...finally.
I didn't see the teams but i hope Smith is playing.
Also, been keeping an eye on Cunningham. He went a bit quiet after a good start to his Test career. Hopefully he'll bust up some Irishman today.
...finally.
I didn't see the teams but i hope Smith is playing.
Also, been keeping an eye on Cunningham. He went a bit quiet after a good start to his Test career. Hopefully he'll bust up some Irishman today.
Marcus is always enjoyable to watch.
Cunningham-South is not playing he must be injured - instead the Curry twins are in
Ireland are missing Furlong at 3 and MaCarthy at 4
Two sizeable units
God save that anthem for being short and sweet.
James Lowe more interested in chewing than singing.
I just have a feeling England are going to cause an upset here . . . hope I haven't jinxed them!
England's first throw of the dice is a 1.
LOL
I just have a feeling England are going to cause an upset here . . . hope I haven't jinxed them!
Oh noes...
England on the attack . . . Marcus Smith looking very sharp.
Marcus scythes through
Smith cuts them open.
Smith's cross kick just a little strong.
Mack Hansen limps off, Robbie Henshaw replaces him and Garry Ringrose will shift to the wing.
4 mins gone and Smith already showing what he's made of.
England fails to control, Ireland fails to pass properly. No winners in that passage.
I reckon if I was picking a World XV Marcus Smith would be a lock for the #10 jersey.
Where's the black dude that played 14 for England in the WC? Or last year. Or something.
The touch judge's name...
Holly Davidson
...tell me her dad doesn't like motorcycles.
Trytime England, Murley in off the little grubber through.
Great break by Lawrence….he beat some tackles.
Yes! England score after a great grubber from Henry Slade and rookie Cadan Murley finishes it off. Smith nails the conversion. 7-0 to England.
7-0 as Marcus slots the conversion.
Lovely try.
That's 100% the result of having a 10 keeps making something happen.
Smith slotting in at 9 really quickly to keep the attack going.
And he slots the conversion from the corner.
Ireland applying huge pressure and they get a penalty 5m out . . .
Haha, Ireland almost gets an identical try to England's, the kick just didn't have enough weight. They have a 5m lineout though.
Man, Prendergast had a huge gap in front of him there just meters from the line, why didn't he go for it?
Brilliant defence from England but Ireland get another penalty . . . could be a team warning here . . .
England just don't have the defensive resolve that the Boks do.
Ireland go for the tap again . . . and this time they're over. Ronan Kelleher the try scorer . . . hang on, they're checking something . . .
Ireland score, too much pressure.
No try! Taigh Beirne was off his feet. Come on England!
Haha no try.
Excellent decision by the referee team.
We often complain about the TV ref but one has to give props where it's due.
Mack Hansen is back and Henshaw comes off. I thought Hansen looked finished.
Ahaha, Itoje was being held. No try.
Or whatever the reason was, I don't have sound so I'm making up my own shit.
Ireland very lucky to get away with that, looked like a try to me.
The two coaches are a contrast, eh? Easterby looking like a pastor and Borthwick like a pub brawler.
Try-saving tackle from Bundee Aki.
England doing some good things out there.
I've never been particularly impressed by Sam Prendergast but he's looking very steady tonight . . . some excellent clearances.
Some kicky kicky the past few minutes.
More good pressure from Ireland and they have a penalty just 5m out . . . and Marcus Smith is off to the sin bin.
Might be a card coming for England. Yep.
Good defence from England again and they get a penalty for obstruction. If they can survive the next 8 or 9 minutes . . .
Well now that's a TACTICAL yellow taking Smith off.
More good defence from the Poms and they win a penalty thanks to Tom Curry.
Curry wins the penalty after another Ireland surge.
Ireland have really trouble dealing with how frantic England are.
Struggling to make inroads.
Loving the intent and dog England are showing.
More good defence from England they turn it over . . . but it's all Ireland since the yellow card.
Ireland testing the England defense again but Aki knocks.
And "Dirty Old Town" by the Pogues rings through the stadium . . . one of my favourite bands!
Great tackle by Steward
Ireland with all the pressure but can't execute and finish against 14.
Gibson-Park scores after good work from Lowe.
Bad tackle miss by Mitchell.
And the missed tackle on Lowe sets Gibson-Park free. On the board at last. Poor tackle by Eng 9.
That's a criminal missed tackle by Mitchell.
All the hard work England did to keep Ireland out and then Mitchell tries to hug Lowe.
Tackle the f'king legs for heaven's sake!
