DONAL LENIHAN: Unflappable England show the greater stability

If anything, Ireland were the far more tentative and suspect-looking outfit in the opening period

If the two turgid contests on Saturday tempered the feeling of exhilaration after the quality served up in all three games on the opening weekend, a Six Nations meeting of Ireland and England invariably takes on a life of its own.

The rain that sheeted down on Ballsbridge from early yesterday morning tempered one’s expectations but once Owen Farrell kicked off for England and this heavyweight contest got under way, it was clearly going to be no place for the faint-hearted.