Joe Schmidt sensed his Ireland team were in for a rough ride as he surveyed an unusually quiet home dressing room prior to kick-off. By then it is too late to change course, too few minutes to spark a group of men, even as celebrated and successful as this Ireland team, into life. Which makes this England victory a right royal payback on so many levels. “Yeah, it is a mental challenge,” the Ireland boss said. “If you are a little bit off the mark, any team can knock any team over.

Source: Irish Examiner February 04, 2019 05:15 UTC