All hail England, but Ireland are coming

On Rugby: So England rule the Six Nations roost and good luck to them. After four years of coming within one game of the Grand Slam, it would be churlish to begrudge them their magnificent obsession - if only on the "domestic" front - particularly after such a compelling finale,writes Gerry Thornley.

Ireland were put in their place, second, which is a commendable effort. And the final table tells no lies.

Arrogant noises may emanate from the RFU, BBC and elsewhere about the need to ensure England and France meet in a "decider" on the last weekend, but Clive Woodward and his players were gracious in accepting their defeat in Dublin 18 months ago and were not excessively triumphalist on Sunday. The respect in which Woodward, Phil Larder and their players hold their Irish counterparts was apparent after the final whistle. Perhaps partly because of the memories of Wembley, Murrayfield, Lansdowne Road and Stade de France in the previous four years, they have not been in the least inclined to denigrate the old championship.

They were unquestionably stronger as the campaign progressed, with their strength in depth helping them to overcome the intense and congested nature of the campaign (though this made the Irish A side's win on Friday all the more commendable).

Ironically, it may even have forced Woodward to hit upon a more balanced attacking unit, with Mike Tindall complementing Jonny Wilkinson and Will Greenwood either side of him, while Josh Lewsey emerged to complete a more balanced outside three.

Injuries also compelled him to restore the old guard in the back row, although Woodward might have gone down that route anyhow. And judging on their efforts last Sunday, the Hill-Dallaglio-Back axis, along with Martin Johnson, might have the grandest of finales in the World Cup.

But whatever complimentary Irish hosts or the Zurich computer rankings may say, the supposed accolade of "best team in the world" still has a hollow ring to it until they land the greatest prize. Furthermore, the memory of a mostly second string All Blacks outfit largely outwitting them and outscoring them in tries last November won't go away.

For sure, an English side performing at optimum level might still have the set-piece and mauling power to supply a winning platform against any of the Southern Hemisphere big three or France. But analysing their scores last Sunday, and recalling their difficulties in breaking down the Wallaby and All Black defences last autumn, England might still have those problems next October and November.

When it comes to penetration and off-the-cuff big plays, New Zealand back play still seems to have another dimension. Ireland hadn't the power or the refinement in their new-found running game to ask anything like the same questions of an impenetrable white line last Sunday. It would have been interesting to see how even a little of the season's more tried and tested, territorial pressure game would have fared against England, though undoubtedly a more ball-in-hand, continuity based game is the way to go in readiness for the drier climate and harder pitches in Australia.

Nor do I believe Ireland are a worse side by 36 points, especially at home. Had a few key incidents gone the other way it would have been an altogether closer game.

Ireland have travelled a fair distance this season and generated a popular appeal probably never known to an Irish side before. As a squad they have matured together, the lineout was the best in the championship and there is unprecedented strength in depth - witness that A win. They also have mental strength and guts oozing from every pore.

They are probably all on their own in Division Two at the moment, which ain't a bad place to be. Eddie O'Sullivan is a clever, meticulous coach who will use the intervening half a dozen Test friendlies and seven months to further bridge the gap.

Geordan Murphy was the Irish "find" of the season. His counter-attacking, attacking lines and ball skills added another dimension to Ireland's back play. Tough on Girvan Dempsey, who's done little wrong, but it would almost seem unthinkable to take on the world without Murphy now.

However, the evidence of Sunday (the most relevant yardstick this season of competing against the big guns in the World Cup) suggests that if the more expansive game is to become more effective, then some of the more dynamic runners and gamebreakers have to be accommodated.

Most, it's true, are currently sidelined, and O'Sullivan needs more luck with injuries. But the likes of Keith Wood, David Wallace, Eric Miller, Rob Henderson and perhaps the Munster second row tyros would add some penetrative ball-carriers to the Irish running game. In supporting players like these, Keith Gleeson can be the link man he is rather than the strike runner he became last Sunday.

In particular, Hill, Dallaglio and Back highlighted the need for more mobility as well as muscle in the back row. As target runners and both support players and support ruckers, they made far more of an impact. A telling moment was the time when Kevin Maggs was launched up the middle off an attacking scrum and nearly escaped Jonny Wilkinson's clutches in the 34th minute, only for Back and Dallaglio to combine in outmuscling Gleeson at the breakdown and win a turnover.

As an aside, Ireland almost single-handedly saved the championship, though in this regard John Kirwan's rejuvenated Azzurri were a mighty second. Wales hinted that they might be regrouping, though perhaps not in time for the World Cup, while Scotland are no nearer to resolving their outhalf dilemma and are chronically short of pace out wide.

Frederic Michalak's performances in the last two rounds suggested that France's number 10 conundrum may be resolving itself, though if Fabien Galthie returns for Dimitri Yachvili this doesn't solve their place-kicking. And although their grizzled pack were a big disappointment, come a prospective World Cup quarter-final date with Ireland they'll probably be favourites, as usual.