Charlie Ewels' disastrous dismissal after 82 seconds didn't aid England 's chances as they crumbled 32-15 at home to Ireland, but Sir Clive Woodward believes the foundations for that defeat were formed long before kick-off.
That's thanks to the "pathetic macho stuff" head coach Eddie Jones had promoted prior to the Six Nations grudge match, according to the 2003 Rugby World Cup -winning tactician.
Jones appeared all too happy to remind the public Ireland travelled to Twickenham as "red-hot favourites" while England were underdogs for the much-anticipated title eliminator.
The Australian wasn't without praise of his own team in the days leading up to the match, however, and warned Ireland wouldn't have "played a game as physical as this for a long time."
Bath lock Ewels' red card in the second minute inevitably had a strong bearing on the result as Andy Farrell's side recorded their biggest-ever win at Headquarters.
Woodward questioned the need for such tactics in a fixture where both the players and public are so well aware of the stakes, suggesting the red card may have even been influenced by any pre-match posturing.
"Firstly we had all this pathetic macho stuff from Jones in the build-up about how England were going to play with a physicality and aggression that Ireland hadn’t seen before," he wrote for the Daily Mail.
"Why even go there? Of course it's going to be tough and torrid up front, it’s England against Ireland at Twickenham for heaven’s sake. It’s a given.
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"It’s that kind of ridiculous rhetoric that probably contributed to Ewels’ dangerous challenge, which was rightly punished with a red card."
The second row was sent packing for making head-to-head contact with Ireland counterpart James Ryan, who himself failed a head injury assessment (HIA) and didn't return to play.
England were under vast pressure to perform given both teams knew defeat at Twickenham would spell the end of their chances to clinch this year's title.
Instead, England now travel to Grand Slam hopefuls and table leaders France ahead of Saturday's send-off, where a bad enough defeat could see them finish fifth for the second year in a row.
Jones has predicted a "good win" for his side despite their underdog status in Paris, complicated all the more by likely absences for Ewels (suspension) and Tom Curry (hamstring).
Woodward critiqued Jones' preference for his sides to be seen as underdogs, even though he feels England are at their best when they "believe they are the best."
"I remember him from his playing days in Sydney," the 66-year-old continued. "A small tough hooker with the Randwick club, who were perceived as the unfashionable team from a tough part of town, taking on my lot at Manly, who were seen as the city slickers and much more cosmopolitan, spending most of our time on the beach!
"That streetfighter approach can only take you so far.
"It can work when you are clearly the minnows but England are not little guys who constantly need winding up."
Saturday's showdown at Twickenham might have panned out far differently had the hosts kept 15 men on the field.
Ireland's bonus-point win was only secured in the closing phases thanks to two late tries from Jack Conan and Finlay Bealham, with their lead a much more modest three points with eight minutes remaining.
England will get their chance to claw back some pride (and help Ireland's title chances) if they manage a fifth-round upset in Paris, where they've lost in their last two visits.
It remains to be seen whether Jones will part with tradition and alter his own tactics for that meeting, with Woodward of the impression less means more in the 'macho' stakes.
