Turbo-charged England Blast Past the Irish Dump Truck

I only normally write something once a week but having watched England’s demolition of Ireland in the Six Nations Championship I felt compelled to record something.

We all are led to believe that the Irish do not like the tag of favourites and before this match they surely were the favourites to win the Six Nations. They may still do so of course but after England’s storming start it is probably unlikely. Given England’s home record and the fact that they have three home matches to come, it looks as if it is down to Wales to try and prevent the chariot from sweeping all before it in Cardiff. If England did triumph then of course there would be no point in the rest of us turning up in Japan as the Rugby World Cup world surely be a formality (according to the media). What a prospect that is! Warren Gatland will need to use all his wiles to come up with a cunning plan to wheel clamp the chariot if we are still going to be find anything other than coverage of England in the sport sections of the newspapers.

England certainly caught Ireland cold yesterday and the speed and power of their defence coupled with an astute kicking game rendered Ireland pretty ineffective. In a way England out- irelanded Ireland. I am sure Schmidt deeply regrets not playing an experienced fullback as Henshaw and his colleagues on the wing found it very difficult to cover the ground and negate a variety of tactical kicks from Farrell and co. It was a tactical triumph for Eddie Jones and his backroom staff that is for sure. Not many people saw this comprehensive victory coming and I congratulate England.

Ireland have not become a poor side overnight and they will be back with a vengeance I am sure. Their next match is away in Scotland who looked quite tasty at times against a lumbering Italian side. There promises to be some fireworks at Murrayfield as resurgent Scotland face the Irish backlash.

England take on France at Twickenham next week and if France play as they did in the second half in Paris against Wales they will be overwhelmed. You never know with France of course but I won’t be hazarding any Euros on a French win.

I will be travelling to Rome next weekend and looking forward to some pasta, chianti and hopefully a Welsh win. I am certainly not counting my chickens before they hatch though as Wales have come unstuck in Italy before.

Come on Wales!