Joe Schmidt has announced the Ireland team to play England at Twickenham this weekend in the Six Nations. There are three new caps in the squad in Stuart McCloskey, Ultan Dillane, and Josh van der Flier.
Mike Ross makes his first start of the tournament on the tighthead, while Donnacha Ryan takes the place of the injured Mike McCarthy in the engine room. Van der Flier makes his debut on the openside alongside CJ Stander and Jamie Heaslip.
The halfbacks remain the same, while McCloskey’s inclusion at 12 sees Robbie Henshaw shift into the 13 shirt vacated by the injured Jared Payne. Keith Earls returns on the wing to join Andrew Trimble and Rob Kearney.
IRELAND TEAM TO PLAY ENGLAND
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 68
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 60
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht) 17
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 47
10. Jonathan Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 58
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 44
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 27
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) Captain 91
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 56
4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 36
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 33
6. CJ Stander (Munster) 2
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)*
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) Vice Captain 82
Replacements
16. Richard Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster) 14
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 56
18. Nathan White (Connacht) 10
19. Ultane Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)*
20. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 7
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster) 68
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster) 27
23. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster) 22
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
22 replies on “Six Nations 2016: Ireland team to play England”
A bit more of an unknown quantity for sure. McCloskey is the next big thing according to those in the know and should cause the English defense some trouble, heck of a place to make your debut though.
can’t help but feel this might come down to how long Sexton is able to stay on, England notably came back in the game last year when he went off.
Yeah I prefer the impact our bench
If Strauss, Dillane, Reddan or Madigan take the field i see this as weakening the XV
Healy, Ruddock, White and Zebo would be fresh legs of a comparable standard
If George, Vunipola, Clifford, Care or Daly take the field you could argue it strengthens the XV
Lawes or Goode (if he plays as well as last week) would be fresh legs of a comparable standard
Hill or Goode (if he plays like he has in the past) would weaken the XV
If England are close or ahead going into the final 20 the game should be theirs
McCloskey – 6ft 4 17 stone 1
Henshaw – 6ft 4 16 stone 3
Farrell – 6ft 2 15 stone 3
Joseph – 6ft 14 stone 5
Its going to be a long day for England’s centres if the Irish get much ball
Mike Ross should shore their scrum up somewhat.
I think the “if” is quite a substantial one Pablito. Hopefully England are showing signs of going in the right direction and like the feeling of winning. I fancy them to weather an early Irish storm and win by about 15 points. If it is wet I reckon the big centres may struggle for traction!
For me, the big questions are at 10. Is Sexton fit enough or has he received one bang on the head too many (when you watch his tackling technique it isn´t surprising he gets hurt), and is Ford slowly beginning to get back into some sort of form? If Sexton fires on all cylinders and Ford doesn´t I agree the centres face a long afternoon, but if that happens I would expect the pack to stick it up their jumpers and have too much on the bench for the Irish in the last 20 minutes.
Finally, solely on the basis that they surely can´t keep playing as badly I fancy France to sneak home against Wales.
Pablito, may I ask what is your obsession with height and weight of centres? This is Test rugby, not under 15s. Everyone is entitled to their view however I think you put to much focus on size here. An example being Conrad Smith would be viewed as ‘too small’ in your book. Argentina served up a dicking of Ireland recently in the WC if you recall and their centres were not massive by any stretch of the imagination.
Santiago you have hit the nail on the head here, Pablito seems to think that if you are heavier than you opposing number in the centre it means you already have the upper hand and will break through in the end but even the likes of Nonu and Tuilangi have been stopped by slighter players in opposition.
Its not a simple greater height + weight = eventual breakthrough what about the skill of said centre and tackling ability of opposing centre?
Where is the counter argument that McClosky and Henshaw will be in for the ‘busy afternoon’ as the centres who face them are lighter and will be more fleet of foot and will therefore be trailing in their wake.
Pablito it is never ever simple as black and white.
Unless you are talking about a zebra
Mr B – I’m sorry. Are you describing Farrell as ‘fleet of foot’? I can think of many descriptors for him. This is not amongst them.
Santiao and Mr B – You may not like it but size is a important feature of modern rugby. Big ball carrying centres get you over the gain line or bend the defensive line. They suck defenders in and create space elsewhere
If this weren’t the case, then we wouldn’t see them in almost every team. Unless you know something that international coaches do not.
You use the example of Conrad Smith but he is a brilliant centre with superb defense, possibly one of the best centres of the last few decades. He is the exception not the rule
Farrell’s tackling tecnique is dodgy, especially on big men, as he goes in too high. Joseph is a reasonably good defender but can slip off tackles. Between them they have missed 25% of their tackles this 6 Nations – against arguably the 2 worst teams in the competition. Neither of them are Conrad Smith.
