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 typically, England fell away within the closing quarter of the match, the bench didn’t carry 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, trying to upset logic and type, however had been as an alternative despatched again residence pissed off and deflated.
It was a match of two faces for England. They had been excellent within the first half, and went into the break 10-5 forward. Their defence was fierce, and regardless of dropping Marcus Smith to a yellow card, they held out wave after wave of Irish assault. At half-time the match was within the steadiness. However the ramifications of the primary 40 minutes left them punched out.
Within the second half the photographs England did land on Eire got here far, far too late.
Eire, in flip, had been completely ruthless and the distinction in expertise between the 2 groups was stark. Eire appeared comfy in their very own pores and skin, and so they 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 had been merely at the next stage 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 advised.
England had been dropping 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 regular ruthless selves within the autumn collection, and headed into this championship with out their regular 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, had been embarking into their third period below Borthwick: a contemporary captain in Maro Itoje, a new-look back-row with three fetchers, and a debutant on the wing. They stated that they had earnt from these heartbreaking defeats final 12 months, the place they gained simply certainly one of their closing six Assessments, a run which included three losses to the All Blacks, and wins for Australia and South Africa at Twickenham.
The primary half would’ve stuffed English hearts with optimism.
They had been aggressive in defence, the Curry twins within the back-row had been wreaking havoc and Itoje was omnipresent. Their strive 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 gorgeous the hosts, provided that 1983 was the final time a group behind at half-time went on to win this particular match-up. As a substitute, 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 area place, Lowe discovered a spot between Ellis Genge and substitute Chandler Cunningham-South and with acres of open area 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 didn’t cowl Eire’s pinpoint kicking. England began to attempt to rush issues, Eire had 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 closing 4 minutes, however the sense of déjà vu was inescapable. We have seen this movie earlier than. Borthwick has talked in regards to the distinction in expertise between the 2 teams, and that is truthful, they’re at totally 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 event.
Eire had been again to regular. They had been slightly shaky within the first half, however had been at their chic greatest within the second. The energy in depth advised, the bench swung the momentum of the match firmly in Eire’s favour, and so they performed a few of their best 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 evening, full with Antoine Dupont, the best participant within the recreation.
You may see what Borthwick’s attempting to do with this England group. He is attempting to make them aggressive, a group unafraid to play at a lightning fast tempo, and with ambition. However in the intervening time, it is simply not clicking.
This was England’s seventh defeat in 9. And it is right down to acquainted failings that are proving tougher than ever to eradicate.
Additional studying:
– Why every group 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 checklist
– Six Nations historical past, previous winners, extra