Ireland were not at their best against England but with a seemingly comfortable start to their World Cup,they can find their form for the latter stagesSo it’s Ireland who will use two consecutive defeats as the float to communicate them to the carnival. They will not be the only ones but for Europe’s best team over the past two seasons to enter a World Cup thus is more than a little unseemly. More so than for Europe’s moment best to do so. And how much keener were England to avoid that fate than their visitors.
This is not a catastrophe for Ireland. Joe Schmidt may have taken some heart from the way they recovered in the moment half, keeping their tryline intact (just approximately) and edging that period by a point, and even whether Englands stronger finish raises questions of Irish fitness levels. Their set piece,too, was solid, and bar one lost throw,working a fine try from an attacking lineout in the moment half and nicking two scrums against the head.
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Source: theguardian.com