England needed to beat Italy in Rome by a massive score, to put pressure on Irelands superior 'goal difference'. They scored seven tries but unfortunately gave a soft one away and consequently fell ten points short. A series of second half substitutions disrupted the flow of the England game, as had been the case in Paris on the opening day, and coach Lancaster really needs to look long and hard at himself and decide whether they really do add value.
Everybody knows what Tuilagi can add to the side, but his introduction for Burrell served no purpose other than to irritate Burrell and disrupt the England mid-field. Far better to try him on the wing in place of Johnny May who has still to show he has the game for international rugby.
I can't help feeling that if New Zealand had needed to beat Argentina by 50 points to win the Southern Hemisphere equivalent tournament, that they would have done it and kept most of their starting XV on the pitch for the majority of the game. England still have a few steps to climb to be at their level.
I watched the Saturday games unfold with a few mates in the Lake District. The day began with a visit to the local hunt, where we watch the pack of hounds follow a pre-laid scent trail up down and over the fells. It was all conducted on foot, and it found out my lack of fitness very quickly.
There was a hunt within the hunt too, as the locals kept an eye on the hunt saboteurs as they tried to disrupt proceedings. The police seemed disinterested and certainly sided with the local farmers, who were out to ensure minimum damage to their flock during the lambing season. Hunting is a country ritual which the city dwellers would do well to leave well alone.
We saw one fox, but the hounds were high up near the snow line and failed to pick up its trail, so it lived to fight another day.
All in all a fascinating insight into fellsmanship and life in a farming community.
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