struggling to build enthuasiasm for these international games due to covid, the fact that its a weird second six nations, the fact that there's probably too many international games to prepare for next season effectively... most of all the fact that this is just the England 2015 coaching ticket minus the best part of that coaching team just kills any hope for me.

Have to agree with you on Connors Bazzo. He's just Leinster-flavour-of-the-month, whose star is already on the wane after Leinster's non-scrum performance vs Saracens. For a pure 7 Butler is a better option, but can you imagine the opprobrium that Franno and Lukey Fitzgerald would visit on Farrell's head if he was to pick a project player in the back row.
Roux was never in competition with Dillane for a position in the second row. He was competing with Kleyn for the TH Lock place.

Surprised no discussion at all about the squad announcement?

Roux is very lucky to be in, no idea how he got picked ahead of Dillane.

Am I the only one that is very confused by the sudden elevation of Will Connors? He tackles a lot but you need a hell of a lot more than that to be a top level player. For me he sort of seems like a van Der flier-lite to be honest and unfortunately I also think van der flier hasn't quite stepped up to international level.

Not sure what Connors brings that for instance Boyle or Butler don't (and others at Munster and Ulster too) but none seem to be in the conversation somehow.

If you like at the game and not the result Ireland did ok

We gave them 14 points through un forced errors.
Take that out of it and plus the 2 missed kicks.
We did ok and the stats back it up.

www.espn.co.uk/rugby/matchstats?gameId=295500&league=180659

England were off side all day, off their feet when they got a scrum for an uncontesteable ball.
Bundee got penalised for doing the correct thing.
We got one or 2 decision as well. Ref and linesmen was very poor.

If you like at the game and not the result Ireland did ok

We gave them 14 points through un forced errors.
Take that out of it and plus the 2 missed kicks.
We did ok and the stats back it up.

www.espn.co.uk/rugby/matchstats?gameId=295500&league=180659

England were off side all day, off their feet when they got a scrum for an uncontesteable ball.
Bundee got penalised for doing the correct thing.
We got one or 2 decision as well. Ref and linesmen was very poor.

That game was a lot of what I feared a Farrell team would look like - England lite imo. Demented mole have gone in hard on the 'heads up rugby' meme that has pushed by the coaching ticket - its not enough at this level. Ironically the set piece was improved on previous weeks, almost certainly due to Toner being back in the pack. One thing in Farrell's favour for me is that this feels a lot like the Matt O'Connor season (seasons?) at leinster, when the narrative was all about Joe's shackles were off but the players obviously had a massive hangover as a result. However, it took a change of coaching ticket and a couple of years to right that ship.

Awful match yesterday, but the Connacht (and ex-Connacht) lads did well. Think Bundee stood up well to the physical game, Ultan had a great cameo I think. Robbie took his chance well, and Cooney really put his hand up and I think he'd have to be starting next week.

Give bundee a vote on the 42.ie
Dave Kilcoyne is above him at the moment

the42.ie/4945089

Great for Heff such a good player, proved it again this Saturday
Marmion/Farrell are due to be in it when fit, no issue there

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/internati...t-together-1.4116934

45 man squad for a one day training camp named. Bundee, Blade, Ultan, Dave Heff, Quinn named. No sign of Marmion or Jack in the 45 man squad.

“I was looking at both 15s and I wouldn’t swap anyone – I actually think New Zealand might take one or two of our players if they had the choice” - Jamie Heaslip, Saturday 19th October, prior to kick off in the Ireland vs New Zealand World Cup Quarter Final.

What a plonker. I have been listening to some of the postmortem and there is repeated criticism of the role of media and commentators, mostly how they are too close to the team to analyze them properly - that quote from that plonker immediately sprang to mind.

So Bundee would have been rested for 2 weeks anyway, doesn't change anything on the Connacht POV, back for Leinster game at home
What about Carty? Didn't play too much recently, may he go to Swansea?

Almost a Connacht player on the pitch:

www.rte.ie/sport/rugby-world-cup-2019/20...n-ready-for-ireland/

So, no Connacht representation on the bench tomorrow. Strong team out, of course, but you'd have to think that KM and Bundee would have added something to the mix (especially Kieran, I don't think McGrath has shown himself to be a better SH).

Sol_ie wrote: Hey, shame they had to call off that match at 20 minutes this morning, eh?

In all seriousness - fair play to Japan. Utterly fearless, had us totally sussed once they got into the game. Jack and Murray fulfiled their kicking role well, but the role chosen for them was shown up in a major way today.

Some party in Japan tonight, well deserved. Hope they are able to bring that to bear against Scotland. All Blacks QF here we come.

Re: "Hope they are able to bring that to bear against Scotland" - if we can get 10 from the last 2 games (bigger if than yesterday I know) then we would have 16, Scotland can't beat 15.

Of course, Scotland are playing Samoa tomorrow so we could find ourselves third!

Hey, shame they had to call off that match at 20 minutes this morning, eh?

In all seriousness - fair play to Japan. Utterly fearless, had us totally sussed once they got into the game. Jack and Murray fulfiled their kicking role well, but the role chosen for them was shown up in a major way today.

Some party in Japan tonight, well deserved. Hope they are able to bring that to bear against Scotland. All Blacks QF here we come.