Time is running out for chaotic England

ANOTHER day, another English disciplinary implosion with a red card, this time given to Billy Vunipola, for a headhigh tackle on Ireland loose-head Andrew Porter in the 52nd minute of this Red Rose warm-up debacle in Dublin. 

- NICK CAIN

At that stage the game was already up for Steve Borthwick’s side. They were trailing 12-3 at halftime to an Irish line-up which had already scored two first-half tries – through Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose – despite having to scrape off a fair bit of ring-rust since their Grand Slam triumph six months ago.

England’s indiscipline has become a chronic weakness, and until it is remedied by a radical change in attitude and rigour, their chances of making a statement at this World Cup are negligible.

Whether under Borthwick, or his predecessor Eddie Jones, this era of England players are serial offenders, and the rot has spread so deep that any headway they make is soon undermined.

Borthwick now faces the headache of Vunipola, the only outright No.8 in his squad, being banned for England’s opening pool matches alongside last week’s high-tackle offender, Owen Farrell.

With England reduced to 14-men for their third consecutive match against Ireland, it did not take long for the hosts to make them pay, scoring another three second-half touchdowns, by James Lowe, Mack Hansen, and their bench centurion Keith Earls, to rack-up a five-try haul.

All they managed in reply was a late Kyle Sinckler touchdown when he just managed to force his way to the whitewash after being set-up when Ben Earl made an impressive burst off the base of a retreating seven-man England scrum.

The moment that brought the house down for the Irish was when the 35-year-old Earls celebrated his 100th cap by scoring in the corner with a diving somersault after a long pass by Aki, with Jack Crowley’s conversion giving the home side their winning margin.