"So it looks as if it might have been a bubble. England's 12-match winning run came to a shuddering halt last week, but it was possible to believe that flop might prove a one-off a chastened Scotland at home, after all, has been the downfall of many an England team. Well, there are scattered strips of latex all over Twickenham now, England's balloon more than spectacularly popped by an Ireland side who are hardly afraid of inspirational rugby against this lot themselves."
"Just as England had been riding high before last week, so Ireland had been looking a little lacklustre. We thought they might be a team in transition and they may yet prove to be but they brought back a whole haberdasher's worth of experience, led by the peerless Jamison Gibson-Park, and fairly tormented their younger and more hopeful hosts. England had been the noisier in recent times, the future all theirs, but it turns out there is no substitute for calmness and authority."
"Henry Pollock, the most obvious embodiment of a brash future, had to bend his knee to Caelan Doris here. It turns out there is a way to go yet. All the same, the vagaries of elite sport continue to astound. England, of course, were never the finished article, but 12 wins in a row do not happen by accident. There were signs against Wales, when they looked woolly despite the easy win."
England's 12-match winning streak ended after a heavy defeat by an Ireland side that combined experience with calm authority. Ireland reintroduced seasoned players and were led by Jamison Gibson-Park, whose control tormented England's younger, hopeful squad. England had shown signs of weakness against Wales but still possessed developing options across multiple departments. Key England prospects like Henry Pollock were outplayed in physical contests, highlighting a gap between potential and execution. The loss exposed England's vulnerability against top opposition and removed much of the pre-existing momentum and buzz around the team. The result underlines how elite sport magnifies contrasts between teams on form.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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