SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Nottingham Forest vs. Liverpool: 15 hrs 51 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Six Nations | Group Stage
Feb 2, 2019 at 4.45pm UK
 
Ireland
20-32
England
Healy (25'), Cooney (80')
FT
May (2'), Daly (30'), Slade (65', 76')

Ben Te'o expects 'intense' Six Nations clash with Ireland

:Headline: Ben Te'o expects 'intense' Six Nations clash with Ireland: ID:348160: from db_amp
The northern hemisphere's most anticipated Test of 2019 is being staged on the opening weekend of the Championship.
Ben Te'o expects 'intense' Six Nations clash with Ireland

Ben Te'o expects England's Guinness Six Nations title clash with Ireland to reach "boiling point" in an early incarnation of knockout rugby.

The northern hemisphere's most anticipated Test of 2019 is being staged on the opening weekend of the Championship when Joe Schmidt's Grand Slam holders host the team they replaced as Europe's dominant force.

Ireland are odds-on favourites to triumph at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, but Te'o insists England refuse to be cast as willing victims.

Farrell will resume his rivalry with Jonathan Sexton and Te'o, who has played outside both fly-halves for Leinster, England and the British and Irish Lions, believes they are cut from the same cloth.

"Seeing Johnny on a daily basis for a season at Leinster, you understand why he's the player that he is," Te'o said.

"A lot of these very good players tick in the same way and Owen is pretty similar to him.

"They can both be quite confrontational, a bit aggressive. You've got one cranky guy on the other side and one cranky guy on our side.

"These guys are all the same – you go to different places and play different codes, but these guys are all the same.

Ben Te'o could feature in a midfield partnership alongside Manu Tuilagi (Mike Egerton/PA)

"They want things done the right way, with intensity, and they love competing. They're both very demanding players and that's why they are the best.

"Johnny is a good mate of mine and I'm happy that he's getting that recognition now because he's worked very hard to get where he is."

One option available to Eddie Jones for the Dublin opener is to pair Te'o alongside Manu Tuilagi in a midfield partnership that was seen for six minutes in the second half of November's rout of Australia.

"Manu's a phenomenal athlete. He's been back at his club playing week in, week out and he looks sharp out there now. It all depends on what balance the coaches want," Te'o said.

amp_article__348160 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-01-28 04:13:46:
html db last update - 2019-01-28 04:13:46 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Ben Te'o

Click here for more stories about Ireland

Share this article now:
Read more about Ben Te'o Rugby Union
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .