The end of the match was a microcosm of what had gone on before. England were on the attack, on the trail of a bonus point they did not merit, when Alex Coles lost the ball and the game was up. A side that set its sights on the Grand Slam now has it all to do to finish in the top half.

The opening minute was like the last. England dealt with Jamison Gibson-Park’s box-kick and took play through phases before George Ford’s chip was charged down and the ball lost in what was to become a recurring theme.
England made 15 handling errors on a dry day and coughed up possession 22 times.
They enjoy...