Six Nations
Choke tackle will test England's patience
Conor O'Shea
February 27, 2015
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Sunday just can't come quick enough for those of Irish and English persuasion in what promises to be the clash of the championship.

After a period where they had a fair few walking wounded, players like Sean O'Brien and Cian Healy are playing themselves back into form and, Jamie Heaslip aside, will welcome England arguably at full strength. There will always be options to debate but this is a formidable Irish team and apart from Heaslip, Joe Schmidt would take this team into most matches by choice.

England had their much-documented injury issues going into the Welsh game at the start of the championship but that victory has given their squad a huge boost and increased competition within the group. England's squad strength and depth is amply illustrated by the list of players they are sending home, players like Danny Care, Tom Wood and Courtney Lawes to name but three.

France's Pascal Pape is issued a yellow card, Ireland v France, Six Nations, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, February 14, 2015
Pascal Pape's tackle on Jamie Heaslip could have stemmed from frustrations over Ireland's defence © Getty Images
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In a game of this nature England will be gutted not to have Mike Brown at the back but they have in Alex Goode a player who is in great form and has always demonstrated the priceless ability that all top players possess - he seems to have time on the ball. With Jonny May not included, they will have a new back three who will be tested aerially by Johnny Sexton and Brown will be missed. However, Jack Nowell and Goode will be good options alongside Anthony Watson.

It also shows Stuart Lancaster is never afraid of blooding youth; Nowell and Watson will be around for years and do not forget England still have the likes of May, Marland Yarde and Christian Wade waiting in the wings.

The game itself will be massive with talk of back-row head-to-heads no doubt dominating the build-up: Robshaw versus O'Brien, Haskell versus O'Mahony and Vunipola versus Jordi Murphy. But it will be a game decided up front.

England's scrum will be the area that will cause Ireland's coaches the most sleepless nights. The scrum, even though not a determining factor in games anymore, can have a massive psychological impact on teams as well as referees. England have previously done a number on teams so Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley and Dan Cole will be looking to set down another marker. The first scrum will be a big moment in the match, it will set a massive tone in the game.

What will be keeping Lancaster awake is the breakdown. When Irish teams do well, whether it is at provincial or national level, they invariably win the battle at the breakdown through their sheer physicality at ruck time or through their infamous choke tackle.

The choke tackle, as it has been coined, is perceived to have its origins in Irish rugby and it is where the ball carrier is held up by the defending player or players and the phase is deemed a maul. Once that maul then goes to ground, even if the attacking team is going forward, the ball is turned over to the defending team. The reason it frustrates teams, coaches and supporters alike is the speed that the referee calls a maul and then the fact although it is supposed to be refereed as a maul - i.e. it can't be taken to ground - it never seems to be refereed like that and players can get away with murder in what they do.

 
It is still premature to say a win will mean a Grand Slam for either team
 

I have no doubt that despite what Pascal Pape did to Jamie Heaslip being inexcusable, it is one of the reasons why the French lock acted like he did. I for one am not a fan of how the choke tackle is officiated or what it allows teams to do but it is part of the game and we will see it in full swing this weekend.

When it comes to the breakdown it is Ireland's Peter O'Mahony that leads the way, he just appears to have no self-regard for his safety and in matches like this he raises that intensity to new levels. England have been warned but they will still have to deal with it.

Breakdown apart, at outside half it is a case of master and apprentice. Sexton was brilliant in the first half against France and with more game time, he will just get better. Opposite is George Ford who for sheer ability has got the lot but this environment is part of his learning curve and how he copes will be another step in his growth as a player. He could be the star of the show or he might have a tough day - whatever happens he will be better for the experience.

Both coaches go into this knowing that a win will increase talk of Grand Slams but when you look at the fixtures it is still very premature to say that it will be a guarantee for either team.

England by right of being at home for their next two games against France and Scotland would be my favourite for a Grand Slam if they win on Sunday; if Ireland win, they still have trips to Cardiff and Murrayfield to overcome. Wales are a good side and Scotland are just a big win away from gaining the confidence required to underline their undoubted progress as a team under Vern Cotter.

They are matches for another day and although we have France v Wales and Scotland v Italy to watch on Saturday, all roads lead to Dublin and the Aviva Stadium on Sunday. For me, and it is not just because I am Irish, I am going for an Ireland win by three points but I still don't think there will be a Grand Slam and the championship will end up in English hands.

A demonstration of how the choke tackle works, with Ireland players teaming up on the ball-carrier © Getty Images
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