England have roared back into the Six Nations mix with another comprehensive demolition of Ireland as tries by George Ford, Elliot Daly and Luke Cowan-Dickie helped them to a 24-12 Twickenham victory in their best performance of the year.
England were superb in the first half, leading 17-0 at the break and treating the home fans to glimpses of the attacking verve and aggressive defence that marked their memorable World Cup wins over Australia and New Zealand four months ago.
Ireland looked flat and short of ideas as they barely fired a shot in the first period and, though they did regroup in the second, they were well beaten despite coming into the game on the back of two wins.
“We knew Ireland were on good form and we came out flying, we put an emphasis on that all week. It was great to get out here with the boys,” said England flanker and man of the match Courtney Lawes after his team had chalked up a third successive dominant win over the Irish.
After three rounds, both teams are on nine points from two wins and one defeat, with France, who have won their first three games, topping the standings on 13 points. Wales and Scotland are on six with Italy yet to register.
England set the tone from the opening exchanges and barely took their foot off the pedal throughout the first half.
They were on the board after nine minutes when Johnny Sexton failed to deal with the awkward bounce of Ben Youngs’s grubber kick, allowing Ford to dive on it.
A similar scenario unfolded for the second try, Jacob Stockdale fatally hesitating over Ford’s kick and Daly reaching it just in time to touch down.
England’s attack was full of hard, aggressive running and neat, delayed passing that repeatedly punched holes in the Irish defence.
Conversely, when the visitors had the ball the English loose forward trio of Lawes, Tom Curry and Sam Underhill were swarming all over them.
Farrell slotted a penalty to stretch the lead to 17-0 at halftime, and it was no more than England deserved.
Ireland had barely visited the English 22 and the one opportunity they did get was wasted when Sexton screwed an easy penalty wide.
They looked more fired up after the restart and hit back with a Robbie Henshaw try but it didn’t last long and even then Sexton was again off beam with the simple conversion.
Homer Gain
Guest
Did it once. Nothing would encourage me to repeat the experience.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
" Cooney really should spend more time focusing on the ball, and less on his hair, if he is to be taken seriously" Mmmmm.....don't go on holiday in Ulster, Homer.
Homer Gain
Guest
Neil, if any England player had thrown himself into a late no-arms lunge akin to that by Henshaw, the usual suspects on here would have gone into meltdown. That said, while I agree that Ireland were flattered by the score (is there a more wasteful backline in international rugby than England), I still put it down to a more than usually flaccid Ireland display than any genius from us. As for the young Irish stars, they may be on their way, but Cooney really should spend more time focusing on the ball, and less on his hair, if he is to be taken seriously.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Neil, thanks for the info on the Jonny May/Henshaw incident....I only have Kayo and can't seem to get a frame by frame playback. "My real point around any points debate is that every Irish pundit I listened to, declared the scoreline to flatter Ireland." Yes, I am getting that slant from everything I read. Irish press being very hard on the team. I hope they just give Andy Farrell a chance to build a good and competitive team, with the young talent he has coming through.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Hey MZ. With the benefit of VLC media player and frame by frame, Cooney has the ball in his hands and off the grass when May takes it off him (no knock on either), and he looks as onside at the ruck as anyone was all game (not very), however Poite is one yard away and is heard to declare 'onside' over the mic. It's a clear backfield and Henshaw is the last covering tackler, which is why he did what he probably felt he had to. It's a howler from Peyper to at least not review, since as you say, it's at the very least a yellow and a penalty for the no arms barge into touch. My real point around any points debate is that every Irish pundit I listened to, declared the scoreline to flatter Ireland. O'Driscoll said it a couple of times in studio commentary and Keith Wood, with a day's reflection made a massive point of it in the 'Monday Night Rugby' podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J95v5JAV1Hc . His broader point was that if England ever chose to run more of that type of possession, they''ll rack up a stack more scores. Agree, there are a number of very promising young Irish players sticking their hands up for selection, and Ryan is already looking like a Lion in waiting. As I said previously, with a decent bill of health, I expect Ireland to give the French their hardest test in Paris. I fancy them personally. Just hope Covid-19 doesn't come to town and bugger everything up.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Fair summation Harry. See above to Neil re againg etc....Ireland have a number of good young players ready to step up. Larmour will need to make better decisions for the future. He could become very easy to defend if he does not vary his game more. And he will always, imo, struggle under accurate high ball plays.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Bit late response Neil, you may never read it. Your comments are fair, and I don't disagree anywhere. Agree partially on the Henshaw/May one. In my mind, Henshaw should have been carded...not only late, but no arms hit/trip. I have not looked at it again, but thought at the time Ireland had the cover to clean up. Mind you, with first two tries botch up by Ireland, same might have happened. Again have not rechecked, but initially thought Jonny was offside when he picked got the ball....in that the ball is only ruled out once the scrum half lifts it off the grass...ludicrous law interpretation, imo. "If you want to get into a points missed debate"....well, mainly sort of coaching analyst type debate. I'm sure Eddie will look at this angle too, and be a little concerned. Out of it all, I have reasonable hopes for Ireland going forward.....as you will for England. But Ireland must put their best on the field at the outset....I like Doris, Cooney, Kelleher......very dynamic players........and I would loved to have had old stager Kearney under those kicks on Sunday....think he was abandoned too soon. I actually also like the Connaught flyhalf Carty......but Sexton is the captain, so very unlikely will ever see Carty come in. France Ireland in Paris could be a great game.
Harry Jones
Expert
I think it was exactly in between demolition and squeaker. Yes, I think England started well, bullied the Irish in the first half, and then coasted a bit. When Ireland’s Murray-Sexton axis is that poor, and when England wins the battle of the back threes in the air and on the ground, there’s only one winner: the power team. Just like in the RWC, the two most physically deep and powerful teams are rising to the top: England and young France. The Welsh and Irish have lost their guru Kiwi coaches, and their stars are aging. Scotland is adrift. So, it’s back to ‘good old days.’
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Demolition is far to strong a word. But for the third game in a row, England bullied Ireland, albeit for only about two thirds of the game this time. If you want to get into a points missed debate, then Ireland's injury time consolation try was as much of a result of an amazing and needless brain fade from Ford gifting back possession, and Jonny May was probably robbed of another amazing individual try by a late challenge by Henshaw, as cynical as the French lock's slap down on Owens in Cardiff. Ireland did well to come back a bit in the second half, but to be honest, much of that happened as England chose to empty a weakened bench and rest players. Sexton had one of those days he rarely has, but can be prone to. It hurts Ireland a lot when he's off (or put off) his game. However, with a relatively clean bill of health, I think they're a good chance in Paris, against a French side I think have lucked it a bit so far.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
"England have roared back into the Six Nations mix with another comprehensive demolition of Ireland " A deserved victory for England, no question, and congratulations to English Roarers. Demolition ? No, I don't see this as a demolition at all. A 12 point victory margin, with Ireland winning the second half 12 - 7. Sexton missed two kicks, for 5 points, that he would normally put over easily. Yes, England started well, but their first 14 points, off excellent kicks, could also so easily have been cleaned up by Ireland. I am happy Ireland are on the road to playing a better game. And younger talent is emerging, with Doris and Cooney just failing to work a lovely try late in the game. Both should start against France.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
England have what we pretend to have : Five backrow forwards.