A game which started with promise at Twickenham on Saturday ended with major concerns regarding Ireland's prospects at next month's World Cup in Japan.
Ireland conceded eight tries - 57 points in total with just 15 in response - as they slumped to an embarrassing defeat against England.
The game was Ireland's second warm-up game ahead of the tournament in Japan.
In his match report for The Sunday Times, Stephen Jones (yes, we know he's Welsh) writes that he sees similarities between this new season and last for Ireland.
Ireland never had any sort of platform and were pitiful behind the scrum, although Ross Byrne, the newish face, at least kept his head up. Jacob Stockdale defended poorly — although England would have scored a handful even if he had been a brick wall.
Ireland appear to be declining at the same rate as they did last season, this after beginning the campaign with victory over New Zealand.
For The Telegraph, Mick Cleary writes:
"There is only minor straw-clutching mitigation for a hapless Ireland in that they have just come from a training camp in Portugal and still have back-to-back matches against Wales to come. But that reasoning will only take you so far.
"Ireland have flunked too many World Cups for them to shrug off the size as well as manner of this defeat. They were but a distant speck in England’s slipstream, bookending a dire day with tries from Jordan Larmour and Aki, and a gifted last try to England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie."
Of the two sides playing on Saturday, The Guardian's Rob Kitson saw just one World Cup contender.
Precious little, save for Bundee Aki’s 73rd-minute try, went right for Ireland thereafter. The margin of victory means England overtake them in the world rankings and, on this evidence, just one of these two sides has any chance of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup. Only if Schmidt is trying to douse expectations was this a green day to remember.
In his Mail On Sunday column, Clive Woodward was full of praise for England.
"This was a 10 out of 10 performance and although Manu Tuilagi got the official man of the match award, Owen Farrell was the ringmaster. Repeat this sort of form in Japan and England are going to take a lot of beating."
He added: "The world will take notice and coaches all over will know they have to find a way of stopping England’s power game."
