LONDON (Reuters) – Numerous experts and former players have lined up to celebrate England’s 23-22 win over Ireland, with Clive Woodward and Lawrence Dallaglio hailing it as the team’s finest performance since their victory against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup semi-final.
England secured the win on Saturday with a last-minute drop goal from Marcus Smith, but it would have been unfair if they had lost, given their dominant display against the opposition and the attacking flair they displayed, which fans have been yearning for.
“This is not only England’s standout performance of the Six Nations by far, but it was also the best display during the Steve Borthwick era and perhaps their most impressive showing in a long while – probably since the 2019 World Cup semi-final victory over New Zealand,” remarked World Cup-winning coach Woodward in the Mail on Sunday.
“Borthwick’s team still has room to improve, but there’s no denying that this triumph against a quality team like Ireland signifies a significant step forward for English rugby. I genuinely hope this victory marks the beginning of a successful period under Borthwick.
“What intrigues me is that I believe there’s room for even better performances from them. It’s a fantastic position for the team to be in. They proved their detractors wrong.”
Former captain Dallaglio also hailed it as the most definitive performance since the 2019 semi-final, stating in The Times: “The atmosphere was electric – I’ve never witnessed Twickenham like that – chaotic and jubilant.
“For the first time in a long time, it felt like the stadium, fans, and players were united in a way we haven’t seen in a while. If the loss to Scotland two weeks ago was a setback, then defeating the world’s best team was a significant stride forward.
“I thought they played with passion, creativity, and skill. It was resolute, assertive, and just a brilliant day.”
The unexpected win dashed Ireland’s hopes of consecutive grand slams, although they remain strong contenders to clinch the title when they face Scotland in their next match, with England and possibly France still in the running.
Following victories over Italy and Wales, this marks the first time in four years that England has won more than two games in the championship, and they are eager to follow it up with another win when they travel to France for the final match of the competition on Saturday night.
With Ireland sitting at 16 points, England at 12, and Scotland at 11, and with a significantly superior points difference, Ireland is likely to secure the title before their match against Scotland in Dublin, and coach Andy Farrell has accepted that England deserved their win.
“From the outset, we aimed to be contenders for the title on the final day, and we are – it won’t be difficult to refocus the team for next week,” he commented. “Securing Six Nations titles is incredibly challenging – just look at today’s results, that’s why we cherish this competition.”
Dallaglio concurred: “This was a fantastic day for the Six Nations and rugby as a whole, showcasing the unpredictability of Test rugby,” he said. “Who would have expected Italy to defeat Scotland and then England to overcome the best team in the world?
Later on Sunday, Wales will host France in the final game of the fourth round.
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