McCloskey and Henshaw are not donkeys either. Both pass and off-load. They are both highly skilled. After all, this is not under 15 rugby as you cleverly point out. Schmidt has not chosen them just because they are big – but because they are big and good.
Interesting how you cherry pick from a post why backs up your argument, I didn’t refer directly to Farrell as being fleet of foot but by your reasoning he should be compared to the big hulks in front of him.
I understand the importance of big ball carrying centres but they are not the be all and end all which is what you were eluding to and I believe Santiago was using Conrad Smith as an example not comparing him directly to Farrell and JJ just pointing out it is possible.
Nobody called McCloskey and Henshaw donkeys either its just if they were as good as you say they are they’d be absolute superstars that all teams would fear facing using your reckoning, I remember another irish centre, used to be the best in the world, wasn’t that big either Brian O’Driscoll, ring any bells?
I don;t understand how my reasoning could lead anyone to believe Farrell is ‘fleet of foot’ – can you explain please?
iOther than that, you are arguing against something I have not said.
I have not said that big centres are the be all and end all. I have stated that Smith is one of the best of the modern era, so I clearly cannot think that
I haven’t claimed that Henshaw and McCloskey are incredible players either. Just that they are not donkeys.
My original post pointed out the size disparity and stated that it would be a long afternoon for Joseph and Farrell if the Irish centres get much ball. Which it will be,
If you want to disagree, please argue with what I’ve actually said rather than what you think I’ve said.
Oh and I do remember BOD thanks. Possibly one of the best centres of all time, let alone the modern age. Another exception rather than the rule. Not entirely sure what you are trying to prove here
Once again proving you cannot be reasoned with, you have your opinion I have mine, move on.
So you’ve taken issue with something I haven’t said and when I’ve pointed that out, you’ve got all sulky.
Classy
PS – ‘Once again’??
Pablito I really don’t want to get drawn into this but sulky, really? Grow up.
Your reasoning is that is you are big and powerful you will always break the line, therefore if you are smaller applied logic suggests you will be the opposition, therefore more mobile being one………
Brian O’Driscoll is to show you can be smaller and effective against bigger players quoting you : ‘Possibly one of the best centres of all time, let alone the modern age. Another exception rather than the rule’, arguing with yourself.
I do disagree and put that point across with reason, you clearly have an ego problem when someone disagrees and puts in a reasoned response that you need to shoot them down which you have done before in many previous posts,
Pick up your toys little boy and go home, I’d pat you on the head if I could.
Pablito – I have to agree with Mr B here you have been disagreed with and acted like a complete jerk, I see reason in both your arguments but you really have not taken on baord anything that opposes you people are allowed a difference in opinion.
Here, here Martin J, Pablito grow up.
Amazing. Please point out all these previous posts where this ‘ego problem’ of mine has been demonstrated. I’ve been posting regularly on here for years and don’t think I’ve once got into a barney with anyone until now.
Again, because you clearly suffer from problems reading – not once have I written that big players ‘always break the line’. Nor have I said that powerful players are always the best – hence my agreement that Smith and BOD were superb centres
What I HAVE done is stated that Farrell and joseph may have problems with the bigger Irish centres. I have gone on to point out that power is a fact of life in the modern game. I have explained why I think power is desirable and point out that almost all international teams contain at least one powerful centre and that clearly international coaches must think they need them.
Your argument is against something I have not stated. All you’ve done is to take umbrage against something I’ve not written and then get even more arsey because I pointed this out.
I don’t get why people are getting on Pablito’s case here…
Pablito made a very straightforward observation.
Mr B set up a tangential strawman, argued it aggressively and when Pablito didn’t take the bait he moved on to ad hominem.
Thank you Stroudos.
BTW I would like nothing better than to be proved utterly wrong and for Farrell and Joseph to have the upper hand.
I am concerned though that it will not happen like that
Strodous how did Mr B bait Pablo to by having a differing opinion, everyone agree with Pablito surely a Rugby God.
Amazing how many people I’ve never seen comment before have turned up on this thread
I think for all this talk about the Irish centres and their prospective demolition of Faz and JJ depends just how much Ireland kick the ball. If they play like thy have so far, then England should get plenty of possession, and with runners like Billy, and Itoje in the pack, providing we get quick ball, it will be the Irish defenders doing the tackling.
Ireland have kicked significantly less than England have so far (partly because their kick-chase game has deteriorated) and had parity with Wales at breakdown time. Ireland will likely play narrow and kick for territory.