Wobbly England Aim To Derail Resurgent Irish at Croke Park

HEAD TO HEAD: England 70, Ireland 43, Draw 8

@ Ireland: Ireland 27, England 30, Draw 4

Largest Winning margin England: England 50, Ireland 18, 5 February 2000

Largest Winning margin Ireland: Ireland 43, England 13, 24 February 2007

Last match: England 33, Ireland 10, 15 March 2008

England travel to Croke Park still very much in transition, but with a little more stability after Martin Johnson made just the one change to the team that lost two weeks ago to Wales.

A loss it was, but one could sense that the corner may be approaching for the English.  If it wasn’t for a 9-0 dominating opening quarter from the Red Dragons, Johnson’s belittled men could have won; even despite their now trademark desire to play rugby with less than 15 men. 

Toby Flood comes into the team, the Leicester pivot replacing Andy Goode. Flood comes into the team based on a solid performance off the bench against Wales, and impressing Johnson late last year in his routine against the All Blacks.

The Red Rose of Johnson’s England has though now changed the starting fly half seven times. Five different players have worn the cherished jersey dating back to Jonny Wilkinson’s mortgage on the position in last year’s tournament.

When considering that Johnson as a Captain relied on Wilkinson so much during England’s glory years, it does point towards identity crisis his team is having.

The big improvement against Wales was the performance of man of the match Joe Worsley. 

England’s defensive coach Mike Ford has admitted it was part of a specific plan to have Worsley spearheading England’s defensive pattern—highlighted by the shackling of the Welsh midfield.

If this aggressive defence is achieved against Ireland’s glamour centre pairing of Brian O’Driscoll and Paddy Wallace, England could derail the men from the Emerald Isle.

However, much of this will depend on keeping a full complement of men on the field.  Discipline has been a massive problem for England, conceding eight yellow cards in three matches. 

The bulk of these issues have come from the pack, where the Irish oaks will look to get in the English pack.

For Ireland, Coach Declan Kidney has not changed his team for the third consecutive week. The same team that defeated France and Italy would walk out to Croke Park.  It is stability very reminiscent of Ireland’s “mini” golden age a few years ago.

But it was only a “mini” era as despite their performances, they could not win the elusive Six Nations or Grand Slam title.  However, France, their usual nemesis to such achievements, has already been conquered.

So no doubt it will be over dead Irish bodies that the home team will allow England to come and spoil this party. Croke Park has shown itself to be a source of inspiration for the Irish, with them recording a record 43-13 victory over England two years ago.

While Ireland is no doubt rejuvenated, they are talking up the English, with Brian O’Driscoll being especially wary.  The inform centre, who will earn his 91^st cap against England, is aware that Johnsons men have the arsenal to derail the Irish championship bid.

Last year the English thrashed the Irish 33-10, which consigned Ireland to their worst six nation’s performance since 1999, capping off a horror 2007 World Cup and leading to Coach Eddie O’Sullivan falling on his sword.

A revitalised Irish three quarter line, spearheaded by outstanding fullback Rob Kearney and the Munster halves combination of Ronan O’Gara and Tomas O’Leary should spark the Ireland attack.

Despite England looking to turn the corner for their long suffering fans, one suspects that we will see and Irish victory by four points, which sets up an mouth watering clash later in the championship between them and the Red Dragons.

England: 15 Delon Armitage (London Irish), 14 Paul Sackey (London Wasps), 13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby), 12 Riki Flutey (London Wasps), 11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), 10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), 9 Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers), 8 Nick Easter (Harlequins), 7 Joe Worsley (London Wasps), 6 James Haskell (London Wasps), 5 Nick Kennedy (London Irish), 4 Steve Borthwick (Saracens, captain), 3 Phil Vickery (London Wasps), 2 Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), 1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks).

Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), 17 Julian White (Leicester Tigers), 18 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), 19 Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby), 20 Danny Care (Harlequins), 21 Andy Goode (CA Brive), 22 Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks).

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney (Leinster), 14 Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), 13 Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), 12 Paddy Wallace (Ulster), 11 Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), 10 Ronan O'Gara (Munster), 9 Tomas O'Leary (Munster), 8 Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), 7 David Wallace (Munster), 6 Stephen Ferris (Ulster), 5 Paul O'Connell (Munster), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), 3 John Hayes (Munster), 2 Jerry Flannery (Munster), 1 Marcus Horan (Munster).

Replacements: 16 Rory Best (Ulster), 17 Tom Court (Ulster), 18 Mick O'Driscoll (Leinster), 19 Denis Leamy (Munster), 20 Peter Stringer (Munster), 21 Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), 22 Geordan Murphy (Leicester).

Date: Saturday, February 28 Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Kick-off: 17.30 GMT Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Touch judges: Christophe Berdos (France), Peter Allan (Scotland) Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)