Second Week Running: Mike Brown Left Red-Faced Over Prediction

Saturday, 21 February 2026 at 19:11

byRugby Rucker

For the second weekend running, Mike Brown has seen his pre-match confidence unravel in emphatic fashion.

After backing England to overpower Ireland at Twickenham, Brown instead watched Steve Borthwick’s side slump to a heavy 42–21 defeat — seven days on from their loss in Scotland.

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Brown’s Bold Backing

Speaking ahead of the fixture, Brown was adamant England would have too much for Andy Farrell’s men.

“I think they’ll be too strong for Ireland.
I just think they’ll come out flying. It’s at Twickenham, which helps them. I think they’ll be massively up for it, especially the forwards who will be so up for making a point.”

He also suggested England were further along in their development and should be winning games like this.

“England are further on in their development, so they should absolutely be winning that game in my opinion. It’s about how they bounce back in those opening exchanges.”

Brown questioned where Ireland currently stand in their progression and warned that the visitors could struggle physically.

“Where are Ireland in terms of their development? I just think they will be too strong in the end. It won’t be easy...

I just don’t think Ireland, if they’re not strong up front, they won’t be able to live with England’s pack and how pumped up they will be.”

He added that Ireland would need to quieten the Twickenham crowd quickly.

“Ireland are going to know that England are looking to bounce back at Twickenham and the atmosphere to help them do that. They need to negate that atmosphere and kill it as quick as possible.”

Reality Hits

Instead, Ireland controlled the gain-line battle, won the collision area, and clinically punished England mistakes. Twickenham never truly ignited.

Ireland ran in six tries in a composed and ruthless display, while England’s defensive structure was repeatedly exposed. Rather than England’s forwards “making a point,” it was Ireland’s pack that dictated terms for long periods.

With the championship’s shortened schedule forcing three consecutive Test weekends, Ireland showed no signs of fatigue. England, meanwhile, looked a side still searching for cohesion.

Second Week, Same Story

Following confident backing before the Scotland game and now this Ireland clash, Brown’s bullish outlook is once again being widely mocked.

Pre-match belief has been replaced by post-match reality — and England’s development curve suddenly looks a lot less certain than it did in the build-up.

Six England flops against Ireland – and who should replace them

Their previous best win on English soil had been a 17-point success in 2022, but this latest defeat leaves Steve Borthwick’s side clinging to fading title hopes.

Here, we assess six England players who failed to deliver — and the men who could step in to replace them.

#1. Freddie Steward

RUCK 2/10: "A very poor showing from the Leicester Tigers fullback, who was dragged off just before half-time. Not very effective in the air and was very lucky to be let off by the referee after dropping one and setting Jamison Gibson-Park free, and was punished minutes later in the build-up to Ireland’s second try, getting a yellow card after a late hit on Gibson-Park."

Planet Rugby 3/10: " Some good flashes early on, but his yellow card ultimately proved costly as Ireland ran in 14 points in his time off the field and gained serious momentum in the process."

Rugby Pass 4/10: "Bold call by Borthwick taking him off before the break, but England needed the creativity and magic footwork of Marcus Smith."

Telegraph 2/10: "It is a major problem if your superpower is catching high balls and you cannot catch high balls. Suffered the ultimate indignity of being hooked after coming back from the sin-bin."

Replacement: George Furbank

#2. Tom Curry

Rugby Pass 5/10: "Making his first England start since the Lions tour, but came second best in the breakdown battle, with Ireland slowing the ball down and turning it over comfortably. Popped up in the wider channels with some bright flashes, but didn’t provide any convincing case to start."

Planet Rugby 5/10: "Got through some decent work in the tight, but couldn’t quite get the better of his opposite back-rowers."

Telegraph 4/10: "Did not deliver the expected impetus in the back row and it felt like the game rather passed him by without a standout moment."

RUCK 5/10: "Not really his day. Got around a bit and put himself about in his 50-minute shift, however just wasn’t hugely effective. Could have drawn a yellow card after Furlong connected with his head, but the referee didn’t give it."

Replacement: Guy Pepper

#3. Henry Arundell

RUCK 2/10: "Poor last week and poor today. Not good enough under the high ball for the way England play, and was caught out on so many occasions. Got into a few decent positions on the ball and failed to make an impact with any of them. Surely someone else gets a go in Rome in two weeks."

Telegraph 3/10: "Looked completely devoid of confidence in attack refusing to back his pace out wide and was a liability in defence."

Planet Rugby 5/10: "Some very nice flashes ball-in-hand, but couldn’t quite get the breakaway his efforts warranted."

Rugby Pass 3/10: "Didn’t enjoy a huge amount of success in the air, specifically chasing kicks, but looked England’s most threatening carrier. Just nowhere near enough to make a discernible impact, though."

Replacement: Ollie Hassell-Collins

#4. George Ford

RUCK 3/10: "Grew into the game as it went on, but the fact that he missed touch twice in the first-half, and was subsequently jeered by the crowd every time he kicked, shows how poor of a day it was for his high standards. Some of the decisions he made were strange, and England’s attack struggled as a result."

Telegraph 3/10: "Never great when your own supporters are ironically cheering you making basic kicks. Nothing else really went right."

Rugby Pass 3/10: "He’s done so many great things for England over the past year, but he will come under some serious scrutiny now."

Express 4/10: "Poor in Edinburgh, kicked two penalties straight out here and at risk."

Replacement: Fin Smith

#5. Luke Cowan-Dickie

Rugby Pass 2/10: "Dreadful first lineout, although there appeared to be confusion in the ranks, and while the lineout tightened up, it wasn’t an area England looked completely secure in. Swarmed on by Joe McCarthy at the back of a maul in a match he struggled in. Borthwick had seen enough, and hooked him off after 29 minutes."

Telegraph 2/10: "So bad it got to the point he was not trusted to throw a proper line-out. Replaced before the 30 minute mark and it could have actually been earlier."

Planet Rugby 3/10: "Not his finest day in an England shirt. Did well in the loose, but the lineout was a real issue for England in the early part of the game, firing at 67% during his time on the field, and was later hooked at 29 minutes."

RUCK 2/10: "Dragged off only 29 minutes in after a shocking showing that included some poor lineout throwing, general ineffectiveness and poor defending on more than one occasion. Didn’t turn up at all."

Replacement: Jamie George

#6. Maro Itoje

Telegraph 4/10: "A magnificent player but this was not the performance his milestone deserved. Lineout a shambles and exerted very little influence in the loose."

Rugby Pass 4/10: "A horrendous way to mark your 100th England appearance. Perhaps guilty of being slow to react for Gibson-Park’s try, but he was never going to be able to cover the ground. England were bullied at the breakdown and beaten in the area of the game Itoje thrives in. Left the field after 55 minutes with his side in trouble."

RUCK 3/10: "Not the 100th cap that he would have wanted, starting off with a lineout of his stolen by Tadhg Beirne, and finished after only 55 minutes. Understandably hasn’t looked at his best recently with personal issues, and looks like he needs a rest for his own good."

Express 4/10: "Part of a malfunctioning lineout before being replaced early on."

Replacement: Alex Coles

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