England tries v. Ireland 2000

[irishmurph123]

England are pretty shit these days

[Lenstroni]

19 March 2011 Ireland v England 24 – 8 (Ireland)

27 February 2010 Twickenham England v Ireland 16 – 20 (Ireland)

28 February 2009 Croke Park Ireland v England 14 – 13 (Ireland)

15 March 2008 Twickenham England v Ireland 33 – 10 England!

24 February 2007 Croke Park Ireland v England 43 – 13 (Ireland)

18 March 2006 Twickenham England v Ireland 24 – 28 (Ireland)

27 February 2005 Lansdowne Road Ireland v England 19 – 13 (Ireland)

6 March 2004 Twickenham England Ireland 13 – 19 (Ireland)

[speakerbox1987]

Ireland were shit those days. It was 2003 when Ireland were a serious side, despite the time they lost to Scotland in 2001, a GS that they left after them.

[macphersonleedsunite]

England won this at twickenham 50-18 against the garbage Ireland team.

[Sodoffanddie]

I don't buy that. Keith Wood was Ireland captain for this match - played professionally (in England) for Harlequins. BOD played (never been amateur) & Kevin Maggs (professional with Bath & Bristol) & Girvan Dempsey (professional). This match was also the test debut of Balshaw, Cohen & Tindall. Ireland had no debutants. To say that Ireland weren't benefiting from professionalism is wrong. This was a great England team, the majority of which went on to win the world cup - that's why they won.

[like2surf]

Wow, 4 good players out of a team of 15.

[fonz114]

The only reason England won in those early days is because they went proffessional far earlier now that its a more level playing field the story has changed somewhat, it will be 5 wins out of the last 6, six nations encounters with England for Ireland on Saturday!!

Go On ireland!!

[thedannyclayton]

surely it was because they had a great coach, great players and had a team ethic not seen since?

[fonz114]

they had good coach and great players, never said they didn't but they were playing against Ireland and wales and scottish teams who were not all fully proffesional and England and france had a huge advantage, Ireland Scotland and Wales did not have the player population or the money to do it as fast as England and France. therefor for those years, yes there wasn,t a level playing field. now Ireland have only Four proffessional Rugby teams....

[fonz114]

The Irish rugby union have done great to have found a system within ireland where they have utilised the most promising talent. England have MORE then Ten times the rugby population with a premiership of fully proffessional players backed up by a Second league of Semi Proffesional players to pick from.

[fonz114]

Wales are embracing the system Ireland used, and its paying dividends! they have won two grand slams in three years. There is more of a level playing field& this is one of the main reasons in my opinion the biggest reason why England don't have the dominance like in the clips shown.Because they are no longer playing Irish, Welsh and Scottish teams who are non fully proffessional. Now the 6 nations is a more competitive league with realistically 4 teams every year who can win it as opposed to 2.

[thedannyclayton]

fair points.

The '10 times' the amount of players argument is a bit misleading though. It is the top 40 that make an international team if they rest can't make the grade then it doesn't matter...

[like2surf]

According to the IRB site England have 698,163 registered rugby players compared to Ireland with 114,627. And at the time this match was played Ireland's registered players was close to only 50,000.

[thedannyclayton]

Yes but this isn't the point I was making...if you look at the cream of the crop (the top 50 or so players in each nation that are likely to play for their nation at the top level) then half a million or 100 it doesn't matter. It is the top players that make a difference and this backs up the argument that professionalism helped England and France early doors....and then the Celtic nations caught up.

Anyway watch England this autumn and 6 Nations. The team to beat.

[like2surf]

I disagree, having the bigger playing population is a massive bonus because it far more likely to have a much better quality top 50 players than a nation with a smaller playing population. England having far more players should be producing more World Class players than any other country. I have to say though that England are starting to look very dangerous again and am not looking forward to when they finally find their form again.

[stroketheboat]

I hardly recognise this England Team.

Not the players - I know them all - just the fluency and the pace of play.

B limey, bring it back!

[joacogarino]

mike catt was man of thematch in this game..i think that catty with wilkinson formed the most explosive backline ever...but it just didnt happen in rwc 2003 becuase a new pair of centres had established while catt was out because of injury

[crash669]

I would have had Greenwood ahead of Catt. I think Catt was an excellent centre but Greenwood would be in my all time XV, he gave something else to the game. Of course Catt at 12 and Greenwood at 13 was a combo that worked for England and the Lions so it's all a bit moot...

[NightFightah]

Catty was a total legend. Such an intelligent rugby brain - Id have him as England's current attack coach ahead of Brian Smith any day.

Catt and Greenwood = amazing centre combo.

[bathrugby13]

great rugby, shame ben coehn looked like a twat both times he scored

[usulkane]

ireland nation

[AndrewMudie]

pace..offloading..support runners..oh where oh where has that england gone!!!!

(frustrated england supporter)