Comments on: A tale of two autumns: what England can learn from Ireland

By: Bath Fan

Bath Fan — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 19:07:28 +0000

Where are all the Jonny May critics now then?

By: Blub

Blub — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 15:13:00 +0000

So I have just seen the Bath team. They have a big ball carrying Back-row (Garvey, Sisi, Houston), with Carl Fearns also on the bench.

Roko and Banahan on the wings makes this a perfect set up for Eastmond to be flinging the ball to any number of big runners.

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 11:39:35 +0000

Are we playing a game of “Our injuries are worse than your injuries”?

By: Anarky

Anarky — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 08:01:01 +0000

You’ll be fine against us (Wales) Simon. You’re playing us first and on a Friday night. Wales, traditionally, do neither of those very well.

By: simon scantlebury

simon scantlebury — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 21:03:18 +0000

We have Ireland and Wales away in 6N.What evidence is there England can win either?England aren’t exactly going to be upbeat when they reassemble in 2 months time.Sadly the impetus SL had generated has fallen away as the time has come to get some wins at home against the big3.

By: Martin Heavey

Martin Heavey — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 19:28:10 +0000

Trimble, Fitzgerald, Sean O’Brien, Donnacha Ryan, Cian Healy, Marty Moore, Best (for first two games), (Payne for last two), Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Jordi Murphy, Fergus McFadden, Darcy (for first two), Keith Earls, Nathan White, Dan Tuohy and Luke Marshall. Fair enough if your not Irish, you wouldn’t be in the know with the extent of the injuries, buy thats 13 and theres a few more that I cant remember. So in reality our i jury woes were as bad as England’s and when you consider that we have 4 teams and not a league to choose from you get an idea of just how bad the injury situation was.

By: snewe

snewe — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 18:22:41 +0000

I think that the first part regarding Ireland does England a disservice. Firstly I will say Ireland have had a good autumn and have out played England.
That said to say they have done with far worse injuries smacks as unfair. We are without corbs, mako, youngs Cole, launch, parling, Manu. Add players like Burrell and nowell who were out but have come back and the list is quite long, and these are some of our key personnel. I’m not saying all those listed are starters but def competition.
Yes Ireland have done well but I don’t think the gulf is huge. True they did well in the six nations but only beat us on points difference. Also our margins of defeat haven’t been huge – people will say the scores flatter us and I will retort with the score board never lies.
The issue is that England have gone about the games particularly well. Players are off form, the game plan has been poor and for some reason most of the team have forgotten how to carry.
The point I would make, though some will disagree, is in my opinion Ireland are doing better but not head abs shoulders above as some say.
After all the margins have been all of 6 points

By: brighty

brighty — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 18:03:47 +0000

I reckon some WRU media wonk got trigger happy and complained. Can’t see Gats et al being bothered by McLaughlin enough to complain. They know she’s a troll, has form for it, water off a ducks back.

By: Geat

Geat — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 16:07:29 +0000

Agreed – if Burgess is named at 23 I will not take that to mean he’s a replacement back until he takes up his position on the field.

By: Niall

Niall — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 15:49:49 +0000

Bath to ignore numbering convention on their bench, just to annoy everyone!