| Venue: Groupama Stadium, Lyon Date: Saturday 16 March Kick-off: 20:00 GMT |
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England number eight Ben Earl says he does not regret his emotional comments following the Six Nations victory over Ireland.
Marcus Smith kicked a late drop-goal to seal a 23-22 win over the defending champions at Twickenham on Saturday.
“Apparently we are the worst England team ever. We have done well for that accolade,” Earl said after the match.
“I felt it, I meant it and I stand by it now,” he told the BBC’s Rugby Union Daily podcast.
“I don’t regret saying any of it. I remember being in a bit of a haze and watching it back thinking ‘I can’t believe I said that’.
“With some of the characters we have in the squad, when their integrity, professionalism and quality is being called into question they have always performed.”
England lost 30-21 to Scotland in their previous game, and former Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip said Ireland would have to be reduced to “14 or 13 players” in order for England to win.
Earl, who scored England’s third try, was named player of the match for the second time in this year’s competition.
“I read everything as I am fascinated by what people think,” he said.
“What was the problem is that people weren’t seeing the work we were doing in training and how well we were training. It just wasn’t transferring.
“We had the best team in the world coming to Twickenham after one of our worst performances in a long while against Scotland two weeks prior.
“We had two weeks of that festering away. We weren’t short on motivation.”
England, who are four points behind Ireland at the top of the table, must beat France in their final game in Lyon on Saturday to stand any chance of winning the Six Nations.
Ireland will retain their title if they beat or draw with Scotland in Dublin.
If Ireland lose but gain a bonus point – for scoring four tries or finishing within seven points of Scotland – they will most likely clinch the title given their vastly superior points difference over England.
