Fittingly a fullback received man of the match. For it was both number 15s that eked out those precious gaps in a fixture refusing to yield. A draw would have been the fairest result but that would have brought no Triple Crown nor Grand Slam.

That England had half the international caps became an issue after Rob Kearney’s wonder bodyblow on 41 minutes. But apart from a few minor wobbles, they regrouped and impressively limited Ireland to only one more score and nothing in the last half hour when we failed to drive on.

In tight games the margins become increasingly significant. A confusing Craig Joubert confusing decision; a loose pass or a loose restart can swing momentum ever so slightly and try as you might it may never swing back.

A battleground
As suggested on Friday, the lineout maul was a battleground. Strangely the first maul arrived with England's kick-off where Devon Toner was swallowed up in white jerseys forcing a turnover scrum to the home team. Immediately Ireland destroyed the English scrum gaining an opening penalty (did the powerful Irish scrum gain enough scoreboard advantage?) One-all, and the battle was on.

Twice the English came to Ireland’s five-metre line with one intent in mind; lineout maul, mental and physical dominance with the added bonus of five points per the try.

The first time was in Ireland’s left corner on 38 minutes. Trimble had drifted offside and England had a choice and time; kick for touch or goal?

They sensed an opportunity. England hit Courtney Lawes at the front and although the English set up an open field rolling maul the Irish had pulled him down, fatally damaging the foundation and Danny Care shifted it open with the half -time whistle proving a great mental fillip for the Irish pack.

Another opportunity on 62 minutes raised its head and once again the English intent was neutralised before Danny Care elected to use his backs.

So in a fixture where much was neutralised where was the difference? A major area for development will be Ireland’s multi-phase attack. A young England team deserve so much credit for assimilating the coaches’ analysis of Ireland’s play where the very potent wrap around plays in midfield were marshalled with ruthlessness by the English.

In fact, bar the opening clever plays, Ireland wingers tended to get the ball facing a disciplined English line of defence. Where was the space? England came to nullify Ireland which forced more from the tactical movements.

Too often the first receiver was not Johnny Sexton with many lining up bravely to carry. Was this a team tactic or was Sexton drifting out of the game? As the Irish phases built numbers started to dwindle.

Most impressively, England’s line speed, discipline and physicality forced Ireland to commit numbers to simply maintain possession. Time and again Ireland’s exit strategy from their 22 was to get Gordon D’Arcy onto the ball in heavy traffic. How he managed to eke out those precious yards I’ll never know, but it took all Ireland could do to gain them.

But gain yards they did and none better than the 14th minute six-man lineout deep in the English half. Off the top it came from the tail with Sexton’s crossfield kick to Andrew Trimble a real beauty. With all the decoy running in midfield this pre rehearsed move almost opened England up. And over and back Ireland probed, asking questions of England’s defence.

But where was the space. A great Irish move nearly got there but was soon foiled. A penalty against Ireland resulted.

Steady progress

The good news is we don’t have to reinvent the wheel, there’s a steady progress and stability about Ireland’s displays.

Scotland are poor, Wales played below themselves and England tested us hugely. Without Sean O’Brien and monster centres our tactical game must grow to manage such encounters (we could use more sparkle on the bench).

The five-second rule has always applied to England’s style. Once again I counted as a big English carrier went into contact. Care was at his most dangerous when a recycle took under five seconds. With that speed he whipped the ball away to his outhalf who had the luxury of Luther Burrell in midfield.

Burrell has a long way to go on Brian O’Driscoll but boy can he pick a line and ask massive questions. Hence keeping Care in the over five seconds process was crucial but exhausting to maintain. Care, though, as his wont (and skill), will always look for the lazy pillar defence.

Knowing when to go for it is a skill also and Burrell’s running put Ireland under huge pressure. Shortly before left wing Jonny May popped into the right corner for his ‘touchdown’ England had a massive overlap. But Care attacked the pillar. Those vital seconds afforded Peter O’Mahony, Trimble and Conor Murray a chance to pressurise May.

That passage had everything; English possession, English pace, hard running lines and a teak-tough disciplined Irish defence at pillar and farther out. Care missed the early opportunity, May couldn’t get it down and Ireland survived.

Where was the space? Dylan Hartley should have made the hit on Rob Kearney and Rory Best simply couldn’t on Mike Brown. In essence it took two phenomenal runs from fullbacks to find the only space available on the pitch.