Sometimes it is only when you look back that you realise you have crossed a border. A year on from England’s 13-9 defeat by Ireland in Dublin, their first loss under Jones, that game seems to have been a clear watershed in the fortunes of both teams. It was the point when Ireland passed England to become the best team in Europe. Ireland are unbeaten in 11 Tests since and are now Six Nations champions. England are still faltering, looking for the sure footing they had before they tripped in that match. According to the world rankings, England are still second behind the All Blacks; the truth is Ireland overtook them last March.
When Sean Cronin dived over the line to score Ireland’s fourth try against Scotland on Saturday afternoon, England’s task in France became that much harder, the likelihood of their winning the championship so much more remote. The convoluted bonus point system, which has added nothing to the Six Nations but needless arithmetic, meant England now needed to score four tries and beat France even to have a chance of winning a third consecutive championship. They would have had to follow it up with the perfect match next week, a four-try thrashing of Ireland at Twickenham, to win the title on points difference.
Source : foxnews
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