England v Ireland, Six Nations 2014: A narrow victory, but a coming of age for ...

For as long as anyone can remember England have worked off the mantra that

weaknesses would be spotted, admitted and corrected. You hear so much these

days about “errors”, largely because the review process is so

detailed and unforgiving. GCHQ would be envious of the scrutiny applied to

individual performances. And through HD television and multiple camera

angles we have all become incredibly smug about spotting the smallest

technical mistake or bad decision.

Recognising cock-ups is one thing. Eradicating them is not done by chalkboards

and confessions alone. Sooner or later the player has to go out there and

not make those mistakes again, often under intense pressure. The first-half

news was that England seemed intent on strengthening their reputation for

not being sufficiently ruthless along the back division, where Brian

O’Driscoll was in possession of 33 more caps than the entire England

seven-man unit.

Billy Twelvetrees, who has yet to assert ownership of the inside centre’s

shirt, is sometimes too busy trying to obey the needs of the team to smack

the opposition in the face with his own strength and talent. The result is

too much thinking, which translates as bad handling. At least twice before

the interval the England No 12 spilt the ball. Equally Jonny May’s tendency

to run laterally is sometimes as vexing as his inability to cross the line

close-in.

We saw this in Edinburgh when England’s 20-0 win over Scotland should have

been more like 40-0. Here at Twickenham, six minutes in, May was presented

with the kind of opportunity wings dream about but tried to pop the ball

down with an outstretched arm rather than spearing through with the ball

still clutched to his body. Jack Nowell, meanwhile, was free outside.

Conversely the Gloucester man’s expertly judged bobbling kick for touch when

England were engulfed by green with two minutes left was greeted by a

relieved jab of the finger by coach Lancaster and a hug from Care.

England’s backs are learning on the run, with the clock of a home World Cup

ticking like a time-piece inside a crocodile. But they are not all novices.

Mike Brown was their most pugnacious ball carrier and radiated hostile

intent. He is a vital asset in a back line that is still nowhere near

picking itself. Care, too, has graduated in this championship.

“This is a special team, a special coaching team and that was a defining

moment,” announced Sir Clive Woodward, the 2003 World Cup winning coach. “I

think England will really go on now and become something special.”

Have we not been here before? Well, yes, but this win was achieved against a

streetwise Ireland side with power up front and skill behind.

There is a relentlessness about Lancaster’s England that must be horrible to

play against. They are never slaves to their mistakes and refuse to be

discouraged. Against all the odds the Twickenham crowd are also playing

their part, throwing themselves behind this mission to add purpose and

meaning to English rugby beyond mere scale and wealth.

If this carries on, they will find it harder and harder to fight their way in

car parks through the admiring hordes.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-26107462

England v Ireland, Six Nations 2014: A narrow victory, but a coming of age for ...