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Will Greenwood sings the praises of almost every single Ireland player

If you are an Ireland fan looking for a pick-up about how the team is performing - look no furthe...



Rugby

Will Greenwood sings the praises of almost every single Ireland player


If you are an Ireland fan looking for a pick-up about how the team is performing - look no further than English World Cup-winner Will Greenwood.

Greenwood joined a St Patrick's Day special Wednesday Night Rugby ahead of England v Ireland this weekend, with former Harlequins teammate Andy Dunne.

Greenwood first spoke about the inherent danger of dissecting your own nation's performances.

Will Greenwood on England

"I quite like watching your guys play. This is where it's great because we're often toughest on our own kids. Dunner is tough on the Irish lads but saying that he's seeing quality from England," Greenwood said.

"I think sometimes when the team you are asked to watch the most, [you can] occasionally just look at what we did wrong as opposed to celebrate what you did right.

"This is why I try to watch internationals three times - after the Wales game, I was having a beer with mates on Zoom thinking 'oh, what's just happened?'

"But we were pretty good against Wales!"

Ireland positives

As for the positives for Ireland - deep breath...

"I think Herring has come in and done a fantastic job - your lineout is absolutely world-class. You have a couple of rocks at 1 and 3; Cian Healy looks fit again and Tadhg Furlong is charing back into form.

"Henderson is arguably the best second-row in the championship - he has been unbelievable. He is like a Whitelock at the moment, error-free, all over everything. Ryan has been tidy without being off the charts.

"Will Connors is already rearranging his scrum cap, what a chop tackler he is. Him versus Curry is worth the ticket money alone. Stander does what he does; carries umpteen times and wins a couple of turnovers.

"Beirne has been knockout, Lions XV-material. I think you've struggled a little bit at 9, I think they are going to get on Gibson-Park and charge him down. I think he's slightly slow at that, but he keeps the tempo up with the passing.

"I love Henshaw, the last two games in particular, he was knockout at Murrayfield. I think you've got to give Lowe time because, jeez, he makes things happen. I don't think he'll go that high on a tackle again.

"Earls is just Earls - sensational kicker, kick-chaser, tackler, defender. Quick, punchy, barrel-chested. This fella Keenan will come, and Sexton hasn't missed a goal.

"I come excited about an amazing Saturday but with a couple of teams that quite a lot on the line in the middle of the match."

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