7-5
Very laboured by England.
Will England take the three just before the half? Yes.
What a great line that was by Earl onto the Smith pass though.
Say what you like, but Borthwick but is improving this England side.
Last year was a bit of a feet finding but they're looking full of fight and with Smith there they able to create some nice chances.
10-5 England, lemoenetyd.
Ja England is looking enterprising.
Howzit..
England playing well but the Irish passing game is still impressive though..
Ja but it's not getting them over the line. Needed a poor tackle to finally break through.
Mitchell getting flattened by Baird.
This is an acid test for England. They lost a lot they should have won last year. They're winning this one. Can they take it to 80.
Man, Mitchell is the weak link in that England side.
What the hell was Murley doing? Oh avoiding a carry over, didn't see the touch. My bad.
Ireland knocking on the door here...
Some handbags.
Mitchell this time with a proper tackle but Ireland has a penalty anyway. A breakout of handbags.
What a romantic moment between Lowe and Steward. Good thing the guys arrived because the kiss was imminent.
Ireland coming up short and England win the scrum on their own line.
They need to clear this.
England somehow turns it over on the line. They breathe still, but still under pressure.
"What a romantic moment between Lowe and Steward. Good thing the guys arrived because the kiss was imminent."
The comment of 2025 thus far.
Might have been better to feed the flyhalf there but England is out of their 22.
Dang that was some finish by Aki.
10-10
Of course a try will be scored while my stream is farting about. The big 12 again through the little flyhalf.
One feels England may just be overdoing the little grubber through the line. Although it was certainly on there if it went clean through so maybe I'm talking shit.
What is that penalty for?
Big ask for Smith to stop him there….now if it was Manie
O'Thief only has eyes for England tonight
Ludicrous penalty call ….utter rubbish
Maybe I'm dumb but I don't see a penalty there. Ireland capitalize though, 13-10 ahead now.
Earl departs he missed a lot of tackles yoday
Big ask for Smith to stop him there
Ja, full tilt with low center of gravity, it will take some stopping.
"What is that penalty for?"
...for an Ozzie that can't control his emotions.
James Lowe looks like an infuriating twat. I may be wrong. But he looks it a bit.
Love how the Cranberries have made a comeback.
Gosh they had some good songs.
No wonder Linger is covered as much as it is. Such and wonderful melody.
Come now England, let's see if you got steel in your veins.
"James Lowe looks like an infuriating twat. I may be wrong. But he looks it a bit."
...a Kiwi with a man bun.
Cranberries was cool. Have to admit I struggle with Delores' voice at times, but good tunes.
The game has gone a bit stale in the 3rd quarter. Crowley replaces Prendergast.
Crowley comes aprowley onto the field.
Lowe puts it straight out again. Big gain for England.
Curry off after a workhorse performance.
And England drop it and lose 50m.
Oh there are two Curries on the field. I don't know if it's the workhorse that's gone.
Iain Henderson replaces Beirne.
Maybe I confused both of them for one player and thought they were busier than they were.
Tom is the workhorse. England do have good loosies. Earls is also a very good player.
Match has indeed gone a bit stale which is why I'm sitting here talking such nonsense.
Man that was a split second too soon. Lowe the twat getting involved for no reason.
Ben and Tom are the two Curry's. Think it's Ben that's off . . . Ireland score after Lowe splits the defence and that could be the game.
And Lowe through the gap feeding Beirne for the try.
Great try for Ireland.
Lowe almost fluffed it but got his pass away in the end.
20-10 to the padders
Think it's Ben that's off . . . Ireland score after Lowe spluts the defence and that could be the game.
Indeed and indeed.
Disaster for England. These guys aren’t going to do it for them. Mitchell, Slade, Marley and Freeman are not up to it. If they don’t have better they won’t progress
And right on cue Murley stuffs up again
Lol where did England find this winger!!!???
Guy is a complete spaz
Worst of all that porn mustache kinda has you expecting him to act like a spaz. Better get a shave and at least surprise us.
Brilliant saving take by Smith.
Here's a lekker one for you Pakie
That was a skew throw if ever I've seen one.
Sheehan scores. Game over.
Itoje monstered. Ireland seems to have shifted up a gear. Mark of a winning team.
Lol the wheels have come off for England.
Lowe beating another tackle. Man is a weapon, if a bit of a twatty one.
Hehe Plum, I sometimes play Society off that album 10 times in a row it's one of those days. This one's a nice bit of chill too.
Gibson-Park demonstrates the scrumhalf on wing tackling technique.
