Why Six Nations anguish must be making of England

In the end it was a case of England winning the battle but losing the war.

As Ireland toasted their second Six Nations championship in as many years, England were pondering those horrible 'what ifs': the disallowed try at the end of the match in Dublin, the squandered chances against Scotland, Stuart Hogg's inability to ground the ball at the death.



But to look back at previous encounters would do a gross disservice to this most remarkable game.

It was a match without rhyme nor reason.

It was frenetic, exhilarating, error-strewn self-indulgence.

The pragmatic French who had concede…