Ireland vs England - Live Match Centre
Follow the below link to the RugbyPass Live Match Centre for moment by moment coverage of today’s massive game between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (kick off – 16.45)
*** Match Centre ***
Here are five key talking points ahead of the Aviva Stadium clash.
Can Robbie Henshaw thrive at full-back?
British and Irish Lions centre Henshaw has been thrust into the 15 shirt for Saturday’s match, reverting to the position where he first made his name. Henshaw made his Test debut at full-back in 2013, but has not played there for Ireland since.
The 25-year-old has plenty of provincial experience in the role from his Connacht days, but has hardly operated at 15 for Leinster in the last few years. Head coach Joe Schmidt insists he boasts the “full spectrum of skills” to thrive this weekend, but only time will tell if he can cope with England’s aerial bombardment.
Jack Nowell ready to go in new “libero” role
Unnaturally?🧐 pic.twitter.com/WjVjGNVgxm
— Jack Nowell (@nowellsy15) January 18, 2019
Exeter winger Nowell has revealed he has been given a “golden ticket” by coach Eddie Jones to roam in a free role against Ireland on Saturday. Jones previously half-joked he would deploy Nowell as an auxiliary flanker, a ninth forward, in Dublin. Quite how that manifests remains to be seen, but former Fiji Sevens coach Ben Ryan recently revealed on Twitter he utilised Isoa Damudamu as a ‘libero’ or sweeper in his days coaching Newbury. The tactic comes with far less flexibility than the football equivalent, but the idea remains the same – an all-court player operating in a free role in an ostensibly defensive remit, roaming around trying to steal ball wherever possible.
Bundee Aki and Manu Tuilagi lock horns for the first time since college
Manu Tuilagi is set to come up against Bundee Aki on Saturday (Liam McBurney/PA)
New Zealand-born Ireland centre Aki last faced England’s Samoan midfielder Tuilagi in a college game some 12 years back. Aki donned Truro College colours to square up to Tuilagi’s John Cleveland College, with the Leicester outfit apparently winning comfortably.
Back then a callow Aki insisted he steered clear of Leicester powerhouse Tuilagi – but this weekend there will be no quarter given by either party. Expect seismic collisions as two of the global game’s most physical exponents hurtle straight down each other’s channel.
Will Ireland bore England to death?
England assistant coach John Mitchell believes Ireland will bore England to tears this weekend. Ireland could not care less, but know full well there is nothing boring about winning a Grand Slam, or beating the much-vaunted All Blacks – as Joe Schmidt’s men did in a stunning 2018.
Even a 3-0 home win would be viewed as scintillating by the Irish public. And when England are fully honest with themselves, they will admit that rather than boring, what they meant was that it is simply extremely difficult to pinch the ball off an Ireland team in full flow. Deny Ireland possession this weekend and England will have a chance. Should the hosts find their rhythm however, it could prove a long Dublin day for the visitors.
Mako and Billy could spell double trouble for Ireland
England finally have both Mako and Billy Vunipola fit, and Eddie Jones will love the chance to pair up the influential and physical brothers in his Red Rose pack. Billy Vunipola especially can transform England’s game plan, especially in phase play, given his all-court skill-set. Ireland will have to shut down the Saracens number eight at source if they want to continue their winning Six Nations run.
Press Association Sport
Comments on RugbyPass
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
19 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments