At the stroke of half-time, England were trailing by just four points (10-6) when Steward received a red card for making contact with Hugo Keenan.
Despite failing to prevent Ireland from achieving
a Six Nations Grand Slam, England managed to restore some of their self-respect
in the match held in London. However, as the Rugby World Cup is just a few
months away, there are still some underlying issues that Steve Borthwick's team
needs to confront. After their humiliating and record 53-10 home defeat by World
Cup hosts France at Twickenham last week, there were concerns that England
would face another crushing defeat in Dublin on Saturday.
England's performance against Ireland at
Lansdowne Road was a marked improvement from their previous match against
France, where they suffered a humiliating defeat. The team showed a much-needed
resilience and cohesion in their match against Ireland, indicating that they
are starting to get to grips with the methods of their defence coach Kevin
Sinfield. Despite being a man down for the majority of the match, England
managed to stay in the game and even threatened to cause an upset, but the
hosts' quality eventually prevailed.
However, as England prepares for the Rugby World
Cup just a few months away, there are still some underlying issues that need to
be addressed. The team needs to work on their strategies and tactics to ensure
they are better prepared for their upcoming matches. With their final
competitive match before the World Cup ending in a loss, England will need to use
this as a learning opportunity to address their weaknesses.
Their opening match of the World Cup against
Argentina will be a tough test, especially as they were defeated by the same
team during their Autumn campaign last year. England will need to work on their
game plan and execute it to perfection to ensure a better outcome this time
around. The team will need to show a greater level of discipline, particularly
after Steward's red card against Ireland, which had a significant impact on the
outcome of the match.
Despite the challenges that lie ahead, there is
still hope for England. They have a talented squad of players, and with the
right preparation and mindset, they can go far in the World Cup. The coaching
staff will need to address the team's weaknesses and develop strategies to
exploit their opponents' weaknesses. Additionally, the team will need to work
on their mental toughness to ensure they can perform under pressure.
In conclusion, England's performance against
Ireland showed that they are making progress, but there is still much work to
be done before the Rugby World Cup. With the right preparation, discipline, and
mindset, England can achieve success in the tournament, but they will need to
work hard to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.
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