The overwhelming reaction of the English media to England’s 27-22 defeat to Ireland at the Aviva Stadium was that a good start and a lively ending could not camouflage the shortcomings and that the home side were worthy winners in Dublin.
There was general acclamation for the manner in which the visitors started – they led 10-5 at half-time – but dismay in the manner in which Ireland dismantled Steve Borthwick’s side when they got a run at them in the second half.
The Sunday Times rugby correspondent Stephen Jones wrote: “This time with England we had to make do with a genuinely promising first half-hour, but with a sharp reminder that a match lasts for about an hour and a half.
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“The rest was Irish domination, and, in the end, it was a thumping win by the team who were harder, faster, fiercer man for man and better organised. And the final score was placed out of kilter when England rose from the dead for two tries in the dying moments. ”
Having initially given with one hand, he took away with the other. “But in truth, in the end Ireland did not have to be particularly outstanding to win the match by more than the final score suggests. Their props are nothing special, Sam Prendergast at fly half was even less special than that and the idea that Caelan Doris is somehow nailed on as the Lions captain looked ludicrous.”
Earlier he had suggested that “Ireland, plainly, were raving mad with themselves for declaring their effort closed before the final whistle. They thrived on the needle-sharp incisiveness of Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum half, James Lowe on the wing, Mack Hansen on the other wing, Bundee Aki in midfield – and they were also well served by the odd Irish-born player.”
In the same paper, former England and British & Irish Lions outhalf Stuart Barnes had a look at the respective Irish and English 10s, Marcus Smith and Sam Prendergast.
He wrote: “Smith continued to impress – understated – as he passed Ben Earl brilliantly through the heart of Ireland. From the ensuing penalty he kicked three points. He had been impressive throughout, Prendergast impressed in the manner of a youngster rebounding from a sticky opening quarter. At half-time the present was just about shading the future.
“But it was the Irishman, with a perfect try-creating pass (unconverted) which levelled the game in the second half. This was a pass you would expect an international ten to make but at 21 and under pressure ... some pass.
“Minutes later he put Ireland ahead for the first time with the calmest of penalties. He had missed a few kicks, but mishaps don’t affect him. We were witnessing a display, not so much of quality, as character. In the 58 minutes on the field before Jack Crowley replaced him, we were witness to a class act who will be around some time.”
Brendan Fanning, writing for the Observer, pointed out: “Yes, there were shades of November with the imbalance between time spent about to score and time spent waiting for the conversion, but the story was how good Ireland looked when they got things right.
“It never looked better than in the last half hour when Dan Sheehan came off the bench. His explosiveness further unsettled the away team who were going through the horrors for much of the second half.
In summation he said: “On the review Simon Easterby will lead with the good stuff – a good scrum and very good defence – move on to the very good – everything in the second half bar the last 10 minutes – and then replay the missed opportunities.
In the same paper Rob Kitson ventured that England’s cavalry that rushed from the stands to rescue their team did not have anything like the same impact as their Irish counterparts. “Last-quarter weariness, questionable depth in certain positions. Brittle self-belief ... the bottom line is that England’s bench is still not managing to ride to the team’s rescue in the way Ireland’s replacements, say, seem capable of doing.
“Unless that changes very soon, starting at home to France on Saturday, England are not going to be anywhere near the winners’ circle when the tournament concludes next month.
The heading over Oliver Brown’s colour piece in the Telegraph was unsparing. “Don’t take us for fools, this England team is drowning in mediocrity,” the strapline continued, “Faith is evaporating in Steve Borthwick who continues to blame his side’s unlimited capacity for self-destruction on youth.”
The Sun’s chief sports feature writer Martin Linton wasn’t looking for consolation or silver linings. “In the end, despite that late double, Ireland looked more like themselves, England a level − or more − below.”
