Those who feel the Ireland squad are spoiled by the salubrious confines of Carton House need to see Pennyhill Park in Surrey.
England’s centre of excellence looks and even feels like Rivendell. No Elves unfortunately. Maybe they were hiding in the ancient trees. Could say there are plenty of ogres on site but the English are way too accommodating this weather for cheap jibes.
Elrond’s domain is superior even to the magnificent French headquarters in Marcoussis simply because it’s not as isolated from, well, anything, but mainly the city.
No worries about a pitch freezing over either. There's a massive centre of excellence with full indoor green surface built into the landscape. But Stuart Lancaster's men trained under a spring sun yesterday – morning and afternoon – as they prime themselves for a fifth successive victory over Ireland (including a World Cup warm-up in 2011). Johnny Sexton tapping and going back in 2011 to dismiss Grand Slam hopes feels like an awfully long time ago now.
"I think we've got to keep Johnny really quiet in this game," said Graham Rowntree, the forwards coach, adding: "Like we did two years ago."
Lest we forget, Sexton tore his hamstring that wet day.
Lot of work
“Same goes for
Conor Murray
. Not many better nine’s than him in the world. We need to give them what they don’t want and that will take a lot of work.”
That’s the hallmark of this England.
Ireland, as per usual, flooded the market with a 36-man squad yesterday but Rowntree seemed certain that Jordi Murphy would cover for Jamie Heaslip (bizarrely included despite three fractured vertebrae).
“Jordi Murphy is a similar fit to Jamie. Doesn’t have his experience. I’ve worked with Jamie on two Lions tours, great work rate, he’ll be missed, but I’ve seen this kid Jordi Murphy play. He’ll be a handful as well.”
The English press have lathered praise on Joe Schmidt this week. The Daily Mail hailed him "Ireland's Messiah from the far side of the world".
Clive Woodward told The Times he's "the world's greatest coach".
Rowntree echoed such praise, minus the religious fervour. “He’s obviously a great coach. Last year they caught us out with their set plays and a clever move at Twickenham. They are a very clever team . . . It takes so much analysis when you are playing a team of this calibre.”
The Telegraph veered back to Paul O’Connell’s influence, noting how in 2011 his pre-match speech invoked “the fury of the oppressed” and “stirred his men to great heights” when denying England a first Grand Slam since 2003. Then it added: “Such emotional shtick has to be used sparingly. Cheap nationalism is not O’Connell’s way.”
“I mean, I’ve worked with him,” Rowntree continued. “You start me on O’Connell, I’ve got so much time for the bloke. Pleasure to work with. Diligent.
“He drives standards, drives intensity. He’d be a great coach.”
George Kruis, the Saracens lock, could hold off fit-again pair Courtney Lawes and Geoff Parling to play his first Test match in Dublin. He carries the chastising experience of Limerick last October and in 2012 as forewarning.
"I remember going there for my first or second Heineken Cup game and seeing Munster flags in windows of houses. For me, that was a big eye-opener about how they support teams in Ireland. It was huge."
So, a titanic, epic, old enemy war, straight from Middle-earth’s tome – that just about covers it.
Swore I saw something in the trees. Anyway, it’s coming.
