DUBLIN — This defeat was far too acquainted for England as they misplaced 27-22 to Eire in Dublin.
Identical to we have seen all too usually, England fell away within the ultimate quarter of the match, the bench did not convey any second wind, and the opposition — Eire on this case — had extra readability and composure.
The rating did the stark actuality of Eire’s superiority a disservice. England got here to Dublin with quiet optimism, seeking to upset logic and type, however have been as an alternative despatched again residence pissed off and deflated.
It was a match of two faces for England. They have been excellent within the first half, and went into the break 10-5 forward. Their defence was fierce, and regardless of shedding Marcus Smith to a yellow card, they held out wave after wave of Irish assault. At half-time the match was within the stability. However the ramifications of the primary 40 minutes left them punched out.
Within the second half the pictures England did land on Eire got here far, far too late.
Eire, in flip, have been totally ruthless and the distinction in expertise between the 2 groups was stark. Eire seemed comfy in their very own pores and skin, they usually performed with such persistence, realizing that finally their physicality, nous and precision would inform, as their bench made dent after dent in England’s weary legs. Because the hosts upped the ante, England’s ill-discipline noticed their foothold within the match slip, leaving them face down on the Dublin turf.
Eire have been merely at a better degree than England in each space of the match within the second half, as they put into place the primary piece of the jigsaw which they hope will result in a 3rd Six Nations crown on the bounce on March 15. The eventual five-point distinction was far narrower than the story the match instructed.
England have been shedding 27-10 heading with 4 minutes remaining. That’s the true reflection of the match.
Regardless of type suggesting in any other case, there was a scrumptious, niggling feeling of uncertainty forward of this conflict. Eire weren’t their typical ruthless selves within the autumn sequence, and headed into this championship with out their typical head coach Andy Farrell, who’s on secondment with the British & Irish Lions. Interim head coach Simon Easterby went for Take a look at-raw fly-half Sam Prendergast, who made his Six Nations debut on the age of 21. There was sufficient instability there — maybe — for England to select them off.
England, in flip, have been embarking into their third period underneath Borthwick: a recent captain in Maro Itoje, a new-look back-row with three fetchers, and a debutant on the wing. They mentioned that they had earnt from these heartbreaking defeats final 12 months, the place they gained simply considered one of their ultimate six Checks, a run which included three losses to the All Blacks, and wins for Australia and South Africa at Twickenham.
The primary half would’ve crammed English hearts with optimism.
They have been aggressive in defence, the Curry twins within the back-row have been wreaking havoc and Itoje was omnipresent. Their attempt by debutant Cadan Murley after 9 minutes was nicely taken as he dotted down Henry Slade’s neat kick-through. Eire hammered away at England’s line however time and time once more, the guests’ defence held agency, till, that’s, James Lowe powered by Alex Mitchell and put away Jamison Gibson-Park who sidestepped previous Freddie Steward to attain. England had a five-point lead on the change.
The omens all pointed in the direction of England beautiful the hosts, on condition that 1983 was the final time a staff behind at half-time went on to win this particular match-up. As an alternative, it was Eire who began the second half within the ascendancy. England’s self-discipline slipped, and Eire pounced with Bundee Aki powering by Marcus Smith and carrying Mitchell and Slade over the road.
England’s confidence and precision waned. They misplaced the kicking battle and after coughing up extra subject place, Lowe discovered a niche between Ellis Genge and substitute Chandler Cunningham-South and with acres of open subject forward of him and put Tadhg Beirne over within the sixty fourth minute. England had began to make foolish errors, like Murley twice getting caught behind his personal try-line as he did not cowl Eire’s pinpoint kicking. England began to attempt to rush issues, Eire have been affected person and took the chance when granted. Dan Sheehan, a key determine on the tempo-shifting Irish bench, stretched over for Eire’s fourth within the 72nd minute.
Recreation over.
Borthwick took coronary heart from England’s late rally as Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman scored within the ultimate 4 minutes, however the sense of déjà vu was inescapable. We have seen this movie earlier than. Borthwick has talked concerning the distinction in expertise between the 2 teams, and that is honest, they’re at completely different levels of their journeys. However finally, that is the time of 12 months the place it’s a outcomes enterprise, and discuss of evolution and persistence are given scant respect by the ruthlessness of this match.
Eire have been again to regular. They have been a bit shaky within the first half, however have been at their elegant greatest within the second. The power in depth instructed, the bench swung the momentum of the match firmly in Eire’s favour, they usually performed a few of their biggest hits within the second half as they danced by England’s exhausted defence.
It does not get any simpler for England. Up subsequent at Twickenham? France, who caught 43 unanswered factors on Wales on Friday night time, full with Antoine Dupont, the best participant within the recreation.
You may see what Borthwick’s attempting to do with this England staff. He is attempting to make them aggressive, a staff unafraid to play at a lightning fast tempo, and with ambition. However in the mean time, it is simply not clicking.
This was England’s seventh defeat in 9. And it is all the way down to acquainted failings that are proving tougher than ever to eradicate.
Additional studying:
– Why every staff will discover Six Nations success, and why they will not
– WATCH: Can Scotland win their first title since 1999? ESPN writers debate
– Six Nations and Girls’s Six Nations: Full fixture listing
– Six Nations historical past, previous winners, extra
