Ford drives the message home

THIS was never going to be pretty but, by God, was it compelling. With 20 minutes to go and Ireland defending for their lives you could cut the tension in Lansdowne Road with a knife.

That Ireland survived to win a game of breath-taking intensity, despite being on the receiving end of an intense English backlash, says everything about the character and determination of this side.

When England look back at this game, they will wonder how they lost, having dominated territory and possession for the entire second half. Of course, they failed to translate it where it matters most, on the scoreboard. A three-point return for their second-half efforts was never going to be enough.