England were right in it for 65 minutes.
sucks for them.
Saffex will have to console Becs.
Gibson-Park looks a bit like me.
Tom Curry deserved that one.
Hey hey, porn stache with the winning pass to the workhorse. Maybe the power is in the stache after all. Good try England, good work Lawrence.
The snoretjie makes a tackle
Slade caught in possession. Marcus Smith for the love of all things good made the tackle on Lowe before he could do something good again. And porn stache with the try saver. We are underrating this man, y'all.
The stache gets the cross and sorta does something or other and wins a penalty for his team. Today is the start of a legend.
And Freeman slips through for the let's look gooder than we were score.
27-22. England still can't get over the line.
Paddies back to their best form of a year ago after struggling prior to Christmas.
Lowe Man of the Match!!
Gibson-Park is man of the match, another Kiwi. Is this Ireland or All Blacks Lite?
Ireland starts with a bang…those kiwi players sure do make a impact.
So does there pack led by Caelan Doris.
Irish Defence Second Half, letting In those 2 late tries by Eng, should have been much better.
England are still struggling to get over the line …
Borthwick,s days are numbered.
Bit annoyed with that, if I’m honest !
I was worried we’d get a thrashing but then we started off so well.
Oh well…..onto France next week……
England made some poor one-on-one tackles that allowed the Irish to beat the first line of defence and score.
James Louw is the average Joe of Test rugby. He does not seem blessed with natural ability, but he is a smart player that is very effective.
Flabbergass is a poor man's Sexton...decent but not a test great.
The difference between Freddie running it up from deep vs Fassi is worlds apart - Freddie is so predictable running straight into contact every time. Fassi looks to be creative
James Lowe is such a good rugby player - always in the action making things happen
Gibson Park is world class
For England Marcus Smith and Lawrence were good
How fucking dumb was that England wing - not once but twice - I’ve not seen such stupidity on a rugby field in ages
To compete with the top 4 England need to replace both wings, Slade (you were right about that one Dave, Mitchell, Genge (how many tests have been lost because he folds) the number 4 lock and perhaps even Earl who botched the kickoff and was poor defensively.
Borthwick may be poor but his talent pool is way behind the top four teams.
I don't think Borthwick is poor. He's got the team competitive and enterprising, but they are drowning in average with respect to player quality. Will the likes of Mitchell even smell a South African provincial side?
Becs, don't feel too down.
Mitchell missing an easy tackle on Lowe and then that retarded winger with his two mistakes at crucial moments is what cost you.
Failing that, England could easily have beaten the Irish.
England were by no means thrashed or badly outplayed in an area of the game.
And then, of course, that ridiculous penalty against Itoje. We all called it stupid at the time, because that's exactly what it was. O'Thief up to his usual antics.
Lol let's not make comparisons to Fassi.
...everybody is pedestrian by comparison.
Hannekom and Fassi are the two best players in SA right now, by lightyears.
That England wing must have thought he was playing for his local pub side and that he could just muscle his way out of trouble - what an idiot
Will be interesting to see if he gets a second chance - a good talking to and second chance should be the protocol
Borthwick is an idiot for leaving Cunningham-South out of the starting line up giving preference to the lesser Curry twin. He obviously thought he was going to challenge Ireland with less physicality and more competition on the ground - stupid call
Eddie Jones had a significantly better win record than Steve Borthwick as England’s head coach.
• Eddie Jones (2015–2022):
• Win rate: ~73% (59 wins in 81 matches)
• Achievements:
• 2016 Six Nations Grand Slam
• 2017 & 2020 Six Nations titles
• 2019 Rugby World Cup finalists
• Steve Borthwick (2022–present):
• Win rate (as of early 2024): ~50%
• Achievements:
• 2023 Rugby World Cup bronze medal
Jones had a far superior win percentage and led England to greater successes, including a World Cup final and multiple Six Nations titles. Borthwick’s tenure has been more inconsistent so far. //
Plum……I’m just annoyed because we started well and indeed ended well, it was just the brain dead stuff in the middle that got my goat !
And the thought that we have France this week…..so we’re looking at two losses before we start.
It’s been years now since we had a really decent team which, to me, is really sad.
We do have some decent players but, for whatever reason, nothing is gelling.
And I’m worried about who our next Coach will be !
Let's diagnose the real problem. It's ou Rooitwit having a funny feeling and jinxing Endland. Ou Rooitwit is a real Jonah! Now his hopes are dashed!
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Time for a good contested rugby test