Back home, bruised and unbeaten

THERE were no sweet chariots or high horses ferrying Ireland’s rugby conquerors yesterday.

If delayed flights and pressing family commitments weren’t enough to bring our Six Nations heroes down to earth with a bang, the sobering prospect of a first Triple Crown in almost 20 years was. That and the exhaustion after a tumultuous Saturday at Twickenham.

By the time the Irish players and management concluded formal post-match duties, the clock had turned into Sunday. “The lads were exhausted, they had taken a physical battering,” said coach Eddie O’Sullivan.