Irish defeat told me it was time to go back

World Cup-winning flanker Neil Back today revealed that having to watch England’s record-ending defeat to Ireland at Twickenham from the bench convinced him it was time to bring an end to his international career.

Back announced yesterday his intention to quit England at the end of this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship, making him the fourth member of coach Clive Woodward’s squad to do so after Martin Johnson, Kyran Bracken and Jason Leonard.