IRELAND CAPTAIN PAUL O’Connell suggested his side will react to defeat in Twickenham in a measured manner, despite a very poor first-half performance.
Ireland have been composed in victory and after losses during Joe Schmidt’s tenure. Though a 21-13 defeat to England means Ireland have lost two games in a row ahead of the World Cup, O’Connell wasn’t getting carried away.
“I wouldn’t say alarm bells will be ringing, but we’re very disappointed,” said O’Connell on Sky Sports immediately post-match. “We’re not so much about the result so much as all the things that go into creating the result.
“I think in the last three games we’ve fallen short in a lot of the things we need to do to create a result. That’s disappointing.”
England scored two tries to Ireland’s one and missed chances for at least two further five-pointers when Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola failed to complete second-half passes.
Ireland had a bright spell in attack after half time, but overall the English defence will have been happy with their effort. O’Connell conceded that the home side may have been deserving winners.
Probably, probably,” said O’Connell. “We started very poorly and I think England dealt with the aerial threat really well. They kept the ball in hand, but we dropped it and kept turning over the ball.
“I think we put a lot of pressure on the England lineout but they got a seven-metre drive, forced a penalty advantage and scored a try off it. The same with seven-metre drive in the first half, we lost it and England stole it.
“You just can’t accumulate that many losses and hope to win the game, especially in the first half.”
