Ireland v England: Six Nations 2025 – live
Ireland v England: Six Nations 2025 – live
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It’s a time of uncertainty. The most powerful man in the world is regularly walking to a microphone to bray baffling, world twisting orders like a drunk and ill-tempered town crier minus the olde worlde charm. Nobody seems to know what growth means, despite it being used like a comma in the every speech leaders make; and nobody is really sure if boot-cut is back in or not. This climate shrouds this match also, with both Ireland and England having much to ponder.
The home side are without their head coach with Andy Farrell away doing promotional work for the British & Irish Lions, a sabbatical that coincided with the most notable dip in form in Ireland’s recent history. Yes, they remain Six Nations champs and one of the top teams around, but there’s been plenty in the previous months to suggest that their monolithic success is more like a jenga tower with an increasing number of the blocks being nudged out of position. The Autumn series was plagued with set-piece issues combined with a misfiring attack and some poor discipline under pressure. These factors, alloyed with the ageing squad and a lack of genuine pace could see it all topple in the coming weeks.
England simply can’t win enough matches, despite having a settled squad of not-inconsiderable talent – albeit short of world class – some promising aspects to their play, and in Marcus Smith a now fully matured playmaker. There’s also the unanswered question about whether Steve Borthwick has what it takes at this level, especially in the light of him losing backroom staff at an Eddie Jones-esque rate and doubts over the quality of the replacements. Who knows if the significant defensive frailties present in November have been sorted, as well.
