Match Preview: Ireland taking on England in Dublin - Rugby News
Ireland and England are ready to give the final touches to their Rugby World Cup preparations in Dublin on August 27. This will be the last chance for both sides to create a well balanced side for the Webb Ellis Trophy. The side will be flying to New Zealand
just two days after the match on Monday, August 29.
The last match between Ireland and England was played during the Six Nations Championship 2011 and Ireland thumped the English side by a huge margin of 24-8. The match had nothing to loose for Ireland whereas the match had a do or die importance for England.
After having a wonderful season in the Six Nations Championship, England was quite near to grab a grand slam win after eight years but outstanding performance by the Irish side shattered their dreams.
During the last 15 matches the sides have one matches one after each other. However, Ireland is leading on the chart with eight victories. Overall 124 matches have been played between the two European giants and England is for ahead with 70 wins. Ireland
has carried the day on 46 times whereas eight matches have remained result less.
England has made a number of changes in their starting line ups for the crucial match. Their manager Martin Johnson has formed a new combination in the midfield as Mike Tindall, Jonny Wilkinson and Manu Tuilagi will be deployed on new positions. Wilkinson
has been preferred over Toby Flood for the fly-half’s job.
The match ha a big importance for Chris Ashton who has not played any warm-up game do an injury to his foot. The leading tri scorer of Six Nations Championship 2011 will be a big boost for England for this match as they are coming off from a stunning defeat
by Wales, in Cardiff.
Meanwhile, Declan Kidney has made seven changes in his starting line up for the match. Kidney has rested a time tested trio, including Sean O’Brian, Rob Kearney and Brian O'Driscoll for this particular match to keep them fresh for Rugby World Cup 2011.
Talking to the reporters while announcing his squad for up coming clash against Ireland, Martin Johnson said that game has a great importance for his team. He added that, “These warm-up fixtures have been valuable in terms of our preparation for the World
Cup, giving players game time together. We're in a good position where we have lots of tough decisions to make. Game time is precious. That's the team we think is right for this week. It's the right team for this game and this opposition.”
England is the hot favourite for this match as Ireland has not won any warm-up game in its last three outgoings.
England:
B Foden (Northampton); C Ashton (Northampton), M Tuilagi (Leicester), M Tindall (Gloucester, capt), M Cueto (Sale); J Wilkinson (Toulon), R Wigglesworth (Saracens); A Sheridan (Sale), S Thompson (Wasps) D Cole (Leicester),
L Deacon (Leicester), C Lawes (Northampton), T Croft (Leicester), J Haskell (Black Rams), N Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), M Stevens (Saracens), S Shaw (unattached), T Wood (Northampton), J Simpson (Wasps), T Flood (Leicester), D Armitage (London Irish).
Ireland: Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls (Munster), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jerry Flannery (Munster), Mike Ross (Leinster),
Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Paul O'Connell (capt, Munster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), David Wallace (Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements: Rory Best (Ulster), Tom Court (Ulster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Denis Leamy (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster).
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