IN CASE YOU WERE ASLEEP...

Here’s our undiluted opinion on all the action from the last eight weeks.

■ ■ Ireland as no of They the a kidding properly, won time announced their we rugby seriously, are Grand team. quite their Slam good proper… arrival and all ■ third The where clincher Six they Nations easily was in at beat Twickenham five England years. ■ 24-15. On St Patrick’s Day no less which celebrations meant, were no doubt, a touch that mental. the ■ ■ As The for wheels England…well, have well and well, truly well. come o their listing chariot. ■ Not any that hurry coach to acknowledge Eddie Jones that. was in ■ He losses took rather the three well, consecutive suggesting they tried were to grow inevitable into a world-class as England team. ■ Strange, victories because is usually accumulating the best way to transition a side into a worldclass outfit. ■ But then what else was Eddie to say? ■ Could he really admit that he has multiple issues that he’s not really sure he can solve? ■ His first problem is that he has no pace in his back row. ■ Chris Robshaw is a war horse but he plays with the speed of a cart horse. ■ England don’t have a genuine No 7 who can get to the ball quickly. ■ As a result they are losing out majorly at the breakdown and being forced into poor acts of discipline to compete. ■ They are short of genuine ball carriers in the pack. ■ Dylan Hartley is providing next to nothing as captain and he doesn’t seem to have the smarts or force of personality to impose himself. ■ George Ford at first-five is actually not really any good. ■ Owen Farrell is world class but he has to play as a No 10 in the No 12 jersey. ■ There’s no real creativity in the team and therefore no ability to open up defences with a bit of magic.