This is the perfect time to face Ireland and England can win in Dublin - Andy Goode
Ireland are heavy favourites with the bookies but I’ve just got a feeling England will go to Dublin and sneak a win this weekend.
Losing in their own back yard in the final round of last year’s Six Nations and watching this group of Ireland players celebrate winning a Grand Slam, after England had their own Grand Slam party ruined by the Irish a year earlier, will have really hurt some of these senior players and they have a point to prove.
It’s a bold call to predict an England victory, given Ireland are yet to lose at home in the Six Nations under Joe Schmidt, but I just think there is enough evidence to suggest that the scales could be slightly tipped in England’s favour.
I like the look of the team Eddie Jones has selected and it’s great to see that he’s stuck with his leading man in Owen Farrell in his proper position and selected the best two centres available outside him.
We’re still highly likely to see George Ford and Farrell on the pitch together at some point but it would have been a backward step to revert to that axis. It’s also great to see Manu Tuilagi back and starting in the Six Nations for the first time for six years.
He’s strung together a lot of games for Leicester now injury-free and, while international rugby and a trip to Dublin is a massive step up, he’s the kind of box office player who can make any stadium rock and England will be hoping he’s finally ready to take that next step on Saturday.
I’m surprised Jones didn’t go back to Mike Brown at full back just for this game because of his ability to deal with the aerial bombardment that is sure to come England’s way and it’ll sound strange to a lot of people because of his form in attack in an England shirt but I wouldn’t have picked Jonny May.
He’s got phenomenal speed and athleticism but has been found wanting positionally of late, especially for Leicester against Ulster, and the likes of Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray will be ready to pounce on any little area of weakness.
Ireland have their own issue in the back three and, whilst Jordan Larmour would have been the automatic selection at full back in Rob Kearney’s absence, I think Schmidt has opted to get what he sees as his best players on the field.
Picking Robbie Henshaw at full back for the first time since his debut in 2013 allows him to get both Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose in the team as well at centre and Henshaw is such a talented player that I don’t think it’ll affect them too much.
Having both Mako and Billy Vunipola in the team makes such a difference to England and if they can make the most of their power, combined with Tuilagi’s ball-carrying as well, it could give England an edge.
Mako and Kyle Sinckler offer a lot in the loose but there’s no doubt they’ll be targeted at scrum time because that has been far from an area of strength for both of them in the past. Both have been guilty of conceding penalties at the set piece and that’s something England can ill afford to do at the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland beat the All Blacks there and conceded just five penalties in the process and discipline has been one of the hallmarks of their recent success, whereas England were the most ill-disciplined team in last year’s Six Nations.
Having said that, though, with Jerome Garces in charge it’s difficult to predict how things will pan out because the breakdown will be a hugely pivotal area and there won’t be as much communication as the players on both sides are used to.
You can argue the case for both teams and clearly Ireland are favourites because they’re at home and are on a phenomenal run of form at present but I just think it’s the perfect time to play them.
They generally improve significantly as the Six Nations goes on and last year was a case in point as they needed a monster drop goal from Johnny Sexton with the last kick of the match to beat France in Round 1, so I just think England could take advantage of any slow start they might have.
John Mitchell added a bit of spice earlier in the week by saying that Ireland would try to “bore the s**t” out of England and, while that is a dig at their style of play, I don’t think it was premeditated and it isn’t anything that hasn’t been directed at Ireland before by other people.
There’s no way it’ll have any effect on how Ireland approach the game and at the end of the day… do you want to support a team that plays pragmatically and wins a Grand Slam or one that tries to play amazing rugby from everywhere and loses?
There’s a World Cup at the end of this year and I can’t remember too many teams winning World Cup finals playing really extravagant rugby. They are normally dogged affairs that are won by teams that are pragmatic and manage the situation better than the opposition.
Ireland have proven to be masters at that over the course of the past year or so and Joe Schmidt has been head and shoulders above his rivals in that respect as well.
It’s not too long ago that Eddie Jones was outcoaching everyone left, right and centre when England were on their way to a world record-equalling 18 wins in a row but that hasn’t been the case for the past 18 months.
We know Schmidt goes to the nth degree with his preparation and will have a few things up his sleeve but let’s hope Eddie’s had a good Christmas, got his mojo back and come up with a few fresh ideas of his own. If he has, I reckon England can get back on the Six Nations horse on Saturday and start this World Cup year with a bang.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments