England v 6 Nations Champions 2018 Twickenham March 17

[outcast eddie]

All week I’ve felt pessimistic about our chances in this game but having read a lot of commentary and analysis (English and Irish)(plus my upbeat mood as I travel towards London) I think we’re going to win this.

[olaf the fat]

All week I’ve felt pessimistic about our chances in this game but having read a lot of commentary and analysis (English and Irish)(plus my upbeat mood as I travel towards London) I think we’re going to win this.

I hope you are right lad. I really fear England - especially their first home game after 2 away defeats, and hope a defeat does not take away from our amazing championship win.

[outcast eddie]

Combined 15:
1 Healy
2 George
3 Tadhg
4 Ryan
5 Kruis
6 Robshaw
7 Leavy
8 Stander
9 CM
10 JS
11 Stockdale
12 Te’o
13 Ringrose
14 Earl
15 RK

Daly and Farrell should be in there but neither can dislodge the Irish encumbents at 10 and 11 or at 12 and 13 for that matter.
I’m not sure Kruis beats Hendo but gave him benefit of the doubt and George is on their bench FFS.
Our bench forwards beat theirs hands down.
Reasons to be cheerful folks.

[Ruckedtobits]

Amazing as it may seem, when Ireland last played England in Twickenham in February 2016, only two of the Irish pack selected for tomorrow started the game. Best and Stander are the only two of the eight who still hold their positions. The other starters in 2016 were: 1. McGrath; 3. Ross; 4. Donn Ryan; 5. Toner; 7. JVdF; 8. Heaslip. The forwards bench was: 16. Strauss; 17: Healy; 18. White; 19. Dillane; 20. Ruddock. So, only three out of 2016 Squad of 13 forwards are in the 2018 Squad.

In the backs, the story is little different with Rob K, Earls, J10 and Murray present, two years on. None of the bench backs are still in the Squad (Reddan, Madigan & Zebo). So, that's only four out of 10 backs from 2016 are in the current Squad.

Thus, two years on, with a Coach renowned for process and continuity, only seven of a Squad of 23 are returning to the scene of a tough 21-10 defeat. Remembering that both the same Coaches were at the helm - Jones having just taken over from Lancaster - it is fascinating that Jones is far more reliant on the players he inherited from his predeccessor.

The English have 16 of the same 23 as they had in February 2016, but the MOTM and utterly dominant player was Billy Vunipola, who misses tomorrow. Ben Youngs was another influential player that day who misses out tomorrow.

All in all, it is very difficult to see where this English team, with Wigglesworth at scrum half and still containing Haskell and Robshaw in the back-row, but missing both Vunipola and Ben Youngs, will have enough to overcome the current Irish Squad. The English front-row is not as good as 2016. The second-row contains the same pairing and the back-row is significantly poorer. Some of their backs have improved in the two-year gap, but forwards will be where the game is won and this 2018 English pack will have to produce something we've never seen before to overcome our Irish pack, who are playing right up to their potential.

An English win will really surprise me.

[Oldschool]

An awful thought just occurred to me.
Is it possible that EJ has lost the dressing room and that we might be up against player power tomorrow.
Player power with a statement to make.
PS.
Jaysus RTB. Cool it will ya, I'm trying to keep a lid on things here.
And I'm running out of straws.

[suisse]

I'm not worried. Why? Because we all belong to the team of us.

[offshorerules]

Combined 15:
1 Healy
2 George
3 Tadhg
4 Ryan
5 Kruis
6 Robshaw
7 Leavy
8 Stander
9 CM
10 JS
11 Stockdale
12 Te’o
13 Ringrose
14 Earl
15 RK

Daly and Farrell should be in there but neither can dislodge the Irish encumbents at 10 and 11 or at 12 and 13 for that matter.
I’m not sure Kruis beats Hendo but gave him benefit of the doubt and George is on their bench FFS.
Our bench forwards beat theirs hands down.
Reasons to be cheerful folks.

I wouldn't have robshaw in there.

[Ruckedtobits]

People forget sometimes that winning a triple crown always means beating England. So, we've already beaten France. Today is all about winning a Triple Crown and we've done a few of them since the century turned.

Like many, have spent the week trying to search for any reasons why not. Nothing yet discovered but a couple of insights like above.

[IanD]

Fair to say at Half Time that is going to plan.

Stockdale is already a Legend.

[sunshiner1]

Superb management during POM's ten mins and then the third try. This team has the brains and the talent to win this!

[sunshiner1]

WINNERS!!!!!

[LeinsterLeader]

Yessssssssssssssss! You f%~king beauties

[ronk]

Super performance. Really smart and well deserved

[Oldschool]

Not that it matters but 23points must be close to a record.
12 wins in a row.
2nd in the rankings consolidated.
Getting used to dealing with the favourites tag.

[Dave Cahill]

Some gobshites on social media are pointing out that 23 points is a record. Well, of course it is, first grand slam under the bonus points and GS bonus points system. Do these eejits even watch rugby?

[Twist]

That was good


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[Twist]

Not that it matters but was I seeing things on the second English try or was the last pass very forward?

(Watching in a remote location overseas so I don't control the telly!)


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[Oldschool]

Some gobshites on social media are pointing out that 23 points is a record. Well, of course it is, first grand slam under the bonus points and GS bonus points system. Do these eejits even watch rugby?

Them's the rules you're the gs.

[artaneboy]

Top class.


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[simonokeeffe]

Thatll do nicely

Factor in the players thatll be returning from injury and Wales and things look kinda good

A series win in Australia is the next target and we should be favourites there too