jamesliveinhope says...

All a bit harsh on ROG, exactly the player to give Ireland the game that they needed and was the man on the park when Ireland dragged themselves back to parity.

@jhamer think Cole has done enough recently for Gatland to ignore the wheelspinning scrums (from both sides) on that surface and we shouldn't forget that Cole appears to have been Healy's stamping victim and needed treatment on his ankle shortly afterwards.

Somoething that at least three unions need to look at is the fitness for purpose of their playing surface. Cardiff Paris and now apparently Dublin will destroy scrummaging unless they fix their problems with the turf.

Posted 22:13 10th February 2013

melkdave says...

@JHammer

Dont know what match you watched today ,but Cole held his own,and the scrum was a draw imo.As for A.Jones being a Lions starter ,his so far down the list atm ,he isnt even getting on the plane.Let alone the fact he was totally taken apart yeserday by the french scrum.If your wondering whos infront of him atm its Cole.Ross ,Sheriadan, Vainipolo and even Mitchell who replaced him.Nevermind Stevens whos playing brilliently for Saracens atm AJ is getting murdered in the scrum atm,and his useless in the loose always 5 mins late for any ruck or mual.Wake up his not going at all.

Posted 21:43 10th February 2013

Kent says...

@jamesliveinhope : So the points in the France - Wales game just "happened" and they were "earned" in the Ireland - England game.

Outstanding post - keep it up

Posted 21:29 10th February 2013

Chubbylugs says...

Any armchair referees that could shed some light on the Kearney incident in the second half? I'm referring to the time he was tackled near touch near his own goal line, he then reached out a hand to touch the touchline and kill the play

Is this a penalty? You can run a ball dead or kick it, but you can't throw a ball into touch. I thought it was quite smart play, except that he had been tackled - does that then make it a penalty, possibly even a penalty try?

I've not seen it happen before, so am curious if anyone can shed any light?

Posted 20:57 10th February 2013

jappers1983 says...

Haskell's was a yellow - that Healy went unpunished doesn't devalue any other cynical play of its sinbin-worthiness during the rest of the match.

Healy....what an idiot. The leg in question was not even slowing the ball down. That wouldn't legitimise the stamp, but that is normally the reason why players use the boot in a ruck. This, however, was outright a moment of sheer madness. Kidney should have brought him off earlier - he saw the red mist several times and was a liability; pretty sure that Cole not giving an inch fuelled his frustration.

Anyway, England were quality. Never lost sight of what needed to be done and played to the conditions. Farrell was a very steady hand at 10, exactly what you need for such a match. Man of the match? Tom Wood for me. Just an absolute beast in his carrying, tackling, lineout play, hitting rucks...him and Robshaw are becoming quite the duo. Bravo England.

Posted 20:34 10th February 2013

Keste03 says...

If and if. England were average today, but is was more than enough to beat a mediocre side away from home. Funny how england only win because the opposition s paying bad - ever considered england are restricting them. Nuff said.

Posted 20:30 10th February 2013

Iyhel says...

Finally a match worth watching. Wouldn't call it a triumph but England were serious, especially after being waked up by Haskell's yellow card. For Ireland, having your captain giving away so many penalties, in wet conditions, is a real concern...

Can't see anyone stopping an English Grand Slam now - provided they stay serious, not like 2011.

Posted 20:19 10th February 2013

boksmashoffice says...

Ben Youngsman of match, don't think so. He was poor today. Best player on park was Goode. The back 3 were very good.looked secure under high ball which was the only play Ire had, which was disappointing. It was an absorbing match with a high error count. Better team won.

One other conclusion from watching the match was that ROG is past his best. Time to bring in Jackson and Madigan as and the boy from Munster (keatley) and let fight it out for bench position.

Posted 20:10 10th February 2013

caramba13 says...

England worthy winners. Ireland, trying to play the wrong game in the conditions, should have been hoisting enormous garryowens at either Aston or the English pack. Instead they kicked simple lobs to Goode who feasted off them. The real missing men were not Zebo or Sexton but Ferris and O'Connell.

Posted 19:47 10th February 2013

7redcards says...

So lets have some comments from all the one eyed irish supporters that posted on here pre match????

I loved this game, it had everything that has been missing from the six nations recently, passion, fire, intensity and not much back play which as a prop I was very pleased with!!

Posted 19:37 10th February 2013