In the sweltering conditions of south-west London that could yet prove to be the hottest August Bank
Holiday weekend on record, Ireland melted in the heat as they found themselves outplayed and outpowered
by what very much looks to be England’s first-choice side.
Manu Tuilagi was at his destructive best to not only score a try himself but prove a problem that the Irish
defence simply couldn’t deal with, while Joe Cokanasiga bounced back from last weekend’s struggles
against Wales to score twice and take his record to five tries in eight career matches.
England took a healthy lead in at the break courtesy of Cokanasiga’s opener and ensuing scores from Elliot
Daly and Tuilagi, but the floodgates well and truly opened in the second half as Maro Itoje, George Kruis,
Tom Curry, Cokanasiga again and Luke Cowan-Dickie all crossed.
Cokanasiga has to answer a fair few critics this week that included his own coach Eddie Jones, who
challenged him to find a way through his second-season struggles after being exposed defensively in Cardiff
last weekend. Those issues remained here as he rushed up on opposite man Jacob Stockdale, only to see the
Ulster wing kick past him and allow a bobbling ball to set up Larmour for the try.
Ireland were overwhelmed by England (PA)But if that is the worst of Cokanasiga, he immediately responded with his best as he collected a lovely move
that saw Vunipola take the ball from the base of the scrum, pop to Ben Youngs who then played through the
hands of Jonny May, Daly and finally into the hands of the giant wing. With work still to do, Cokanasiga
displayed his raw pace to finish from 35m out and put England back in front.
From there, England did not look back. The second try proved much of the same as Ford combined with
Curry to send Daly in unopposed, before the Irish scrum melted and with it their defence, giving Youngs
the chance to put Tuilagi through for his try as he outpaced flanker Josh van der Flier.
The second half saw Ireland crumble, as Itoje cut a perfect line on Youngs’ blindside to grab the attention of
the scrum-half and surge through a gap between props Jack McGrath and Tadhg Furlong to score beneath
the uprights.
A handful of minutes later, a full-speed break from May on the left wing saw the Leicester wing just stopped
short by Rob Kearney, but the ball was recycled quick enough for Kruis on a crash-ball line to score.
The sixth try again saw England break the Irish defence with ease, as Kyle Sinckler once again showed his
past life as a back to use his handspeed to release Sam Underhill, who committed Stockdale and sent Curry
over.