3. REACTIONS TO MARCUS SMITH’S MATCH WINNING DROP GOAL
It was a moment of Marcus Smith magic that stole the show at Twickenham, as the Harlequin slotted the winning drop goal for an unforgettable victory. Jamie George watched on from the replacements bench as the fly half slotted the three points, and joked that he never doubted the Harlequin to supply the goods.
JAMIE GEORGE: “I don’t like watching but I was in awe of the boys on the field. The compsoure they showed but also going out there top attack the game and win the game. There were a couple of times there where we had a knock on, we kicked the ball out.
We didn’t panic at any stage and I have to admit it was a bit emotional at the end because of everything that’s gone on. I was just so proud of the players on the field. They applied themselves. It was never in doubt!”
STEVE BORTHWICK: “I’ll say three things. One is that the intensity that players had from the first minute to the last minute, that was a step forward. I think that’s going to become something that’s a hallmark of this team – the intensity with which they play. They second things is tactically in the middle of the game. Ireland adjusted what they did tactically in the middle of the game, that middle third.
“The players needed to attend to that on the grass. They did that really, really well. They changed a little bit from how we intended to play. Ireland were very smart in what they did and it needed a big adjustment from our team led by Jamie. The third thing, and I’ve used this expression a number of times – and that’s finding a way to win. This is Test rugby and you’ve got to find a way to win.
“We’ll improve as a team, we’ll be better. But fundamentally it’s about finding yourselves in situations where you have to find a way to win. That’s important and the team did that again tonight.”
4. INJURY UPDATE – ENGLAND HANDED A TRIO OF KNOCKS IN HIGH-OCTANE WIN
Amidst the triumph over arguably the best team in the world, England suffered some injury set-backs as the players put their bodies on the line. Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South and Henry Slade were all withdrawn due to injury, with Cunningham-South’s exit seeing England finish the game with 14 men.
STEVE BORTHWICK: “I haven’t had a medical report. Sladey (Henry Slade) took a bang in Scotland and worked really hard to recover from it and took a knock today. I don’t know if it’s related and that’s why he came off. Chandler did his calf, I don’t know how bad but it doesn’t look like one that will turn around in a week. I have no idea how bad that is. Ollie Chessum I think is OK. He made that tackle in the first half and took a bit of a stinger but I haven’t had a full medical report.”