Ireland still trying to escape ‘rut’, says Rob Kearney

Over a month now since England struck that unexpectedly heavy blow at the Aviva Stadium and, for all the debate and doubt, it seems that we are none the wiser as to why one defeat could have left a side that had climbed so high feeling so low.

The intricacies of the issue have been dissected at length. Injuries have led to the use of 35 players across the three games of this campaign. Problems with form, shape, and execution have all been lamented and the possibility that sides have sussed Ireland out added to the list of explanations. But how is it that Ireland, ranked second in the world approaching the gates of this tournament, could be facing such an existential crisis on the back of a single reverse?