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'I see them being Ireland’s biggest competitor in the next couple of years'

Press Association

Former Ireland scrumhalf Peter Stringer has pinpointed England as Ireland’s main competitors going forward, following what in the end turned out to be a closely contested Six Nations campaign.

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Despite Ireland’s triumph, it was their penultimate game — a loss to England at Twickenham — that might people sit up and take notice of England, who had theretofore disappointed.

England’s unyielding intensity throughout the 80 minutes showcased the high stakes of the rivalry, with Ireland narrowly missing out on a win. This match – according to Stringer – highlighted England’s standing as a formidable opponent for Ireland going forward.

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    “The game against England at Twickenham – which, for me, was the best game of the tournament – was a prime example,” Stringer told Betway. “England played at an incredibly high intensity for 80 minutes, and Ireland could still have nicked it. It was a disappointing result, but it’s a mark of where Ireland have got to.

    “England were relentless for the whole game. They dominated those tackles more often than not, and the knock-on effect at the breakdown just stopped Ireland from playing. What is normally two-second ruck ball become four-second ruck ball, meaning receivers had to stall their runs and couldn’t come onto the ball at pace.

    “I thought England were incredible in the last two games and, for me, Ben Earl was the standout player in the tournament. They look like they’re really building something under Steve Borthwick and I see them being Ireland’s biggest competitor in the next couple of years with some of the uncertainty around France and their coaching staff.”

    Despite the emergence of England as a force, Stringer sees Ireland as being in a strong position.

    “Without a shadow of a doubt, Ireland would have taken back-to-back championships – albeit without a second consecutive Grand Slam – before the tournament began. The fact they did so without playing particularly well in some of their games just shows what a good place Irish rugby is currently in.

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    “There’s a real continuity in the team no matter who plays. Johnny Sexton was Andy Farrell’s coach on the field – he was the eyes and the voice that controlled everything – but Jack Crowley has really stepped up to the plate in that key position. There had a few injuries, which is always disruptive, but Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw and Ciaran Frawley just slotted in when required.

    “They’re so well-drilled, with a real focus and cohesion that means teams have got to be at their very best for 80 minutes to beat them. That’s a very difficult place to get to, and I can only see it growing from here.”

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    Comments

    52 Comments
    S
    Samson 486 days ago

    England need to change their game if they are going to become competitive. Their tour to Japan then to Nz to play the mighty AB'S will find them out. It is strange that everyone forgets how strong the Southern hemisphere teams really are.

    S
    SteveD 486 days ago

    They also seem to forget that the game was played at twickenham. It's yet another ongoing oddity of the Six Nations which gets shown up in any home-and-away series, (and particularly internationally in a RWC) where home advantage is always a major factor.

    J
    Jen 486 days ago

    Ireland is a great team but there seems to be a lot of bloviating about them at the moment. Apparently we’re also pretending that SH teams don’t exist and the RWC never happened.

    B
    Bull Shark 486 days ago

    This is a good article to pin to the scrapbook. Reflect on in July.

    m
    mW 486 days ago

    The sheer fact of Ireland coming out of the blocks so strong set the pace of the tournament. England hung on to their shirt tales be it a slow start for them. The rest of the comp was marginsl but big improvements were evident, unfortunately too little too late. From a kiwi perspective it was an incredible campaign to watch. Can’t wait for next season

    f
    fl 487 days ago

    I think things are going to be really really close between England, Ireland, & France for the next few years.


    Ireland are the best attacking team the world has ever seen, but will struggle to sustain it given the advanced age of their key players. England are starting from a position of weakness, but have the best gameplan. France have the best strength in depth and the best prospects for squad development.

    G
    GrahamVF 486 days ago

    You clearly never saw the great French teams of the seventies or the 1974 British and Irish Lions or the Welsh team of that same era

    C
    CL 486 days ago

    Classic delusional comments. Must have a small one!!

    S
    SR 487 days ago

    How can anyone post that Ireland are the best….the world has ever seen? I think that a few AB teams might argue with that. Ridiculous statement.

    A
    Andrew 487 days ago

    I enjoyed the tight games in this year's 6N, regardless of who won.

    And I'm really excited about the improvement of Italy and England.

    Rugby needs a strong Northern Hemisphere and the RWC needs strong NH teams competing with strong SH sides.

    (Which will in turn force tier 2 and Pacific nation teams to up their game).


    Quite frankly, rugby routs are boring to watch.


    But a World Cup where every team that makes it out of the group stages has a real, not just on paper, but a very real chance of winning the World Cup, now that is a mouth watering prospect.

    B
    Blanco 487 days ago

    Stringer was writing England off a few weeks ago so take with a pinch of salt.

    France have the talent emerge as the strongest 6N team in the coming years with Ireland/England coming next. France had a defensive weakness at 10-12. England scored 2 easy tries this way. That wont be available next year. If France adapt to be able to defeat Ireland and England then it will take a lot to stop them. We may have another farce RWC draw and schedule, who knows, but France have the ability to be a lot better than in 2023.

    Ireland need to be able to employ a comprehensive (short) kicking game. We need to be able to hurt teams who rush defend or commit few to rucks and hold a big defensive line.

    f
    fl 487 days ago

    England are learning new systems, so will be much sharper in defence and attack next year. If France are able to adapt to more comprehensively work around the English system that probably won’t be in 2025.

