Player welfare versus flow of the game, Ireland’s own Beauden Barrett and England kicking on with an All Blacks tacticEarly this season officials were hard on players whose acts risked causing a head injury. It led to a flurry of cards and bans but then came a World Rugby directive that the TMO should be used sparingly so games did not become addled by hold-ups. As a result, when Stuart Hogg was taken out by Peter O’Mahony and Rory Best, no penalty was awarded and there was no review; nor was there for any of the thumping challenges on Johnny Sexton. Hogg lasted 16 minutes and Sexton 23. Player welfare has been relegated below the flow of a game. Paul...
Joe Schmidt admitted his side hope England stumble in Cardiff but says Ireland raised the temperature against ScotlandIreland now know they need to lean on others if they are to defend their Six Nations title. They finish their campaign in Cardiff and will require England to stumble in the Welsh capital a week on Saturday.The champions recovered from their chastening defeat by England by going back to basics to end Scotland’s run of six successive home victories in the championship and put themselves back in contention. But, with England finishing their campaign with home games against Italy and Scotland – two sides who have not won at Twickenham in the Six Nations era – Ireland need Wales to beat the...
Adopting a strategy of squeeze and strangle, Eddie Jones’ team gave Ireland little room to handle the constant pressureThere was so much to like about England’s performance in Dublin but of the things that impressed me most, the way they handled the breakdown is right up there. Twelve months ago it was such a problematic area of their game but on Saturday’s evidence it is becoming a strength. They haven’t reinvented the wheel but the biggest improvement is their decision-making. Related: Henry Slade scores twice as England stun Ireland in Six Nations Related: How beers, soap and a stepladder laid way for Eddie Jones’ Ireland triumph | Gerard Meagher Continue reading...
John Mitchell key for England; Wales’ Dan Biggar offers alternative denied to France; Scotland’s chance to show ambition; England women face formidable French packIreland have won every match in the final round of the Six Nations under Joe Schmidt, but they have won only one of their last four on the opening weekend – in France last year when Johnny Sexton’s late, late drop goal took them past France. They were seven points down against England before a number of spectators had found their seats and they didn’t even bear a passing resemblance to the side who had prevented the most free-flowing team in the world, New Zealand, from scoring a try a few months before. In contrast, England have...
No 10 frequently an Irish saviour but influence goes missing as green machine is rolled over by men in whiteNo grand slam this time, just the eerie thud of lofty Irish reputations crashing back down to earth. One bad result does not suddenly make Ireland a bad side but this was not a day to convince many neutrals the world’s second-best team were wearing green. Maybe that was the problem: given the choice between being the hunters or the hunted, Irish rugby players instinctively prefer the underdogs’ basket.Being garlanded as near-invincible champions before a ball has even been kicked is rather less comfortable terrain. And goodness this was an untypical Ireland performance: nervy, inaccurate, flat in places, panicky in others....