By England Fan
March 19 2017
England ran out onto the park in Dublin attempting to win the back to back Grand Slam, The Triple Crown & set a new world record of games undefeated. They came away as the back to back Six Nations Champions and you know what ................... as an England fan I am more than happy with that.
RBS Six Nations 2017
Ireland 13 v 9 England
Of course it would have been great to get the Slam etc., but I feel to be rid of the shackles of undefeated games will work wonders for the England players. They won't forget how to win but now they will work on what they need to do mentally to achieve the 'Greatness' Eddie Jones talked to them about. When Eddie asked them if they were ready for greatness, he must have known that they were not especially after his comments on the last "indifferent training session"
To be honest, I am a happy England fan, if you had said to me after the Rugby World Cup, that in the next 18 months
England will equal the 'All Blacks' record of 18 straight wins,
take the 2016 Grand Slam,
whitewash Australia on their summer tour 2016,
see off all Autumn International challengers
and then go onto win back to back Six Nations............... I would have said at that time........you are quite mad!
Ireland were fantastic on the day, the physicality of the game was huge and England just never got into their game. for purist they would have enjoyed the crunching tackles and the constant pick and drive. England, never got their running game going, due to Ireland controlling the game so well. Hats off to the Irish for a super tough game.
Many of the Irish players bodies almost looked broken but they fought on, none more so than this man .Ireland's Johnny Sexton
And remember it was the Irish who also stopped the 'All Blacks' undefeated run at Soldier Field (Chicago Bears home ground), in Chicago..
Well done Ireland and Well done England!
England captain Dylan Hartley lifts the Six Nations trophy at the RBS 6 Nations - All Pictures PA/Images
I know some will disagree with me but England needed that defeat............. otherwise we would be getting the comments of peaking too early. England have much more to learn and need to peak for the next RWC2019 in Japan.
Maybe then...... they will be ready for 'Greatness'
I have thoroughly enjoyed this year's Six Nations and I am now looking forward to the Lions Tour of New Zealand
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