Ireland vs England - 5:30pm Saturday

[Mikey Brown]

Not that I recall for Quins. Didn’t Jones have a thing about him playing like a Giteau-style 12?

How about 10. Ford 12. Smith 13. Daly?

[fivepointer]

Think this leaves Walker as the only original squad player not named in a warm up game. At least Watson and Tuilagi start, and Chessum will get a go from the bench. I imagine Mitchell gets to play against Fiji along with Walker.
Big test but also a big chance for several players. Ireland going full bore so pressure on to produce a decent performance.

[rjjb]

Not that I recall for Quins. Didn’t Jones have a thing about him playing like a Giteau-style 12?

How about 10. Ford 12. Smith 13. Daly?

That would certainly be interesting in defence.....

[p/d]

Dan can play 12

[p/d]

Not that I recall for Quins. Didn’t Jones have a thing about him playing like a Giteau-style 12?

How about 10. Ford 12. Smith 13. Daly?

I remember Smith stepping in at 9. Bloody marvellous, suddenly we had quick ball. Not sure whether that was for Eng or Quins

[francoisfou]

That’s a good side, and I’m optimistic (probably mis-placed) that George Ford will persuade Scum Bag that he really ought to be his first choice 10 in France. But then again, pigs might fly.

[TheDasher]

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

Couldn't agree more.

[Oakboy]

Have the Willises eaten SB's cat or something?

[p/d]

Have the Willises eaten SB's cat or something?

That’s a jeepshot at SB Dors!

[Oakboy]

Have the Willises eaten SB's cat or something?

That’s a jeepshot at SB Dors!

Don't go all American on me.

[FKAS]

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

Couldn't agree more.

Don't get me wrong. I like Lawes as a player and I think he's underrated at 6. I want him in the side just ideally not as captain.

[Danno]

Odds on George getting broken?

Puja

It is absolutely fecking bonkers that he's playing so much. It has genuine echoes of of 2019's "2 scrum halfs is fine, mate"

[Puja]

Odds on George getting broken?

Puja

It is absolutely fecking bonkers that he's playing so much. It has genuine echoes of of 2019's "2 scrum halfs is fine, mate"

I was thinking more of Sinckler being our most vital player in 2019 because he was the only one we couldn't replace with someone at least in the same strata of quality and then him promptly getting injured 5 minutes into the final. Not our best player, but certainly our most irreplaceable.

Puja

[Danno]

Odds on George getting broken?

Puja

It is absolutely fecking bonkers that he's playing so much. It has genuine echoes of of 2019's "2 scrum halfs is fine, mate"

I was thinking more of Sinckler being our most vital player in 2019 because he was the only one we couldn't replace with someone at least in the same strata of quality and then him promptly getting injured 5 minutes into the final. Not our best player, but certainly our most irreplaceable.

Puja

What final? You should stick a legal claim in for concussions Puja.

[Oakboy]

What are we hoping for from this match? Something like: decent performance, no injuries, not too big a defeat, bit of cohesive progress - or similar????

We have fallen a long way. Do we even know what our best team is? Ireland, managed by our reject, have a settled team, are into good form at the right time etc.

I can't not support England but I'm yearning for a full clear-out and re-build after the RWC. I don't care if we have to go backwards before going forwards.

[rjjb]

Borthwick simply isn't up to the job, so rebuilding may take some time.

[fivepointer]

Hope to see some improvement across the board, particularly in attack. The result does matter and we dont want a hammering but its a step up in performance that i'm hoping to see.
Plus, some players set down a decent marker.

[Puja]

What are we hoping for from this match? Something like: decent performance, no injuries, not too big a defeat, bit of cohesive progress - or similar????

We have fallen a long way. Do we even know what our best team is? Ireland, managed by our reject, have a settled team, are into good form at the right time etc.

I can't not support England but I'm yearning for a full clear-out and re-build after the RWC. I don't care if we have to go backwards before going forwards.

I want to see some ambition. We will likely lose, but I wsnt to at least throw some punches brfore going down.

Puja

[p/d]

Love to see us stand up and match them punch for punch. No winger running the width of the pitch to tap a prop on the head because we won a scrum or players just stood with hands on hips looking bemused. Just signs that this group are fired up - especially up front - not to be second best.

It will be a tough 80mins, there is no doubt, but at the end each player to come off knowing they gave it their all.

..... and just before half time the camera doesn't pan to SB skipping down steps holding a clip board bulging with a ream of paper

[rjjb]

Ireland have been pretty average against England for the last few years. I hope they click on Saturday.

[FKAS]

Borthwick simply isn't up to the job, so rebuilding may take some time.

Yeah if only he had a history of rebuilding teams and gaining success on the back of it...

[rjjb]

Borthwick simply isn't up to the job, so rebuilding may take some time.

Yeah if only he had a history of rebuilding teams and gaining success on the back of it...

English club level is very different from international level.

[FKAS]

Borthwick simply isn't up to the job, so rebuilding may take some time.

Yeah if only he had a history of rebuilding teams and gaining success on the back of it...

English club level is very different from international level.

Where he was forwards coach during the Eddie Jones revival of the England team? Couldn't get out of the group at a home world cup to record breaking winning run and world cup final.

[fivepointer]

Yeah if only he had a history of rebuilding teams and gaining success on the back of it...

English club level is very different from international level.

Where he was forwards coach during the Eddie Jones revival of the England team? Couldn't get out of the group at a home world cup to record breaking winning run and world cup final.

Very different gig being head coach at international level. Borthwick is learning on the job. He isnt helped by not having much high level experience around him. Sinfield, Harrison, Wiggy arent exactly seasoned international level coaches.

[Oakboy]

English club level is very different from international level.

Where he was forwards coach during the Eddie Jones revival of the England team? Couldn't get out of the group at a home world cup to record breaking winning run and world cup final.

Very different gig being head coach at international level. Borthwick is learning on the job. He isnt helped by not having much high level experience around him. Sinfield, Harrison, Wiggy arent exactly seasoned international level coaches.

Assuming that all three appointments were SB's first choice, have any got international mileage in them? Wigglesworth's renown as a box-kicker always suggested going in the wrong direction to me but I know insufficient to form an opinion of the other two.