sport news England have the country behind them at last after Steve Borthwick's finest ... trends now
It's just one game and there was just one point in it, but the implications are profound. England have a first major scalp under Steve Borthwick. They have validation — and precious breathing space.
This means all the stirring words are no longer hollow. This means they truly are on to something. No Test side in the world can trick a victory over Ireland. Andy Farrell’s team came to Twickenham to take the penultimate step towards an historic back-to-back Grand Slam and they were sent home beaten, stunned and diminished — at least fleetingly. The better team prevailed. Justice was done.
In the build-up to this pulsating classic, there had been talk of how the hosts needed a statement win, after Borthwick’s England had managed to beat lower-ranked teams so far, but never one of the global superpowers.
Now they have done that — only just, but it was enough to register on the oval-ball richter scale. There was an assumption of an Irish clean-sweep in this Six Nations since their emphatic, opening-night win over France in Marseille, but Jamie George and Co defied that script.
They have onerous fixtures ahead, against the French in Lyon, then on tour against Eddie Jones’s Japan in Tokyo and the All Blacks in Dunedin and Auckland. There won’t be many home comforts in the autumn either as England have to face New Zealand again, Australia — with Joe Schmidt at the helm — and world champions South Africa. But after this, they will have renewed heart and hope.
England claimed a hugely valuable and impressive 23-22 Six Nations victory over Ireland on Saturday
This was England's most complete performance under Steve Borthwick - and a first major scalp for him
England's Twickenham win was a glorious emergence from an extended and miserable slump
After three years of dire championship campaigns, this was a glorious emergence from an extended and miserable slump. The result and the manner of the performance served to ensure that England did what captain George had spoken so passionately about; they re-engaged their public. It was quite something to behold.
After Marcus Smith slotted the match-winning drop goal, the stadium was filled with fans dancing and cavorting in euphoric scenes. The stands were literally shaking. Twickenham is not often full of such primal fervour.
Play like that and the national team will save the RFU a fortune on expensive marketing strategies and gimmicks. People who don’t normally follow rugby were hooked. Social media lit up with excited chatter and triumphalism.
England appear to have harnessed a sense of being written off in the media, in which case the invoice is in the post. In all seriousness, they were awful at Murrayfield, but certainly not the worst England team ever. Whoever in the camp is peddling that as the angle of coverage should be a political spin doctor, for such works of fiction.
Two weeks on, Borthwick’s men were magnificent on Saturday but certainly not the best England team ever. Those of us who traipse round after them shared a genuine satisfaction
