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:
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.
@Catogrande said in 2025 6Ns:
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.
@Catogrande said in Ireland v England:
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.
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?
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
Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(42)
Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht)(25)
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(63)
Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(60)
James Lowe (Leinster)(36)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(3)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(38)
Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(70)
Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(37)
Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(46)
James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(67)
Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(56)
Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(23)
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(68)
Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(captain)(47)
Replacements:
@pakman said in Ireland v England:
Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(42)
Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht)(25)
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(63)
Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(60)
James Lowe (Leinster)(36)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(3)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(38)
Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(70)
Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(37)
Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(46)
James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(67)
Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(56)
Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(23)
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(68)
Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(captain)(47)
Replacements:
- Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(27)
- Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(134)
- Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(2)
- Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(84)
- Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(46)
- Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(120)
- Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(19)
- Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(77).
Can’t wait to see some big runs from number 29 off the back of the scrum
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. 
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
@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
@Victor-Meldrew said in Ireland v England:
Porn star stores
I didn't know Byron Kelleher was playing for England.
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.
@Victor-Meldrew Yup. Good how the guys who do it Week in Week out get to step up. They have the knowledge.