    S
    SonnyG 487 days ago

    England’s biggest competitor is themselves and the lack of continuity. Lucky for them they seem to thrive in the chaos that this fosters. Ireland are scarily consistent this early in a RWC cycle but need to be careful they don’t become too predictable and overly reliant on pre-drilled movements - something England took advantage of well.

    S
    SR 487 days ago

    The WC's 4 years away! Unless Ireland can replace their ABs and Saffies they might not develop as much as they think.

    f
    fl 487 days ago

    England’s biggest opponent is their own fans and media, who demand constant overhauls of squad and gameplan. Hopefully they have been beaten into submission for the time being and Borthwick will actually get some time to enact his plan.

    M
    MT 487 days ago

    Irelands consistency is down to largely the same pack, scrum half, 12 and replacements. Most of those won’t be there in 2027, or if they are will be slower than now. which is not great for a team known for building pressure not playing at speed.


    England have moved on, with both players and style, since 6 months ago. If Smith, Lawrence and Martin had been fit for the whole six nations, I think the table would have looked closer. But then again the Ireland performance was also down to a backlash against the Scotland one, so you never know.


    Anybody got any knowledge of how Andrew Strawbridge went with his involvement? Is it a coincidence that the first 4 weeks ended and then England played better or has he stuck around and the results are what we saw v Ireland and France?


    Finally, as draws and schedules are such a big deal around here, why do England have to play Ireland and France on consecutive weekends in the six nations every year? Is it set in stone? 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and next year. I don’t see Ireland playing France and England in the same way.

    B
    Blanco 487 days ago

    There has been a lot of talk about Borthwick using too much data, but Ireland used too little. If a team waits for a tight match to work out defensive frailities then they will lose some of these matches. “How secure is Ireland’s kick chase to a team seeking, planning and training to exploit it?” is a question that should have been addressed before Twickenham.

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    PL 36 minutes ago
    Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

    I find it interesting that journalists who have done nothing in rugby comment on selections & coaching like they are experts

    Concussive injury’s will remove insurance cover from the game unless their is strict application of the laws designed to remove MND Parkinson’s and CTE from the game


    Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby


    The officiating of last feet is non existent

    The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

    A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2


    Powys v Evans lead to a £> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

    Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game


    About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

    Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise


    The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip


    I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons


    The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

    Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

    Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

    My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management


    Yellow every time head contact or above sternum


    Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

    Last feet to last feet + 1 m


    When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum


    As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club


    Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

    25 were scrum for dissent


    Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error


    All the s.ite would disappear


    The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards


    Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

    1 Go to comments
    S
    Soliloquin 1 hour ago
    Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

    For Fischer, many people in France are still doubting him - it’s the first time he has a full season (31 games). Before, he was always injured at some point. He’s 27, so not the youngest, and you have a younger Boudehent or Jégou behind.

    His physicality is incredible, but he didn’t prove he’s got hands. He just proved he was able to defend like a beast.

    But you know, even Cros has improved his handling skills lately, so it’s never too late!

    And he will play the Champions Cup with a solid Bayonne side, so let’s see!


    I don’t agree with ‘only Fischer’: Brennan proved he’s a great 4/7 utility player, and Galthié likes those very much (Woki or Flament). He’s 23, playing for Toulouse with high concurrence, so the prospect is good. I rate him higher than Auradou, who had a few games in the 6 Nations.

    For Depoortère, he had a more silent season than the previous one - injured at the worst moment during the Autumn Tests series - but came back strong with a Champions Cup and a solid partnership with Moefana. What could save him would be to start playing as a 12 when Moefana isn’t there, bulking up and become the new Jauzion.

    But he’s 22 and an incredible talent at 13. His height makes me think he had more potential than your fan favorite Costes or the utility player that is Gailleton.


    As for Montagne or Mallez, with the lack of quality in props, they could find a spot!

    Especially Mallez who’s got a good spot to get behind Baille at Toulouse. Neti isn’t the youngest and hasn’t an international level.


    And again, as Ugo Mola said, you never play with your best team.

    So 30-32 player is more of a 38-40, so you need back-ups.

    France knows very well how useful they can be during RWCs.

    236 Go to comments
    S
    Soliloquin 2 hours ago
    Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

    Hastoy was a good prospect before the 2023 RWC, he was the fly-half who led La Rochelle to the victory in the Champions Cup final in Dublin against Leinster.

    But he made it to the squad only because Ntamack got his ACL.

    He played against Uruguay, which a terribly poor game by the French side, and since then he declined a bit, alongside his club.

    Under the pressure of Reus and West at 10, he regained some credit at the end of the season (among all a drop at the 81st minute of a game).

    He’s quite good everywhere, but not outstanding.

    He doesn’t have the nerves, the defense and the tactical brain of Ntamack, the leadership and the creativity of Ramos or the exceptional attacking skills of Jalibert.


    I really hope that:

    -Ntamack will get his knee back. The surgery went well. He wasn’t the most elusive player in the world, but he was capable of amazing rushes like the one against NZ in 2021 or the Brennus-winning try in 2023.

    -Jalibert will continue to improve his defense. He started working hard since March (after his defensive disaster against England) with a XIII specialist, and I’ve seen great moments, especially against Ntamack in the SF of the Champions Cup. It’s never too late. And it would be a great signal for Galthié.

    -Hastoy will build up his partnership with Le Garrec, that La Rochelle will start a new phase with them and Niniashvili, Alldritt, Atonio, Boudehent, Jegou, Bosmorin, Bourgarit, Nowell, Wardi, Daunivucu, Kaddouri, Pacôme…

    236 Go to comments
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