We say ‘potato’, they say ‘crumpets’.
Battles lines will be drawn at Twickenam, this weekend, as Ireland and England [men and women] go at it.
Each team has its own press posse and, ahead of the Six Nations double-header, we thought it would be interesting to see how the English and Irish press are taking different slants on the exact same quotes.
One player, and one coach, dominate the conversation.
WHIPLASH-GATE
Johnny Sexton sat out 12 weeks of the 2014-15 season after sustaining four concussions in a short period of time. He returned to help Ireland retain the Six Nations but has been forced to answer questions about his health and well-being ever since. On Thursday, England coach Eddie Jones said:
“Sexton is an interesting one, they’ve talked about him having whiplash injury which is not a great thing to talk about.
“I’m sure his mother and father would be worried about that. Hopefully, the lad’s all right on Saturday to play.”
IRISH REACTION
Outrage!
Most folks see Jones’ comments for what they are – an attempt to wind up the opposition. However, the fact that Jones brought up Sexton without prompting, returned unapologetically to it and brought the Irish out-half’s parents into the debate, the view from the Emerald Isle is that he crossed a line.
In the Irish Independent, Ruaidhri O’Connor believes Jones is threatening to bring the game into disrepute with the comments. ‘It was a remarkable exchange,’ he writes, ‘and, given the debate that is raging in rugby about concussion and injury levels, seemed incredibly irresponsible on Jones’ part.’
Over in The Irish Times, Gerry Thornley described Jones’ take on Ireland’s out-half as ‘an unpleasant twist’ but noted that if Joe Schmidt was exasperated by Whiplash-gate, he did a good job of disguising it.
The Mirror, Star and Examiner all highlight Jones-Sexton but The Sun’s graphics whizz takes the rosette for back-page creativity.
ENGLISH REACTION
The Times are right behind Jones.
Beginning with the Aussies wondering, “Are we not supposed to run at one player?” chief rugby writer Owen Slot writes:
‘Of course not. When England play Ireland at Twickenham tomorrow, they can run at Sexton as much as they like. And they will do.
‘By bringing the debate to the light, Jones has called into question the safety of the game and whether Ireland are doing the right thing by selecting a player who has become a magnet to injury.’
‘HACKLES RAISED BY JONES QUESTIONING SEXTON’S FITNESS’ reads the headline of a Guardian piece on the issue by Robert Kitson. The wizened scribe writes:
‘Even by Jones’ direct standards, [his comments] prompted a sharp intake of breath on both sides of the Irish Sea.’
Kitson reports that Sexton took ‘another pounding’ against France. The back and forth over ‘the battered playmaker’, he believes, was somewhat of a hullabaloo.
In the Express, Neil Squires reasoned that comments from ‘the feisty Tasmanian’ were because he was from the old-school rugby brigade. He writes:
‘When England hired their first overseas coach, they knew what they were getting and it was never going to be a case of “after you Claude”.’
Squires did note, however, that Jones went too far by mentioning Sexton’s folks.
STUART McCLOSKEY – ‘THE BANGOR BULLDOZER’
England are handing a first start to 21-year-old Saracens lock Maro Itoje but there is healthy coverage, on both sides of the pond, about 17st 2lb Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey.
IRISH REACTION
There is genuine excitement in the Irish press by the inclusion of the 23-year-old McCloskey at inside centre. The fact that Robbie Henshaw has moved over to No.13 is better still.
Keith Earls raves about McCloskey in The Mirror while, reported in several outlets, Schmidt tells him to express himself while keeping his defence “watertight”. No pressure then.
There remains one dissenting voice and it comes from George Hook in the Irish Independent. He is happy to see some changes but wants Schmidt to select McCloskey beside Leinster’s Garry Ringrose and move Henshaw to fullback. If we did that, he declares, we would have the most potent three-quarter line in Europe.
ENGLISH REACTION
‘At 6’ 3″ and weighing in at over 17st, McCloskey is known as ‘The Bangor Bulldozer’,’ writes Dan Scholfield in The Telegraph, ‘That, though, would do a disservice to his pace, footwork and offloading’.
The Times focus on McCloskey’s sheer size and point out that he is second only to Jamie Roberts for the championship’s biggest ever No.12. ‘WATCH OUT ENGLAND, YOU’RE UP AGAINST A 17ST CENTRE’ they scream.
‘McCLOSKEY TO BATTER MIDFIELD’ declare The Express as they feature a short piece on the prospective debutant. Describing McCloskey as a ‘powerhouse’, the snippet includes lofty praise from Joe Schmidt and Andrew Trimble.
IRELAND WOMEN vs. ENGLAND WOMEN
Following Ireland’s game against the English men, both countries will clash in the Women’s Six Nations at the same stadium.
In Ireland, the Independent, Times and Examiner devote a few paragraphs while there are slimmer pickings in England.
The positive news is that RTE 2 will be showing a live broadcast of the game.
