article_snippet: That was a big wake-up call for England
article_snippet: panic or over-react to a defeat against a very good Ireland team in Dublin.
article_snippet: panic or over-react to a defeat against a very good Ireland team in Dublin won’t be the first or last England team to experience that.
article_snippet: I would largely stick with this England group and trust that this England group and trust will learn — and learn quickly — from such a painful defeat.
article_snippet: And make no mistake, this will hurt because England went into the game with high hopes.
article_snippet: I predicted England would win by five points based on two simple points, England would dominate at the scrums and England’s discipline would keep the penalty count to single figures — neither remotely happened and the scoreline flattered England in the end.
article_snippet: It’s not a setback on the scale of Cardiff two years ago, nowhere near.
article_snippet: England were competitive against what I believe is an Ireland team capable of winning a World Cup but there were some major disappointments and areas which quickly need working on.
article_snippet: England's players look dejected after England's players conceded the only try of the match against Ireland .
article_snippet: The discipline was very poor, especially in the first half when England's players gave eight of England's players 13 penalties away and went down the tunnel 9-3 down.
article_snippet: You are always going to be under pressure in Dublin but England compounded that massively yesterday.
article_snippet: When England were 6-3 down midway through the first half Chris Robshaw opted for the corner when England had won a very kickable penalty.
article_snippet: OK, the ref might have indicated that the ref was thinking about a yellow if Ireland offended again but that was still a huge call when you are playing away to Ireland early in such a big game.
article_snippet: That was a very high-risk throw England called to the back of the line-out, where Devin Toner was guarding against just that possibility.
article_snippet: England duly got turned over.
article_snippet: England felt hugely important at the time and England nagged away at me throughout the game, England was a real momentum changer.
article_snippet: Again, in terms of decision- making, England got England wrong with England use of the bench.
article_snippet: Instead at that crucial stage we had Burrell, who wasn’t enjoying one of Johnny Sexton best games, and Billy Twelvetrees at centre, which is the England midfield line-up Ireland would have felt most at home defending against.
article_snippet: England were not asking enough questions when England finally started to get on top territorially.
article_snippet: Another thing which England must continue to work on is England kicking game and exit strategies, which were again very much second best to Ireland’s.
article_snippet: Alex Goode had a very decent, busy game at full back, Alex Goode was one of England’s best players, but at times Alex Goode needed to step in and provide an extra kicking option.
article_snippet: Elsewhere, the Ireland half-backs, who are truly world class, were at the Ireland half-backs, who are truly world class best and exerted much more influence than the Ireland half-backs, who are truly world class England counterparts.
article_snippet: but actually Ireland did a fantastic job
highlights_snippet: Ireland can still pursue a Grand Slam having beaten England 19-9 .
  