Unsurprisingly Ruck.com were a fair way off the mark. They really are a shower of shit, click bait merchants.

Must. Not. Click.

Anyway, England side to face Ireland in Dublin:

England: Steward; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Murley; M Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje, Martin, T Curry, B Curry, Earl
Replacements: Dan, Baxter, Heyes, Chessum, Cunningham-South, Willis, Randall, F Smith

Injury dictating the odd selection. I'd have liked to see Sleighthome instead of either Freeman as he has some real gas. Is he injured? Outside of Smith, the back line looks short of pace and a tad uninspiring, save for Murley. To a degree this is down to lack of alternatives but also due to the reluctance of the coaches to give anyone else a chance, particularly in the centres.

The front five is pretty much as expected and as good as we can put out really, though I'd rather see someone other than Heyes on the bench.

The back row is looking odd and a bit lightweight to me and I'm really not sure about T Curry's form currently; however with CCS and Willis on the bench it indicates that Borthwick sees Chessum as a lock, which is a step forward for me. I think the theory on the back row selection is that a quick trio who can be a nuisance at the breakdown might nullify the flow of Ireland's attack. A genius move if it works out and I guess some heavyweights to come on if it doesn't.

All in all though, it could have been a lot worse and in truth I was expecting to to be so.

@Catogrande got to be the slowest back row in international rugby and that front row is going to get mullered.

@Bones

I first read that as mulleted and with Porter playing you would not be wrong. in truth it's pretty much the best front row, scrummaging wise, that we could put out, at least one with any experience. Ireland are strongly up front but losing Furlong is significant but that loss is probably negated by our selection of Heyes.

As to your other comment - rancid.

@Catogrande said in 2025 6Ns:

@Bones

I first read that as mulleted and with Porter playing you would not be wrong. in truth it's pretty much the best front row, scrummaging wise, that we could put out, at least one with any experience. Ireland are strongly up front but losing Furlong is significant but that loss is probably negated by our selection of Heyes.

As to your other comment - rancid.

I was going to complain about ruck too as I often accidentally click their bait but it was overshadowed by such a donkey team naming order.

@Bones said in 2025 6Ns:

@Catogrande said in 2025 6Ns:

@Bones

I first read that as mulleted and with Porter playing you would not be wrong. in truth it's pretty much the best front row, scrummaging wise, that we could put out, at least one with any experience. Ireland are strongly up front but losing Furlong is significant but that loss is probably negated by our selection of Heyes.

As to your other comment - rancid.

I was going to complain about ruck too as I often accidentally click their bait but it was overshadowed by such a donkey team naming order.

Ah. Now I see that you were on that same old, worn out steed.

@Bones

You'll have to tone down the irony a bit. Us Brits just don't get it.

at least all the talk of Smith starting at 15 turned out to be bullshit

Ben O'Keeffe is the ref. England will feel they are owed some luck.

@Catogrande said in Ireland v England:

Us Brits just don't get it.

Such a chaste lot.

@Catogrande said in Ireland v England:

@Bones

I first read that as mulleted and with Porter playing you would not be wrong. in truth it's pretty much the best front row, scrummaging wise, that we could put out, at least one with any experience. Ireland are strongly up front but losing Furlong is significant but that loss is probably negated by our selection of Heyes.

As to your other comment - rancid.

Not sure Genge is any great shakes at LH, but with Furlong out not that big an issue. Scrums could get quite interesting (!) at around 60.

@pakman

Yeah Genge is not the best scrummaging LH around but in truth no one is yet really pushing him. I thought Baxter might be the deal but he’s gone backwards a bit. We’ve got some exiting front row players coming through but a bit early to be hanging out the bunting just yet. But I can’t see the rationale for not giving them some time and opportunity, given that the cupboard is pretty bare ahead of them. We know that Heyes, Rodd et all have not taken advantage of a number of chances, so why persist?

@Catogrande I think Rodd has had a good season so far. Perhaps they think with Furlong out Genge’s good round the field game is worth having?
Heyes struck me as a journeyman, but maybe they think he’s come on this year? Good mentor in Colesy!
Baxter does seem to have gone backwards this season at Quins. Perhaps needs some more beef?

