Eamonn Sweeney: Sexton now possesses the same kind of stature as Dan Carter

In its sheer remorseless efficiency, Ireland's display resembled nothing so much as one of those performances England used to grind out at the height of the Clive Woodward era. Back then we were inclined to make slighting comments and draw attention to the lack of Barbarians-style flair in the old enemy's game plan. But that was all jealousy because we knew we were looking at the kind of rugby that wins things.