Ronan O’Gara’s critique of English rugby came back to haunt him as Steve Borthwick’s side triumphed over Ireland at Twickenham, silencing doubters in a gripping Six Nations showdown.
In a nail-biting finale, Marcus Smith’s last minute drop-goal secured a dramatic victory for England, dashing Ireland’s hopes of consecutive Grand Slam victories. Despite trailing by two points following James Lowe’s late try, Smith’s decisive kick sparked jubilation among home supporters.
The outcome proved particularly humbling for pundits, with former scrum-half Peter Stringer’s assertion that no English player warranted a place in the Ireland XV mere days prior.
Yet, it was O’Gara’s scathing commentary that truly backfired as he found himself eating his own words in the wake of England’s triumph.
Prior to the game, he said: “The big difference between when Brian (O’Driscoll) and myself played and now was that the English clubs were unbelievably strong,
“The level in English rugby has gone very, very, very low. Saracens aren’t nearly extinct but they’re dying in front of us.
“For these players to excel in the Test arena, I think they need to perform for their clubs and that’s where Ireland have a massive advantage.
“Leinster are like an Ireland B team and then Munster have got competitive, as have Connacht. Ulster are not where they want to be but they’re still competitive.
“There’s such ingrained competitiveness in the system in Ireland that translates to the national team.
“From England’s point of view, there’s a renaissance with Northampton but with other teams, it’s not at the standard they want it to be and the league is nowhere near as competitive as it was 10 years ago.”
“Still a chance” – How England can win the 2024 Six Nations next weekend
In a nail-biting turn of events, the race for the Six Nations title remains wide open, with Ireland, England, and Scotland all still in contention.
Despite Ireland holding the advantage, thanks to their bonus points, the competition is far from decided, leaving room for various outcomes among the trio.
Next Saturday, all eyes will be on Dublin as Ireland hosts Scotland at 4:45 pm, while England faces off against France in a high-stakes clash kicking off at 8:00 pm.
For a comprehensive preview of the upcoming matches and insights into the pivotal England vs. Ireland showdown, Stephen Ferris provides an expert analysis.
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How Ireland Might Secure the Championship Despite a Loss
Even if Ireland falls to Scotland, there’s still a path to the Championship. If they manage to secure a losing bonus point along with a try bonus point, they’ll reach 18 points, making it impossible for any other team to surpass them.
Alternatively, if Ireland loses to Scotland but England fails to secure a win against France, Ireland would be on at least 16 points, with England only able to reach 14 points with a draw.
Even with just one bonus point from their match against Scotland and England winning in France without a bonus point, Ireland would still edge ahead with 17 points, leaving England on 16. This scenario would mark a historic first for a team not winning the most games in the Six Nations yet clinching the championship.
