Hooky tied up in knots as Irish magic wears off

It all starts so well.

That was one of the disappointments afterwards. George Hook is resplendent in a gold dickie-bow and Ireland turn over the first English scrum. What can possibly go wrong thereafter? There’s just one tiny problem and sadly it proves an insurmountable one. It’s not Scotland or Wales we’re up against this time.

So okay, it’s clear from the off that there will be no repeat of the Twickenham nightmare of two years ago, when the scrum collapsed and the visitors had to send out to Connollys’ of Chiswick for the first punter they could find to come down and help out in the front row.