Ready for a DOGFIGHT
WE’RE living in an era of mind-numbing rugby jargon and needlessly complicated terminology.
In the modern game, you don’t heed lessons anymore, you have work-ons and learnings. Team shapes, pods and data are the big drivers of performance these days.
For the casual fan who rocks up to the pub for a match, it could be a bit daunting to offer an opinion on what’s transpiring on the pitch for fear of being lynched by a nearby rugby nause who seemingly knows the World Rugby lawbook off by heart.
Yes, the game has changed a lot. But there are universal truths about this sport which have stood the test of time.
The old adages of no scrum, no win and
Stacking the bench with six forwards tells its own story
set-piece dominance are still written in stone.
Just ask the Springboks who won backto-back World Cups courtesy of such an approach.
And it looks like this England team — a decidedly average one, it must be said — have tooled up for a good ol’ fashioned slugfest in the forward exchanges.
Everything about Steve Borthwick’s selection suggests as much.
The hosts are reeling from a poor showing in Murrayfield and they are getting it from every corner about their ponderous style of play.
They are primed for a big show on their home patch. They know that their opponents are currently on another level, particularly in attack.
Ireland’s defence has been especially miserly as well, conceding just three tries across as many rounds.
Deficiencies in Andy Farrell’s squad are not easy to locate. Borthwick, however, will feel that the scrum and lineout may be avenues to probe. Accordingly, he has beefed up his pack to do such a job. Jamie George, Dan Cole and Maro Itoje are the old heads in this English forward unit.
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At 36 years of age and with 110 Test caps to his name, Cole is on duty to provide his setpiece smarts. It’s telling that Will Stuart, the replacement tighthead on the bench, is also a renowned scrummager. Joe Marler, too. It was telling as well that Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty went into such detail about Ireland’s previous visit to England HQ in 2022 earlier this week. The Irish pack — with Andrew Porter, in particular, falling foul of referee Mathieu Raynal — were penalised on six occasions at scrum time on the day in question. That game was something of a line-in-the-sand moment for his Irish pack, but if a few early scrums go England’s way, this could get interesting.
Same goes for the lineout. Paul O’Connell’s set-piece was humming nicely at the beginning of the tournament — delivering a 100 per cent return in the wins against France and Italy — before some of the old gremlins got into the system during the win against Wales.
There were a lot of things which didn’t go right in that ill-fated World Cup quarter-final loss to the All Blacks but a misfiring scrum and lineout didn’t help. There’s clearly an issue here.
England certainly feel they can get some change out of Ireland in the air.
Leicester lock George Martin has been drafted into the pack, with Ollie Chessum shifting to the backrow.
Along with Itoje, that’s three tall and explosive lineout options to go after an Irish unit featuring Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne and Peter O’Mahony.
If Ireland nail their set-piece basics, it will be hard to see this wounded — and limited — England team getting a foothold in the match.
A few wayward throws and a few blasts of Nika Amashukeli’s whisoperating
tle in England’s favour at scrum time and Borthwick’s side may quietly fancy their chances, mind you.
No doubt, this has been playing on Farrell’s mind in recent weeks. Yesterday matchday squad was instructive on that front.
There were few surprises in Farrell’s starting line-up. His decision to once again stack his bench with six forwards tells its own story. Ireland are ready for a dogfight and Farrell is ensuring that his pack have no shortage of firepower.
There will be plenty of focus on Porter, that’s for sure. The powerful 28year-old Leinster prop is by far the best option at loosehead. Indeed, Porter would be a hot favourite to start for the British and Irish Lions against the Wallabies in the 2025 series.
Few props can match Porter’s power, mobility and workrate. The only thing stopping him achieving world class status is a propensity to rack up penalties.
Some referees seem to have a perception that his scrummaging isn’t exactly above board either.
Porter can set the record straight tomorrow.
It’s not like Farrell is flush with options if Porter has an off day either. Cian Healy recently stated his intention to play on for another season but whether his battered 36-year-old frame has another campaign left in him remains to be seen.
Especially with Michael Milne, Jack Boyle and Paddy McCarthy all breaking through the ranks down at Leinster.
Loosehead is the one area where Ireland are looking slightly vulnerable. As for the lineout, perhaps the Welsh display was just a minor wobble? If there was ever a day for O’Mahony to show his value to this team, it will be now.
Because McCarthy and Beirne — for all their talents — would not be regarded as lineout specialists.
McCarthy would be in the tractor class of second row and does his best work as an enforcer around the pitch and is not the most agile of locks when it comes to being lifted. Beirne, on the other hand, is an intelligent and skilful forward but is by no means a giant either.
Luckily, Ireland have Iain Henderson and Ryan Baird in reserve to provide some extra aerial prowess if things get a bit dicey.
And there is a sense is that this gnarly English pack have the capabilities to make this an awkward day for this Slam-chasing Irish team. Don’t be surprised if this encounter is closer than many are predicting.