going to be match hard at all. This must be pretty close to first choice all round- big game for Stuart.

[Banquo]

Don’t like Lawes at 6, but glad he is captain

I've been forced to climb down from my Lawes is a crap 6 high horse of a few years ago- he has become a very decent player there. Not my style of 6, but hey ho.

[p/d]

Don’t like Lawes at 6, but glad he is captain

I've been forced to climb down from my Lawes is a crap 6 high horse of a few years ago- he has become a very decent player there. Not my style of 6, but hey ho.

He brings to mind the opening lines of a classic Bow Wow Wow song,
‘I know a guy who's tough but sweet
He's so fine, he can't be beat’

[Mikey Brown]

I think Lawes is a nob but he seems to be a good captain and has been good enough at 6 for while now not to complain. Genge may well captain again in the future but doesn't seem like he's had great luck with it so far.

I like the team in general (ditto the Young caveat) and we might as well see if Tuilagi is remotely up to it still. A Malins-free 23 looks strange now.

Weird that we haven't seen much of Willis or any of Curry. Great to see Chessum back on the bench though.

[FKAS]

Don’t like Lawes at 6, but glad he is captain

Doesn't talk to refs particularly well and his pro marriage/anti single mum thing doesn't come across as something likely to make the sport more acceptable.

[Puja]

Odds on George getting broken?

Puja

[rjjb]

No Farrell means the 23 is rather constrained - Lawrence basically has to be included in addition to Tuilagi.

[FKAS]

No Farrell means the 23 is rather improved - Lawrence basically has to be included in addition to Tuilagi.

Fixed that for you.

[rjjb]

No Farrell means the 23 is rather improved - Lawrence basically has to be included in addition to Tuilagi.

Fixed that for you.

Whether it's an improvement is debatable. It is however obviously constraining.

[p/d]

Don’t like Lawes at 6, but glad he is captain

Doesn't talk to refs particularly well and his pro marriage/anti single mum thing doesn't come across as something likely to make the sport more acceptable.

I willl have to take your word on the ref bit, but couldn’t give a jot about the other part.
Something clicked mentally and physically last week and if he was the catalyst then happy days

[p/d]

No Farrell means the 23 is rather improved - Lawrence basically has to be included in addition to Tuilagi.

Fixed that for you.

Whether it's an improvement is debatable. It is however obviously constraining.

As in we can’t field two 10’s?

[Mikey Brown]

Saying all that, it does feel like quite a while since we saw a big hit or carry from Lawes.

[Puja]

Fixed that for you.

Whether it's an improvement is debatable. It is however obviously constraining.

As in we can’t field two 10’s?

It is the one downside of Ford and Smith - neither of them can play any other position, so we're left having to have a player on the bench who we only bring on if there's an injury or something's going badly.

Did Smith ever play 15 for Quins? Is that something he's capable of?

Puja

[FKAS]

Whether it's an improvement is debatable. It is however obviously constraining.

As in we can’t field two 10’s?

It is the one downside of Ford and Smith - neither of them can play any other position, so we're left having to have a player on the bench who we only bring on if there's an injury or something's going badly.

Did Smith ever play 15 for Quins? Is that something he's capable of?

Puja

He did in the 6N of 2022 against Italy and France I think? Ford came off the bench and Smith dropped to 15. I wouldn't mind is exploring the idea a bit more against Fiji. Smith in the backfield with licence to attack would be an interesting watch.