Schmidt admits that his side were just suffocated by intensity of visiting team
difficult to contest. If that’s slow, it allows them to get on the front foot, get off the line,’ Schmidt added.
‘They got excited about it. There was quite a lot of volume with them stirring each other up and getting each other off the line and they backed it up with a real physical intent.’
This galling 32-20 defeat will certainly be a reality check for Ireland. It doesn’t get any easier for Schmidt’s men with a trip to Murrayfield next on the agenda.
‘Yeah, that is a reality check,’ Schmidt agreed.
‘That’s why England are literally such a big team. They did really well tonight. It’s hard to take anything away from England. The intensity they brought to the game, it was more a simmering physical intensity that they collectively delivered that made it a suffocating place to be out on the pitch.’
Manu Tuilagi and Billy Vunipola set the tone with some explosive carries, and England never looked back after that. There is very much a template now to beat Ireland and it starts with winning the battle of the gainline.
‘I think we were physically bettered,’ Schmidt added. ‘I don’t think I’ve seen a game where our opponents got so many physical, dominant tackles. It wasn’t a surprise to us, we knew that power that they bring to the game. To contain those guys is difficult. Our ball was slow, it gives them an opportunity to take pot-shots and they took those shots well.
‘When that happens you’re forced to go to the air because it’s the only way you can progress. And we couldn’t really get into the aerial battle. There were a lot of white jerseys in front of any aerial contest.’
This win was sweet revenge for Eddie Jones after Ireland stormed Twickenham to seal the Grand Slam last season.
‘The intensity at which we played pleased me most,’ Jones said. ‘When you play Ireland at home you know it’s going to be a physical game and we prepared for that. We knew we had to win that battle to win the game.’