England v Ireland 21 November 15:00

[Peg Leg]

The focus put on Porter by Jones is indicative of a small concern and attempt to direct the focus of the Ref for Saturday. Personally I'm delighted and hope that Porter, Roux, Stander can stuff M Vunipola and launchbury at least once in first three scrums.

As for the UN crack, what should we expect from Jones who considers pre-match banter as part of the contest.

I am starting to come around to Jones.

[munster#1]

Jones is in on the conversation now.
United Nations has a nice ring to it.

https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/in ... 21qhSWqApk

[blockhead]

A bit of Argy Bargy from eddie there. He has used at least 20 foreign born players since taking the reins at england.

[blockhead]

A bit of Argy Bargy from eddie there. He has used at least 20 foreign born players since taking the reins at england.

And from about 9 differnet nations

Thats if the USA is still a nation.

[Experimental]

The UN comment is an old sledge originally directed at his him and his Japan team. Seems its something that stuck with him

[dropkick]

EJ says these things so all the attention is on him and not his players. It works every time.

[limecat]

Ed Byrne ruled out with injury. Bealham switches to 17 with John Ryan coming onto the bench.

[munster#1]

So it’s the UN against the old enemy.

As always, playing England is a big game, and even though this is little more than a challenge match I am highly excited to see how we perform.

Looking 1-15, this is probably one of the weakest teams that we have fielded against England, so I would be surprised to see a win here, but I do hope that the likes of Doris, Porter, Byrne and Keenan lay down a marker, to show that they are here to stay.

Set piece may be our downfall IMO. Our lineout is likely to suffer a few poor throws, and our scrum may get a good seeing to.

[FLIP]

Seems like things like rolling away, releasing the tackler and supporting your own weight are optional today

[Dexter]

Seems like things like rolling away, releasing the tackler and supporting your own weight are optional today

Along with staying onside but I'm fed up mentioning that one.

[odyboody]

Not entirely true hes blowing them up against us.
Also how did TMO not call attention to the Irish player getting dragged around by a head lock

[FLIP]

Not entirely true hes blowing them up against us.
Also how did TMO not call attention to the Irish player getting dragged around by a head lock

Yep.

Nige is too busy thinking up his next quip

[Twist]

Seems like things like rolling away, releasing the tackler and supporting your own weight are optional today

Along with staying onside but I'm fed up mentioning that one.

Came here to make these exact points.

There was a ridiculous penalty given against Keenan early on. Launchbury tackled him and just lay on him like a log, making no effort to release or roll away.

Our lineout is our biggest problem though. Why we persist with going to the corner on kickable penalties is a mystery.

[FLIP]

Seems like things like rolling away, releasing the tackler and supporting your own weight are optional today

Along with staying onside but I'm fed up mentioning that one.

Came here to make these exact points.

There was a ridiculous penalty given against Keenan early on. Launchbury tackled him and just lay on him like a log, making no effort to release or roll away.

Our lineout is our biggest problem though. Why we persist with going to the corner on kickable penalties is a mystery.

On the belief that POM might actually catch a lineout this match

[OTT]

England are very good at clearing out ie running into the breakdown as fast as they can and smashing the poacher as hard as they can with zero control, when we tried to clear out like them Ryan got done for going off his feet.

All you want is consistency, even if you disagree with how something is reffed if it’s done the same way against both teams it’s easier to stomach.

[OTT]

Double post.

[odyboody]

England's feet aren't even behind the hind most foot never mind their hands which are half way up the ruck

[Leinsterimp]

Tough watch that. Once again bullied by England right across the park, although I was getting fed up with the amount of turnovers England were being awarded when the jackler clearly wasn’t supporting his body weight. The Earl one was clear cut

[munster#1]

That was an absolutely brutal performance from Ireland.

Ireland looked a really poorly coached team with no plan B.
The coach bottled it. He needed to be ruthless, but he left a number of players out there for too long. The changes that were made improved our performance, but it was too little too late.

[Twist]

What - if anything - do the stats on territory and possession mean? Were England letting us have it for some reason or are we just really good in the middle third and really bad in the final third?