Brian O’Driscoll highlights early George Ford moment which summed up England’s ‘nervousness’ in Six Nations hammering
George Ford in action for England against Ireland in 2026 Six Nations, and legendary centre Brian O'Driscoll.
Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll “couldn’t get over” the anxiety which plagued England’s display in their Six Nations loss at the weekend.
Steve Borthwick’s men were thrashed 42-21 by the Irish at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday which effectively ended their title hopes.
It followed a 31-20 reversal in Scotland and points to a wider problem in England’s game, despite going on a 12-match winning run ahead of that Calcutta Cup clash.
Tone set from the off
According to O’Driscoll, the tone was set from the first minute when the hosts wasted an opportunity to move the ball through the phases, with George Ford instead going to the boot.
Although they won back possession, the former British and Irish Lions centre felt it was a sign that they did not trust their attack.
“I couldn’t get over their first play of the game when they got possession and went through three or four phases. They might have made 20 metres, they were going well. They are the hardest yards you’re going to get in the whole game because everyone’s fresh and ready to make an impact,” he told Off The Ball.
“They were going forward and it certainly warranted at least a couple more phases. George Ford goes for a cross-field kick and I’m looking at the monitor and then I look up to the game, and I was thinking, ‘it must be way on’, and it’s not. It’s just Freddie Steward standing out there.
“It was a five-yard gain and, okay, he gets it, but it’s a bit hit and miss isn’t it? Freddie’s very good in the air, it’s a good kick but it’s five yards. You can make five yards from another couple of carries, you might get a line break, might get your hands free.
“For me, I’m wondering if they’re thinking within certain parts of the field, ‘we’ve played six or seven phases here and we only made 25 yards – maybe it’s time to go to the air’. Or not making an error or turn the ball over because Steve wouldn’t want that. It was the first play of the game.”
Mike Tindall: Ireland victory ‘given to them’ by England
England errors
While Ireland didn’t pull away until the second quarter, the opening 20 minutes gave the visitors the platform they needed with Ford missing touch on two occasions and Luke Cowan-Dickie faltering in the lineout.
“There is something wrong with England’s attack game and I couldn’t get over the nervousness which they were playing early on,” O’Driscoll added.
“The first lineout didn’t work, the second lineout Cowan-Dickie went to [Alex] Mitchell, who was standing at one just to win possession. You’re like, ‘come on, you’re better than that’.
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“There’s definitely a tentativeness to England on the back of the previous week’s defeat to Scotland, and that’s why I’m talking about playing your way into the game.
“Play with a bit of confidence early on and get a load of touches, and you go, ‘we’re in it now’. Let’s see aggressive, confrontational ball-carrying, it doesn’t have to be over-elaborate, just win the collision.”
