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Jonny Wilkinson Believes Early England Red Card May Have Actually 'Rattled' Ireland

Jonny Wilkinson Believes Early England Red Card May Have Actually 'Rattled' Ireland
Gary Connaughton
By Gary Connaughton
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It wasn't pretty at times, but Ireland will never complain after emerging from Twickenham with a bonus point victory in the Six Nations.

Andy Farrell's side were given a massive boost early in the contest when England second-row Charlie Ewels was sent off in the second minute of the game. With Ireland going on to score their first try a few minutes later, you could have been forgiven for thinking that the visitors were going to have a fairly straightforward afternoon.

However, England battled back and the game was very much in the balance entering the final quarter.

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Ireland's bench would go on to make a decisive impact, with tries from Jack Conan and Finlay Bealham ensuring that their team would emerge as 32-15 winners. It was a closer contest than many would have expected after the red card, but did that decision really help Ireland?

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Jonny Wilkinson suggests England red card 'rattled' Ireland

Speaking on ITV after the game, former England out-half Jonny Wilkinson said that the red card arguably had a bigger negative effect on Ireland than it did on Eddie Jones' side.

I think two things changed it (towards the end). England got tired with all that effort, that fatigue was sitting under the surface. Then Ireland did what they needed to do all game, which was hold onto the ball.

When you talk about keeping calm, I think that calmness was also patience. If you keep hold of the ball it's going to work out. When they did that the fatigue just broke through for England, you could see it...

When you're playing with 14 men every decision is so crucial, if you make a wrong decision it is exacerbated. England were having to be so precise, so alert, so sure about what they were doing.

With Ireland, I think that red card rattled them as much as it rattled England. They suddenly got a quick score and it took them time to rediscover that.

Fair play to them that they did because that was noisy, there was a lot of chances for them to lose their way completely and give England an incredible victory.

It was a great game and good for Ireland because they deserved it.

England certainly coped brilliantly despite their numerical disadvantage, although they were helped at times by Ireland's sloppiness.

Either way, Andy Farrell's men will now head to the Aviva to take on Scotland next week knowing that a victory still leaves them in the hunt for the championship.

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SEE ALSO: Pitch Invader Gets Destroyed By Twickenham Security Guard Before Anthems

Six Nations: pitch invader tackled

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