England have searing pace but still vulnerable

I’m confused. Just over two weeks ago I left Twickenham happy in my own mind that, if Ireland could negotiate what, even at that time, looked like a tricky assignment in Cardiff against Wales, the game against England in Dublin would take care of itself.

To be blunt, I wasn’t overly impressed with England and began to wonder how they had managed to win 16 games on the trot coming into that contest against Italy.

Conor O’Shea hit them with his clever, left field, no ruck ploy and England didn’t have the smarts to cope and make the necessary adjustments on the field.