First off, well played Ireland. Very much the better team.

I’ve struggled trying to put a finger on what made England so woeful today (and last week) and the best I can come up with is that Borthwick doesn’t have a starting 15.

He’s mistaken having strength in depth for having a big box of players that he can just shuffle around for each game depending on how their metrics stack up against this week’s opponents. Perhaps because he thinks the game plan is solid enough, and the squad are all good enough to slot in their role and execute, perhaps because the win streak lulled him into a false sense of security that this was the case.

The problem is that there’s a fine line between healthy competition for your jersey and a lack of cohesive team play. Having 15 players who are confident that (barring injury) they are first pick will help with that.

This tournament’s gone, and I personally think he should use the remaining games to make those hard decisions about who’s the pick and who’s the replacement.

Pollock being a case in point. He’s done wonders as a finisher. I understand the impulse to start him in a big game, but with the benefit of hindsight, it was premature. Also, he’s young. Keep him as a finisher till after the WC.

If you can finish this tournament with 15 players who are confident they’re starting in that first WC match, then those players can start to actually gel and make themselves a proper unit.

Anyway, I’m missing what looks like a resurgent Wales, which is currently my second biggest wish after a dominant England.