In the great scheme of things one result does not completely reshape the rugby landscape. Ireland, barring a spectacular stumble at the final hurdle, will still be crowned as this season’s Six Nations champions and remain a high-class side. This was the day, though, when England finally displayed their oft-discussed potential and gave their longsuffering supporters a glimpse of something more uplifting.
There will be no back-to-back Irish grand slams and, on this evidence, rightly so. Because this was as positive and purposeful a display as England have produced since 2019, in defiance of the pre-game odds which gave Ireland an 11-point start. The bright side of the road was supposedly wide open for the unbeaten Irish but, even at 22-20 down in the closing seconds, there was to be no stopping a pimped-up sweet chariot.
