We’ll be back, says Dallaglio
The world champions were second-best in almost every area, but significantly at lineouts, where they lost 11 on their own throw and were treated to a commanding performance by arguably the world's best jumper, Munster's Paul O'Connell.
England also missed nine tackles and made 25 errors in the game and captain Dallaglio emphasised their mood as Ireland went on their way towards a possible first triple crown since 1985.
"In games at this level, if you don't win the ball, you can't play or put the opposition under any pressure. I am afraid that at lineout time, we were undone," he said.
"Any ball that we did win was very scrappy, and we weren't able to get our patterns of play going. Credit to Ireland, they clearly targeted the lineout as an area to disrupt us, and it proved to be hugely successful.
"There were lots and lots of individual mistakes. You can perhaps afford one or two at this level, but if you have one or two each and you add them together, then ultimately, you are going to make life very difficult."
England missed their World Cup talismen Martin Johnson and Jonny Wilkinson - but there was still no excuse for a flat performance. Full-back Iain Balshaw and hooker Steve Thompson had especially poor games, with prop Trevor Woodman not far behind. As ever though, collective, rather than individual, responsibility will be taken.
"We've had some great days in the last two years. We have been to changing rooms all over the world, and at the end of the game we've had a smile on our face because we played well, got results and won matches," added Dallaglio.
"This is a different experience for the squad and management. We hadn't lost for a long time, but you have to accept that.
"Everyone is prepared to accept all the adulation and praise when you win, and similarly, when you have a bad day, you have got to be prepared to accept the criticism, but ultimately stay together and make sure we bounce back.
"We have that opportunity in a couple of weeks' time. We have a huge tendency to over-react in this country when we lose games, and there is no-one more disappointed than this England team.
"We've had some huge highs, and it has been a long time since this England team has tasted defeat, particularly at Twickenham.
"It is a real test now of how we bounce back. It is a chance for us to take a look at ourselves and come back in a couple of weeks' time.
"Knowing how determined and how motivated everyone is within the England set-up, from coaches through to players. I would expect the appropriate reaction. We've got to look at our next game against Wales, and for us, the target is to get things back on track."
Late on Dallaglio sacrificed a kickable penalty in pursuit of territory. "I didn't think the game was retrievable by taking a penalty at goal. There were four minutes to go, and that included injury time," he said.
"With a six-point deficit, I felt the only way to really to win the game was to go on and try and score a try, which we came very close to doing. I don't think that was the wrong decision."
Forwards coach Andy Robinson, startled by the magnitude of England's lineout collapse, knew Ireland had done a brilliant job in such a key area.
"We got outmuscled in the lineout. Ireland closed the spaces well, hit their jumpers in the air well and competed well," he said.
"They totally dominated us, and having missed a couple of lineouts, we then started to rush things and that created a lot of problems.
"When we tried to go long in the lineout, we missed a couple of calls, which meant the ball was just thrown straight over the top. It was very frustrating, and I take full responsibility for that.
"We had no momentum in the game because every time we threw in at the lineout, we had a lot of slow ball, or we lost it."
Added scrum half Matt Dawson: "A few people are saying that the fortress has been smashed but we should concentrate on the fact that Ireland played very well.
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