Borthwick a broken record in his defence of England

The good news is that England are taking the positives. Again. It may be seven defeats in nine games, but did you see the way they fought for a losing bonus point with the game gone? How about how the tweaked defensive system frustrated Ireland – until it didn’t.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE

Remember, of course, that the defending champions are a great team; five points is no difference at all, really. What a learning experience this will prove to be.

Play that tape, Steve. “That was a Test match where, for large parts, there wasn’t much in it,” England head coach Steve Borthwick said. “I think this group of players is building and is going to be a very, very good team.

“Ireland are such an experienced team and have been world class for so long – it was a tough Test match and that experience showed in the third quarter. We gave them field position and scoreboard pressure in a critical period. But I am very proud of the way the players attacked the game in the first half and how they came back to score a couple of tries to get the bonus point.”

Someone fetch Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. Since stunning Ireland at Twickenham last year, excluding the two wins against Japan, it is seven defeats from seven for England by an average margin of fewer than five points. It is harder and harder to buy their seemingly unwavering belief in the system and strategy that is delivering consistent flaws.

For 45 minutes in Dublin, England were very good. They hassled. They harried. They hunted. The bold back row selection delivered at the breakdown; each contestable kick seemed to come back England’s way. At the interval, it seemed as if Ireland had thrown plenty of punches yet landed just one.