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Turnover machine? Heaslip is barely fulfilling his function as a Test No.8 of late. He snags the occasional ball but no more so that Samo, Higginbotham, Read or a slew of other Test No.8s I could mention.

Ireland are a poor team when not playing with confidence, or form. When confident and in-form, Ireland that can be a decent side who still cannot beat anyone of note away from home. The Wallabies are much more than just a decent side. I just had a mate who is attending the game tell me that...

Yes. He is a hell of a 6 as several posters have attested, but he is a poor 7. Pocock will devour the Irish at the breakdown because they are quick to go to ground to re-establish the off-side line. Ferris might be a handful as he really shifts the pile and is a tremendous athlete and rugby...

I thinks the Aussie front five have developed quite nicely this past year and have all the attributes (size, athleticism, mobility, mongrel, worth rate and smarts) to more than hold their own against this Irish front five in which there is only one real ball carrier of note in Healy. O'Connell...

Good for you. Your post reads like you already a tad bit red-faced but you'll be in good position to cheer your team on and see SOB and Ferris blow Wallabies away, after running over first over them and then away from them. Good luck with that and enjoy the game.

Scotland really is such an average team who diminish when playing away from home. Support for the game in that country is poor. Crowds at Pro 12 games are 3 men and a dog.

Kiwis will be getting nervous..... very nervous...

Oh for FFS! :) It'll be alright on the night.

Granted. England have a history of beating the Wallabies through forward dominance at scrum and breakdown. They applied a blow torch to one area of the Wallabies that was fragile. There is not one aspect of this Irish team's game that can be considered dominant Also consider this; Ireland's...

Lee, you raise a good point about Matt Stephens being primarily a test TH. He has only played loosehead for Saracens after returning from suspension. It probably suits his game more as he is a very mobile, wide ranging footballing prop that will be less sapped from TH play. I know one English...

C'mon, relax. Have a beer and enjoy. Yes, Ireland's form is poor but more importantly they are low in confidence both as a team and with in key decision makers at 9 and 10. Ireland will not rediscover their form and confidence against a Wallaby side playing at new heights in form, confidence...

Surprised Kidney has gone with Sexton given that he is so quick to pull him whenever he puts a foot, two or three wrong. But Sexton's will be looking over his shoulder as his confidence and form are not in the ascendant. O'Gara is the better player at the moment, but in selecting Sexton, Kidney...

Back on topic.. A word of caution here..England gain a more mobile and technically superior loosehead in Stephens. While Stephens is not as powerful on the engagement, or on the drive, he is technically superior. Sheridan is really not that effective when he comes up against props who can...

Stephens is an excellent and a more flexible player if less powerful (incl scrummager). He may be better known for having been banned for the game for 2 years for cocaine use. Behind him again, New Yorker Alex Corbisiero is a good, solid player. England brought 5 props toi the dance and so may...

I do not see Sheridan's loss as that significant if England pursue a wider game playing with an athletic pack. Sheridan is a good driving forward but lacks the mobility to fully complement that wider game. Stephens is a more versatile prop and scrummager, although not as powerful. For me a more...

Here is the team.. Looks like the one they will ride as far as they can in this comp. Aside from Ellis starting over Cowan, and Ben Franks and Dagg being on the bench ahead of Afoa and SBW, I think this is now the team I'd expect Henry to select in the knock-out stages. All Blacks team to play...

A couple of points (and I apologize for boring the forum if I am repeating myself) : Firstly, yes, the English and French have to carry massive squads but that’s mainly to compensate for the high attrition rate of their domestic league, not to compete in the HEC. For the French, the Brennus...

If true then it hints of 2007 all over again when he walked into tournament carrying a calf injury that blew up on him in the Qtrs against France. I imagine we will see Henry attempt to build up Slade's confidence through game time although I don't think he is able to take the game by the...

I know we should all respect he opposition and talk them up with kind words but I've had enough. :) The IRFU has enormous sway over the provinces. The Irish target the 6N’s and get more complete access to players since they are contracted centrally, while the French and English flog their...

If you think hey are turgid now, just wait. You'll long for these days.