Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Not one England player could 'force their way into this Irish team'

Ben Earl of England looks on prior to the Guinness Six Nations 2024 match between Scotland and England at BT Murrayfield Stadium on February 24, 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Dan Mullan - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Former Ireland scrumhalf Peter Stringer doesn’t believe a single England player would make Andy Farrell’s current Ireland 15.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ireland face England in Twickenham this Saturday in what is being billed as potentially their toughest task of the tournament with the exception of their Round 1 victory over France in Marseille. While England have hardly impressed to date, beating any English side at HQ in the Six Nations remains a remarkably tough assignment for any Test side.

Yet while Stringer has regard for many of Steve Borthwick’s side, he doesn’t see even the likes of outstanding back row Ben Earl cracking Ireland’s current green machine.

Video Spacer

Robbie Fleck on this year’s “disappointing” Six Nations | RPTV

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Robbie Fleck on this year’s “disappointing” Six Nations | RPTV

      Former Springbok centre and Stormers coach Robbie Fleck says Ireland don’t have quality opposition in this year’s disappointing Six Nations. Watch the full show on RugbyPass TV

      Watch now

      “England is probably the tougher game on paper. Going to Twickenham is never easy, and they were so poor against Scotland that you’d expect there to be some sort of backlash. England have got some quality players, but I’m not sure any would force their way into this Irish team.

      “Jamie George is a great leader who has come into his own as captain, but Dan Sheehan has got it all and will be world-class. Maro Itoje is one of England’s most senior players, but the second rows for Ireland have been phenomenal. Tadhg Beirne was a doubtful starter not so long ago but has made the position his own and is now one of the first names on the team sheet.

      “I’ve been so impressed with Ben Earl over the last 12-18 months, but this Irish back row is just so competitive. The loose forwards that Ireland are developing are just a new mode of player in terms of offering a line-out option, having an engine that goes all day and possessing pace, handling and great footwork. Caelan Dorris has barely missed a minute over the last 30 games and has been my standout player of the tournament so far.

      “It will be fascinating to see how England approach the game. They tried to mix it up against Scotland but came up with so many errors, turnovers and spilt balls from poor passing.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “The threat that Ireland bring on both sides of the ball means England won’t want to get caught in their own half, so I have a feeling that they may go back to the territory kicking game that worked so well for them in the World Cup. It’s not pretty but it got them to a semi-final and is very effective.”

      You can read the full article here.

      Related

      ADVERTISEMENT

      HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Men's Highlights

      HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Women's Highlights

      Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

      Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

      Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

      Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      The Rise of Kenya | The Report

      The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      9 Comments
      B
      Bull Shark 399 days ago

      Not only that - Ireland will win the next World Cup. We should all pack it in folks. Game over. Let’s go home.

      T
      Tom 399 days ago

      Earl and Freeman would probably get in on current form. Earl as a flanker though not an 8.

      S
      Stuart 399 days ago

      Well, that’s England fired up.

      S
      Simon 399 days ago

      Ah, the arrogance of Irish rugby raises it’s head again! They must enjoy being the most hated team in world rugby because they continue to talk themselves as being untouchable! They forget that they are way behind England, France and Wales in titles and they quickly forget about being unable to get past the first knockout game of a world cup! A great winner handles that title with dignity and respect for others. An average winner just descends to trash talk and that’s all we get from the Irish.

      Load More Comments

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      N
      Natashajason 1 hour ago
      Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

      TRACE HACKER'S CRYPTO RECOVERY IS A GENUINE CRYPTO RECOVERY COMPANY


      It was a cold morning when I first realized the full extent of my loss. I had invested 150,000 euros into an online crypto platform, believing in their promises and the allure of quick financial success. But as the days passed, I discovered it was all a scam. My money was gone, and with it, my dreams of financial security.

      The feeling of helplessness and devastation was overwhelming. I tried everything to recover my funds contacting authorities, searching for solutions online, and connecting with others who had been through similar scams—but nothing seemed to work. I felt completely lost, as though there was no way back.One Sunday, feeling utterly defeated, I decided to visit Grace Church in Dublin, Ireland. I was searching for some peace and comfort. During the service, I shared my story with the congregation, explaining how I had been scammed and lost everything. I didn’t expect much—just a chance to speak to someone.

      Afterward, a fellow parishioner came up to me. He had been listening closely, and after hearing my situation, he shared that he had once been in a similar place.

      He had fallen victim to a scam too, and like me, thought his money was gone for good. But someone had recommended a service called TRACE HACKER'S CRYPTO RECOVERY to him. He decided to reach out to them, and with their help, he had managed to recover his lost funds.

      He suggested I contact them, believing they could help me too.

      Though I was skeptical, I was also desperate, so I wrote down their contact information. That evening, I called TRACE HACKER'S CRYPTO RECOVERY. From the moment we spoke, I felt a sense of professionalism and empathy that I hadn’t encountered before. They didn’t treat me like just another case. They listened to my story, took my concerns seriously, and reassured me that they would do everything they could to help.The recovery process was detailed and transparent. They kept me updated regularly, explaining each step they were taking. Weeks passed, and though I was anxious, I held onto hope. Then, out of nowhere, I received the incredible news: TRACE HACKER'S CRYPTO RECOVERY had successfully recovered 95% of my 150,000 euros. It felt like a miracle. I couldn’t believe it. Thanks to the team at TRACE HACKER'S CRYPTO RECOVERY, I was able to regain my financial footing and rebuild emotionally. I’m now more cautious than ever, but I’m also deeply grateful.

      Without the kind recommendation from that parishioner at Grace Church, I would never have found the help I so desperately needed.

      Today, I’m on the path to full recovery, and I can confidently say that TRACE HACKER'S CRYPTO RECOVERY gave me a second chance.

      Their dedication and expertise truly made all the difference in my life.

      Email:support @ tracehackerscryptorecovery. com

      Email: info @ tracehackerscryptorecovery. com

      Whatsapp: +447 35570 2876

      Website:https:// tracehackers cryptorecovery. com/

      4 Go to comments
      f
      fl 6 hours ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      “Why do you downplay his later career, post 50? He won a treble less than two years ago, with a club who played more games and won more games than any other team that managed the same feat. His crowning achievement - by his own admission.”

      He’s won many trebles in his career - why do you only care about one of them?

      I think its unsurprising that he’d feel more emotional about his recent achievements, but its less clear why you do.


      “Is it FA cups or League cups you’re forgetting in his English trophy haul? You haven’t made that clear…”

      It actually was clear, if you knew the number he had won of each, but I was ignoring the league cup, because Germany and Spain only have one cup competition so it isn’t possible to compare league cup performance with City to his performance with Bayern and Barcelona.


      “With Barcelona he won 14 trophies. With Bayern Munich he won 5 trophies. With City he has currently won 18 trophies…”

      I can count, but clearly you can’t divide! He was at Barca for 4 years, so that’s 3.5 trophies per year. He was at Bayern for 3 years, and actually won 7 trophies so that’s 2.3 trophies per year. He has been at City for 8 completed seasons so that’s 2.25 trophies per year. If in his 9th season (this one) he wins both the FA cup and the FIFA club world cup that will take his total to 20 for an average of 2.22 trophies per year.


      To be clear - you said that Pep had gotten better with age by every metric. In fact by most metrics he has gotten worse!

      182 Go to comments
      TRENDING
      TRENDING Surprise name linked with top Leicester job Surprise name linked with top Leicester job
      Search