The Verdict: Ireland 19-9 England
Grandmaster Schmidt gives England reality check
Tom Hamilton at the Aviva Stadium
March 1, 2015

If a chess match could ever metamorphose into 15 players on either side of the board in different shapes and sizes, then it took place on Sunday. The grandmaster Joe Schmidt had his blueprint all over this Ireland win. England never had a chance to play.

There was a nervous anticipation in the Aviva Stadium. It was too close to call. Any predictions were made on the fingers of one hand. The first time the grand stadium awoke was for the rendition of Soldier's Song. Up until then it was deadly quiet. Whether that was anxiety or the results of an indulgent night before is individualistic but such Irish fears proved to be unfounded.

The gainline-breaks England enjoyed against Italy were cast into nothing more than nostalgia, they were sparse in comparison. The stranglehold they had on Wales never materialised. Instead they were rushed. Kick after kick was propelled down their throats. Sidesteps were in absentia. Ball carries isolated.

Joe Schmidt shares a laugh, Ireland v England, Six Nations, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, March 1, 2014
Joe Schmidt is proving himself a grand master of the rugby world © Getty Images
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There was an ugly beauty to Ireland's performance with Jonathan Sexton the master puppeteer. He and his lieutenant Conor Murray dovetailed seamlessly. The kicking was exemplary and they know when to kick long or high. That the first kicking error from Ireland came from Sexton's replacement Ian Madigan exhibits the accuracy of the northern hemisphere's finest fly-half. Sexton's injury was the only blight on Ireland's day. They will hope the hamstring injury will not sideline him for their next jaunt to Wales.

It all pivots around him but to suggest they are a one-dimensional kicking team would be a woeful disservice.

There is that sparkling of stardust and Robbie Henshaw's opportunist try was not one a mere paint-by-numbers outfit would have executed. He too played well and looks to have nailed his colours to the No.12 mast for the time being. And then there was Peter O'Mahony and the two opensides who caused all sorts of mischief.

Of the many subplots leading into this game, the match up between Sexton and George Ford was one which had plenty of air time. It would be unfair to Ford to cast him in the apprentice role compared to the master but Sexton came out on top.

He seemed to have more time on the ball than his England counterpart and his first-half tackle on Ford was as much a disruption of play than it was putting him back in his place. The decision to not bring on Danny Cipriani was strange.

 
England were too ill-disciplined. Thirteen penalties is far too charitable. The lineout was shaky when it mattered
 

There will be some positives for Lancaster. He would have been impressed by Jack Nowell's performance. There was one moment where he had two forwards to beat before a straight footrace for the line, with an ounce more confidence he could have gone close. Alex Goode, apart from being out-jumped by Henshaw for his try, was a calming presence.

But they were too ill-disciplined. 13 penalties conceded is far too charitable. The lineout was shaky when it mattered. At the end of the first quarter, Ford spurned a shot at the posts to go for the corner. A simple catch and drive was the clear intention but instead they went for the risky option at the tail and Devin Toner plucked it out. The next lineout was also stolen. Their kick-chase lacked the required intensity.

At times their ever-composed captain Chris Robshaw looked rattled and a resigned shove handed to Tommy Bowe as he called a mark in the final 10 minutes showed his own frustration. It was followed by a look of exasperation at referee Craig Joubert.

England's Grand Slam dreams are now gone for yet another year. The 12 years of hurt continue. Ireland's hopes are still alive but you feel there are more twists and turns to come in this year's Six Nations - Italy's win at Scotland shows as much. England could yet win the championship but for tonight, Dublin will be painted green.

The grand old master Anatoly Karpov once suggested "chess is everything: art, science and sport". In the mind of Schmidt, for chess, read rugby.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
Tom Hamilton is the Associate Editor of ESPNscrum.

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