Ireland vs. England: 5 Key Battles That Will Shape 2015 Six Nations Clash
The 2015 Six Nations will only reach its halfway point after the first 40 minutes of this weekend’s encounters. But already, Ireland’s meeting with England in Dublin is being billed as the tournament decider.
Both come into the weekend with two wins from two, and a victory for either this weekend will establish daylight at the top of the table.
Ireland haven’t beaten England since they swamped them at the Aviva Stadium in 2011, denying them a Grand Slam on the final day. Prior to that, the Irish had won all but one of the last eight matches played.
It will be a tight, tense affair on Sunday. Here are the key battles.
1. Second Row
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The gulf in experience between the two sets of locks on show this Sunday was best summed up this week by the Guardian’s Rob Kitson, who wrote: "Back in 2009 when [Paul] O’Connell was captaining the Lions, [George] Kruis was on a gap-year trip to South Africa with some mates from Dorking RFC."
O’Connell has Leinster lock Devin Toner alongside him to combat Kruis and his partner in England’s boiler room, Bath’s Dave Attwood.
The difference in caps is exactly 100 between the two pairs, with O’Connell about to make his 106th international appearance.
The English duo were choices four and five before the Six Nations started, with Courtney Lawes, Joe Launchbury and Geoff Parling—the latter a Test Lion—all regarded as higher up the pecking order.
But injury has brought this pair together, and they were excellent against Wales against another Lions captain, Alun-Wyn Jones.
Sunday’s encounter will require them to hit those heights again if they are to outwork O’Connell and Toner in the ball-carrying and tackling stats.
In the lineout, they may sniff a chance to get at Rory Best’s throw, which would harm Ireland’s first possession.
And in the scrum, England’s pack will be keen on reviving the demolition job they did on Ireland at Twickenham in 2012.
This game will be won up front, and the locks will play pivotal roles in that battle.
2. Mike Ross vs. Joe Marler
2 of 5Mike Ross used to pack down on the tight-head side of the same scrum as Marler at Harlequins, but he has had unhappy encounters with England’s bearded loose-head since switching to Leinster.
Marler mauled the Irishman during both Quins clashes with the Dubliners during this season’s Champions Cup pool stage, and Ross was also given a torrid time by Alex Corbisiero as Ireland’s scrum disintegrated at Twickenham in 2012 as you can see from the highlights in this slide.
This one-on-one duel is going to come under scrutiny again on Sunday.
Ross has to do a better job than he did in 2012 and better than he did this season for Leinster if Ireland are not to surrender the set piece all afternoon in Dublin.
Marler will know he already has the recipe to send his opponent trundling in reverse gear.
Ross was dropped by Leinster after those nightmares in Europe, but Ireland have kept faith with him, and his provincial scrum coach Marco Caputo told the Belfast Telegraph the 35-year-old will handle the pressure this weekend:
"Mike will do his analysis and have a good look at where he went wrong against him in the Harlequins matches and he's a clever enough bloke to work out the things he needs to put right to put in a good performance.
Mike's been pretty good these last couple of Six Nations games and I don't see them wanting to tinker too much with their selections and it will determine which way the outcome is at the weekend.
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3. Jonny Sexton vs. George Ford
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Another chasm in experience is evident at fly-half, where Lions series winner and serial European Cup champion Jonny Sexton duels with fresh-faced George Ford.
Sexton put on a kicking masterclass against France, pinning Les Bleus back with laser-guided bombs all afternoon and kicking five from five penalties.
Ford has looked comfortable in his new surroundings since usurping Owen Farrell as the first choice No. 10 for the Red Rose Brigade.
Ireland are likely to play the same territorial game deployed against France, while Ford needs to create more chances for the dangerous Jonathan Joseph out in the No. 13 channel.
Whichever defence has the most success in shutting these plans down will determine which No. 10 comes out on top.
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4. Sean O’Brien vs. Chris Robshaw
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England captain Chris Robshaw has led the tackle counts for both rounds of the 2015 Six Nations.
His form has quelled calls for a natural No. 7 to take his place, while, for Ireland, the long wait for the return of their Lion is over.
Sean O’Brien looked as though he had never been way, never mind the fact he had endure a shoulder reconstruction—which later had to be redone.
The muscular Leinsterman put in an impressive comeback display against France and should be better for getting a shift under his belt.
Both men give their side impetus with their turnover ability, but O’Brien has the edge in the ball-carrying power.
If he has enough match fitness to impose himself, he will play a huge part in Ireland winning the tight exchanges.
5. Rob Kearney vs. Alex Goode
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Rob Kearney’s ability to counter, kick and leap like a salmon are well-known and have earned him two Lions tours already.
Alex Goode has had to sit and watch Ben Foden, then Mike Brown fill the England No. 15 shirt. Both men held on to it for stints with some scintillating form, but one thing Goode has in spades is consistency.
He never has a bad game.
He is safe under the high ball, has a huge clearing boot on him and a natural, gliding running style that makes him deceptively quick.
It has been a while out of the international fray for the Saracen, however, and a cauldron like the Aviva is quite a tough place to have to make your re-entry to this level. Brown’s concussion has ruled him out, so Goode must step up.
Any vulnerability will be seized on by Kearney as he looks to bear down on his opponent when a steepling kick tumbles from the sky.
The first one-on-one aerial battle between these two will set the tone.
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