NWR 6N 25

S

Sean Hardon

Location
Belfast, Northern Ireland
I was surprised about yesterday's result. Expecting the first half, and thought England would pile on a world of hurt in the second. The storm passed and Ireland produced a solid team like performance, our talisman Bundee O' Aki opening the flood gates to a superb second half performance. I was glad of home advantage, the crowd gave us that extra edge. I really felt England had arrived back to the party, only to end up in detention and back to the drawing board.

Scotland produced a hard fought win over an Italian side that thrown off the mantle of wooden spoon winners with aplomb. It will be a tough match for us next week at Murray field, which could go either way.

France I feel have emerged favourites after the razor like precision in despatching a Welsh side that appears ever more in the doldrums. It was clinical with players like Dupont and Ntamack not having the best of games. Something has to change in Welsh rugby in the development of their game to see them return to the top of the pile.

Finally I feel the discipline in the game is improving as a result of the rules. Aside from some English and Irish players bringing their handbags on at half time yesterday, we had an incident free weekend.
 
The England/Ireland game was hard to watch. A patient 40 minutes work in the first half from England was discarded in the second. Those wonderful New Zealanders...oops I mean upstanding Irish citizens Aki, Gibson-Park, Lowe, and Hansen had more drive, experience and canniness than most of the England backs. Aki and Lowe just have immense strength despite their smaller statures. Murley made some strange, schoolboy errors too. Genge was struggling in the scrums, which was a surprise. On the upside, Itoje had one of his best games in a long while, particularly in the first half. The Curry brothers worked hard, but didn't make enough of an impact. It's the hope that kills you.
 
We just don’t have the firepower in the tight 5 to control a game. Schoeman and Fagerson were struggling although Will Hurd settled things. I expect we will be targeted at the scrum for the rest of the tournament. Russell also struggled with not having a dominant 12 to give him the space he needs. There’s no replacement for Tuipulotu.
 
I haven't watched the Scotland game but I will do.

England Ireland was the archeypal game of two halves. Murley let the pressure get to him in defence after a decent outing in attack. I didn't feel the bench coming on did anything positive and in handing over from Mitchell took England back a step. I don't think the Smith/Smith thing works, either. Lawrence had a good day. Freeman and Steward were exposed
 
Richard Zambuni said:
The England/Ireland game was hard to watch. A patient 40 minutes work in the first half from England was discarded in the second. Those wonderful New Zealanders...oops I mean upstanding Irish citizens Aki, Gibson-Park, Lowe, and Hansen had more drive, experience and canniness than most of the England backs. Aki and Lowe just have immense strength despite their smaller statures. Murley made some strange, schoolboy errors too. Genge was struggling in the scrums, which was a surprise. On the upside, Itoje had one of his best games in a long while, particularly in the first half. The Curry brothers worked hard, but didn't make enough of an impact. It's the hope that kills you.
Click to expand...
How dare you Mr Zambuni! They're Orish through and through, finally coming home after the diaspora forced upon us by you dirty rotters. Paddy O Aki, Mac MacHansen, Jamie O Lowe have Irish roots through and through. Wee Jamie Gibson Park, well put a tall green hat on him and you can see right away that his parents must have been some of the "wee people".

We live in international times, and England themselves have taken up those opportunities on occasion. Unfortunately for them not too many foriegn players are keen to take up the residency rules.

The strategy of 3 flankers defending and attacking (through 4 and 5 men line outs in the centre was a sound one, but one that had to be played for 80 minutes. The replacements couldn't achieve the work rate of the Curry brothers and Earles. Borthwick appears to devise sound strategies but has no fall back when they are countered. He came onto the screen pre match and stated that he had a young team in comparison to Ireland 600 caps and ave age of 25 compared to 1200 caps and an ave age of 30. Surely and 600 and 25 is experience enough, especially to break down a team of awl hands. This will be his 3rd 6N. I believe if he doesn't win next week at home, he doesn't deserve a chance to have a 4th.
 
You can play for 80 minutes!

One of the best games I've seen in a long while.

Anybody that tells you Engerlish that France threw it away, tell them the score! The English backrow won that game for you. Pressure pressure pressure! Finn Smith was the right 10, Marcus Smith showed bags of flair at full back but amazingly so much immaturity for a player that has 50 caps.

Glad you're going off to the shop tonight to find a bottle of champagne @David Pope.

Edit: people thought the difference would be the replacements. Enter Finn Baxter. In the loose awee burrowing pig, who lost his first scrum whose snout burrows down and got his snout aim front of the line, not just the try. Class act.
 
Last edited:
Richard Zambuni said:
The England/Ireland game was hard to watch. A patient 40 minutes work in the first half from England was discarded in the second. Those wonderful New Zealanders...oops I mean upstanding Irish citizens Aki, Gibson-Park, Lowe, and Hansen had more drive, experience and canniness than most of the England backs. Aki and Lowe just have immense strength despite their smaller statures. Murley made some strange, schoolboy errors too. Genge was struggling in the scrums, which was a surprise. On the upside, Itoje had one of his best games in a long while, particularly in the first half. The Curry brothers worked hard, but didn't make enough of an impact. It's the hope that kills you.
Click to expand...
Bundee and Jamison are Irish citizens. Sour grapes? Sorry, couldn't resist....
 
great being able to celebrate an Englandvwin and the manner in which it was achieved. Sobering to reflect on France butchering at least 17 points in first half hour and England hanging onto 0-0 but as was observed on commentary the slower start maybe helped England. I cannot expect DuPont et al to gift anyone else that many errors. We will enjoy being the beneficiaries.

Everything so far has gone with home field advantage - can Ireland upset the trend tomorrow?
 
I think that is a bit harsh Keith on SA! Up until about two years ago I’d not have said that, but recently SA has added an attacking capability that makes them for me at least an all round side. Frighteningly so actually. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
 
France would have won that game 999 times out of a 1000. All credit to england though for refusing to crack and for executing flawlessly when they had the chance. Would imagine the TOP, turnovers, territory, yards gained and tackles tell a very clear story!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top