Two steps forward and now one leap back for the Farrell project

Eddie Jones was understandably pleased as he emerged from a trying week having engineered the platform for a powerhouse England performance to which Ireland could find no answer.

With a title chase on the line following an opening-day defeat in Paris, the pressure was on with the unbeaten Irish coming to Twickenham in search of a Triple Crown and Jones had piled it all on himself by sidelining his assistants from their media duties during the week and facing the music himself.