Their sharp Irish backs, a dominant English side but Charlie Ewells seeing red, flounder in the England and Ireland ranks (15-32).
Tops
Gibson Park, Louie and Kenan are critical
They were the top three strikers throughout this match. Jamison Gibson-Park was also voted Man of the Match. Half scrum is the origin of the action on the first try but especially on the last pass on his team’s second attempt, after a massive inspiration. The number 9 has always wanted to set the pace and play penalty kicks fast. James Lowe is certainly the best striker of the day on the Irish side. He scored the first attempt after five minutes of play and allowed his team to take the lead. The left winger constantly brings his people forward with his sharp blows. Hugo Keenan was invaluable in the air, as the number one and number four defender. He always played fair. The back was inserted perfectly to score his family’s second attempt (37), just before the break. A decisive test for sure in the end result.
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Super Genji
The Three Lions’ left column did not stop roaring this Saturday at Twickenham. Ellis Genge was intractable in his scrum blasting Tadhg Furlong, but he is considered the best fitting prop in the world. The Irish, very sinful (see elsewhere), were punished six times in scrum with which the English left brace often had something to do with. It was he who was helped by Jacques Noel in the role of the left winger in these stages of play, and he was substituted only in the 67th minute.
English pride
They could have dived, woken up. Quickly outnumbered, the English took the water within the first quarter of an hour. They came close to earning a second attempt and 13-0 from the 12th minute of play, but the Irish attempt was void for a striker. Only, the English never gave up during this meeting and took advantage of their opponents’ fever to come back bit by bit. In the first half, they kept in touch with their opponent before equalizing an hour later, thanks to a fifth penalty kick from Marcus Smith. They would finally collapse at the end of the match, conceding two attempts in five minutes.
flops
Ewells, today’s best Irishman
For suspense, we’ll be back. England’s second line, Charlie Ewels, was disqualified after just 90 seconds in play. The England No. 5 was guilty of a serious foul on James Ryan, and a head-to-head shock. He was logically left out, after the video call, by French referee Mathieu Raynal. Ireland’s James Ryan left the field without returning. I’m not sure Charlie Ewells touched the ball before hitting his opponent.
Irish indiscipline
They arrived in England as the best attacking, best team and most disciplined team in the tournament. The Irish met only one criterion (four attempts). They were often punished during this meeting, often in their camp. 15 penalties were waived, including only nine in the first period. They left English in the game when they could quickly fold the game. Andy Farrell players largely controlled penalty kicks in this area of play alone.
Sexton horse pace
The legendary Irish half-flying is back as a starter at Twickenham. A complicated match for Jonathan Sexton, who has never seen it. The main player in XV of Clover modified his passes poorly, often slowing down attacks. An Irish side had the ball (56%) but struggled to put their game in place, like the number 10. Shortly after the hour had passed, Ireland insisted on the opponent in camp and very close to scoring a new attempt. Johnny Sexton misses his pass to James Lowe. The ball was intercepted by Freddy Steward who went against it alone but the referee returned to a foul. Ireland missed the attempt and won the penalty. On the other hand, the attacker was flawless on foot. 12 points were scored on the foot and only one transfer was lost (5/6).
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