England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17

[Logorrhea]

About three weeks ago England were number 2 team in the world and expected to win the championship, well in my eyes at least. They haven't suddenly become terrible.

This looks like a better team than the one they put out for the last two rounds.

A win in twickers will be seriously difficult.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

When you look at that English backline, Farrell is the only one capable of actually bringing any of the other backs into play. Don't get me wrong, they're all very good individually (although some are struggling for form), but looking at that team sheet makes me think they'll all just be looking inside to Farrell the whole time to tell them what they should be doing. Slade has been a disappointment at international level, but if they had him at 13 I'd be far more worried about the decision making and creativity they have in the team.

Now Farrell is one of the best players in the world and is capable of running the show, but the balance just looks off to me. When I think of Farrell's best games at ten for England, it was when they were much stronger up front than they are at this moment in time, and he benefits hugely from having Goode at Saracens.

The back row is the same, no big carrier and no breakdown specialist, and that's behind an out of sorts second row combination. The back row isn't really going to do much for their lineout either.

When I first saw their team I thought they had made some necessary changes and do still expect there to be more of a spark about them, but there's no doubt in my mind that there are issues with that selection. I'm guessing they'll target us in the air and would back them to win that battle if they do, but even that seems a strange tactic when you consider where other teams have got so much joy out of us over the last 4 games.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

The TJ has been removed and is replaced by Owens...what a shambles.

[simonokeeffe]

He is that level of evil Xan

I think most of those changes suit us. Theyre more one dimensional in midfield (and 9) plus Sinkler is a proven hot head

They have a far better balance to their back row now, Farrell is the only outhalf in the NH close to Sextons level and wigglesworth is the best scrum half in England. This team is considerably better than they've put out in this competition this season.

One change for Ireland, Ryan in for Toner

Backrow is arguably more balanced but Robshaw is in garbage form (as is Itoje) and Haskell is still Haskell
Last time Sinckler played an Irish team he tried to lose the fixture all by himself
Combine Haskell with Sinckler and probably Launchbury and of course Hartley then half the pack is prone to meltdowns in big fixtures

Their scrum is weaker now too. Not that we demolish many teams but we probably have our strongest available scrummaging front 5
Their lack of a second distributor of any kind in 3/4 line makes it harder to attack us out wide where we are weakest in defence

If we let them score early points and take a big half time lead I'd be very worried. We get on top MENTALLY early on and we are in the driving seat

[paddyor]

Backrow is arguably more balanced but Robshaw is in garbage form (as is Itoje) and Haskell is still Haskell
Last time Sinckler played an Irish team he tried to lose the fixture all by himself
Combine Haskell with Sinckler and probably Launchbury and of course Hartley then half the pack is prone to meltdowns in big fixtures

Their scrum is weaker now too. Not that we demolish many teams but we probably have our strongest available scrummaging front 5
Their lack of a second distributor of any kind in 3/4 line makes it harder to attack us out wide where we are weakest in defence

If we let them score early points and take a big half time lead I'd be very worried. We get on top MENTALLY early on and we are in the driving seat

Kruis is apparently the strongest scrummaging lock according to Jones and even if Sinckler is a suspect there I don't us getting much change out of it primarily because of the way it's reffed now. The 4 additions to the pack should freshen things up in the pack which has looked a bit knackered.

The 10-12-13 combo will be much better defensively given Farrells difficulty at 12 the past few months. They're probably right to keep it tighter given their problems retaining possession which would be hard to fix in a week even without the changes to the first 15.

[Sionnach]

Owens replaces van Der Westhuizen as assistant referee for Saturday.

https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/sta ... 08258?s=21

[A16]

He is that level of evil Xan

I think most of those changes suit us. Theyre more one dimensional in midfield (and 9) plus Sinkler is a proven hot head

They have a far better balance to their back row now, Farrell is the only outhalf in the NH close to Sextons level and wigglesworth is the best scrum half in England. This team is considerably better than they've put out in this competition this season.

One change for Ireland, Ryan in for Toner

Robshaw is in garbage form

I don’t where you’re getting that from, I thought Robshaw was one of the few English players who actually stood up over the last couple of games.

[TerenureJim]

Kinda disappointing we won't get to see Stander running at Ford but looking forward to Leavy hunting and terrorising Farrell and getting him rightly tetchy and annoyed

[olaf the fat]

Owens replaces van Der Westhuizen as assistant referee for Saturday.

https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/sta ... 08258?s=21

Not necessarily a good thing, Nige's moment in the limelight (he always has one nowdays) will effect the match.

[simonokeeffe]

@A16 his clearouts have been highlighted already but his discipline and decision making have been poor (for a player of his experience)

@TJ Farrell isn't a great defender at this level especially going by stats

[Oldschool]

On the corridor of power post.
My tuppence halfpenny's worth.
1. The channel between 10 and 12.
2. The pick and go though gaps around the fringes.
3. The sqeeze space that the defensive team's line speed is trying to minimise.

[Dexter]

Owens replaces van Der Westhuizen as assistant referee for Saturday.

https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/sta ... 08258?s=21

Not necessarily a good thing, Nige's moment in the limelight (he always has one nowdays) will effect the match.

He'll try to ref the game from touch...

[Peg Leg]

The Hyperbole surrounding the touch judge on here is reaching Nigel Owens levels of pantomime.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

The Hyperbole surrounding the touch judge on here is reaching Nigel Owens levels of pantomime.

oh nid ydyw!

[simonokeeffe]

Owens is sending him a signed photo as a consolation prize

[Edna Kenny]

Owens is good at spotting off the ball stuff so we need to keep our discipline. I'd imagine England will go out to rough us up so we really want to avoid any cards or penalty reversals.

[Oldschool]

The best take on this game is to-
Forget all the bs from EJ.
Forget England's very recent form.
Remember that England are a powerful team.
Remember that England backed into a corner will come out fighting.
And lastly don't forget to remember to enjoy the drama that tomorrow will bring.

[simonokeeffe]

Owens is good at spotting off the ball stuff so we need to keep our discipline. I'd imagine England will go out to rough us up so we really want to avoid any cards or penalty reversals.

With no Mike Brown theyre at a serious angry face defeceit.
I do expect Te'o to target Johnny all day.
Our pack would win in a straight fight.

[Oldschool]

Owens is good at spotting off the ball stuff so we need to keep our discipline. I'd imagine England will go out to rough us up so we really want to avoid any cards or penalty reversals.

With no Mike Brown theyre at a serious angry face defeceit.
I do expect Te'o to target Johnny all day.
Our pack would win in a straight fight.

And that's why England are so dangerous.
That last statement is an affront that the English more than any other country take very personally.
They are one of the most dangerous teams to play when they are underdogs because they so rarely are and as a result it's usually down to poor form rather than ability.
This is a team that was ranked 2nd in the world only a week ago, that backboned a successful Lions to the 1st ranked country. The ability is there, the bulldog spirit will rise tomorrow and Connacht might be where they want to send us.

[Peg Leg]

Joe will be having a word with the refs RE: T'eo's plaster paris of power move.