@pakman

Ach! I’m no front row guru but Rodd sems to me to be one of those guys that struggle to make the step up. Heyes looks like a flat track bully. I don’t get how these guys get so many chances and guys like Obano get chucked out and Rapava-Ruskin doesn’t even get a look in. We’ve got a couple of potential serious contenders from the under 20s in Fasagobon and Opoku-Fordjur and I would really like to see them given a real go ahead of Heyes and Rodd. Because let’s face it, if Genge and Stuart are getting toasted, Heyes is not going to be the answer. We already know that.

I remember when Sir Woodentop first got the gig and he really gave some youngsters a go. Some made it, many didn’t, but it did allow him to get a good look at some guys that later became the backbone of that early 2000s side.

Borthwick, not so much.

@pakman said in Ireland v England:

@Catogrande I think Rodd has had a good season so far. Perhaps they think with Furlong out Genge’s good round the field game is worth having?
Heyes struck me as a journeyman, but maybe they think he’s come on this year? Good mentor in Colesy!
Baxter does seem to have gone backwards this season at Quins. Perhaps needs some more beef?

I think he's tired, hes still very young and he went from 5-10 games a year to full international and club calendar. He needs to be better managed by Quins and England IMO and give him a chance to continue to improve

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(42)

16. Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht)(25)

17. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(63)

18. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(60)

19. James Lowe (Leinster)(36)

20. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(3)

21. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(38)

22. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(70)

23. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(37)

24. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(46)

25. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(67)

26. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(56)

27. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(23)

28. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(68)

29. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(captain)(47)

Replacements:

16. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(27)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(134)
18. Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(2)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(84)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(46)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(120)
22. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(19)
23. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(77).

Only one Munster starter.

I expect home game status is what will tip the result in favour of Ireland.

@pakman said in Ireland v England:

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(42)

16. Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht)(25)

17. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(63)

18. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(60)

19. James Lowe (Leinster)(36)

20. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(3)

21. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(38)

22. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(70)

23. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(37)

24. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(46)

25. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(67)

26. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(56)

27. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(23)

28. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(68)

29. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(captain)(47)

Replacements:

16. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(27)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(134)
18. Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(2)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(84)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(46)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(120)
22. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(19)
23. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(77).

Can’t wait to see some big runs from number 29 off the back of the scrum

@MN5 Oirish numbering!

geez the Irish have such consistent selections. Do their fans crap on about no one else getting a go? Or are they just happy with the same blokes?

@mariner4life The Leinster ones are probably delirious. Only major concern would be why the other provinces get a token player or two.

Leinster. Ireland's Canterbury.

@antipodean said in Ireland v England:

The Leinster ones are probably delirious. Only major concern would be why the other provinces get a token player or two.

Not all of them can move to Leinster.

Munster used to be a lot stronger, which livened selection up a bit.

I watched the U20 clash. England continue to find 2 m+ giants at lock and 6, although the blindside didn't last that long (red card after 13 mins for shoulder on head contact in a tackle). They are using 20 min red cards in this competition. England were down to 13 players in the 1st half but still looked comfortable.

@pakman said in Ireland v England:

Only one Munster starter.

None from Ulster

Also I can see why they chose Sam P at ten - 'needs more Leinster'

Long term is got to be a problem, that much of the national team in one place

Lively start by England.

Porn star stores in the corner after Lawrence split the Oirish defence

@Victor-Meldrew said in Ireland v England:

Porn star stores in the corner after Lawrence split the Oirish defence

7-0 to the Poms

Murley with a try just 8 minutes into his debut test. Great work in the build up by Marcus Smith.

Ireland 0 England 7

Even for NH rugby, I feel like that was alot of box kicks in the first 10 mins

@Victor-Meldrew said in Ireland v England:

Porn star stores

I didn't know Byron Kelleher was playing for England.

Gibson-Park's assimilation is clearly complete. Looks a proper leprechaun now.

Ireland would be nothing without their Kiwis.

Ireland score. Weird try. The ball squirted out of a ruck and no one from England reacted, but the Irish Hooker eventually picked it up.

But they are looking at it. It's with the TMO.

No try.

England still leading 7-0.

Itoje gets a try ruled out for something he’s perfected. Fair play.

England attack looks dangerous around the breakdown

Beirne either got hit in the head or dived.