Ireland centre Bundee Aki believes Steve Borthwick’s England will solely get higher after they ended a forgettable Guinness Six Nations marketing campaign with a steely show in opposition to the Grand Slam champions in Dublin.
The Red Rose, who changed Eddie Jones with Borthwick in December, endured one other underwhelming championship, ending fourth having misplaced three of their 5 matches for the third consecutive 12 months.
A record-breaking round-four 53-10 humiliation in opposition to France at Twickenham was a significant low for the 2019 World Cup finalists, who additionally suffered Calcutta Cup disappointment at house to Scotland on the opening weekend.
Yet, regardless of enjoying half of Saturday’s match on the Aviva Stadium with 14 males following a pink card for Freddie Steward, England fought till the top in opposition to the world’s top-ranked facet to revive some satisfaction in a creditable 29-16 loss.
Aki backed Ireland’s rivals to emerge from a difficult transitional section as a far stronger outfit, with the beginning of the World Cup lower than six months away.
“We knew it was going to be tough,” he mentioned. “We knew that England are a great team.
“Obviously they’ve had their little learning curves throughout this campaign and they can only go better. They’re a great team, they’re coached well and they’ve got unbelievable players.
“We knew they were going to come out and get us, and fair play to the boys for sticking that out.”
While Borthwick and England have loads to ponder, Ireland’s outstanding rise continues.
British and Irish Lion Aki hailed the title-winning heroics as a profession spotlight and feels there’s extra to return.
The Connacht participant additionally expressed hope 37-year-old Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, who is anticipated to retire following the World Cup, will play once more within the Six Nations as he aimed a playful dig at his veteran team-mate.
He’s very younger, 45 years of age, so he can nonetheless go once more.
Bundee Aki on Johnny Sexton
“We’re creating something special and we’ve just got to grab it with two hands and go with it,” mentioned Aki.
“It was an incredible atmosphere. I’ve never ever seen anything like it.
“It’s up there, top of the ranks. St Paddy’s weekend, Grand Slam, a few guys’ milestones, Josh Van Der Flier’s 50th (cap), Johnny – it could potentially be his last Six Nations.
“Hopefully not, hopefully he can come back again. He’s very young, 45 years of age, so he can still go again.”
