‘You’re so clever, I’ve got to learn’
McInally: We must step up for Les Bleus
you guys are so clever, you’re all clever, so I’ve just got to suck it all up, enjoy what you say, try to learn from you and maybe I can pick a better team next week.”
Jones had been criticised in playing Jonathan Joseph and Tom Curry out of position for the game, but both played their part in a win that keeps England in the Six Nations title race.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell, below, felt his side were impotent in comparison, saying: “The reality is they came out of the blocks hard, got on the front foot and we took a few sucker punches from them.
“Were they up for it more? And us going for a
Triple Crown? That’s my responsibility to make sure that shouldn’t happen. So I’ve got to look at myself first and foremost.”
England face Wales next at Twickenham, and Jones is promising a big performance, saying: “We’ll be another 10 per cent against Wales.”
Defending champions Wales are out of the title race after their 27-23 defeat to France but have told England they will come to Twickenham all guns blazing regardless.
“We’ve got England next up and I don’t think we are going to need any motivation going into that game,” said Taulupe Faletau.
ENGLAND
HOW THEY STAND
STUART McINALLY says Scotland must make major improvements again if they are to wreck France’s Grand Slam bid at Murrayfield.
While Les Bleus head to Edinburgh in a fortnight looking to take another step towards a Six Nations clean sweep, the Scots are just relieved to be off the mark following a 17-0 victory over Italy in Rome. Gregor
IRELAND
LFATownsend’s team were far from slick but did grab their first tries of the tournament after firing blanks in the defeats by Ireland and England.
Skipper Stuart Hogg, right, scored the touchdown of the championship so far with a 50-yard solo run, while
Chris Harris and Adam Hastings contributed second-half scores.
And Edinburgh forward McInally said: “There was a bit of relief after the game. We’ve got the monkey off our back and managed to get our first win in the tournament. “But it was also about proving to ourselves. We didn’t play our best but we were pretty clinical at times. Our defence was excellent in not conceding and we threw the ball around against a side who got a few points against France.
“Are there more improvements to come? Oh we can be so much better.
“That wasn’t our finest display by a mile. We won and that is the main thing – but we have to be better.”