Sometimes rugby can be the most exciting sport of all

After the failure of Bazball – ending in England’s dismal capitulation on the cricket fields of India – let us give thanks for the emergence of Borthball in front of the Twickenham faithful. And it certainly was much needed: Steve Borthwick’s England rugby team had apparently been trying to convince us that they really weren’t very good at the game before donning Superman cloaks last Saturday to give a classic fooled-you performance against Ireland’s dogged champions. Playing fearlessly with speed, adventure and aggression, this young(ish) England side produced one of the greatest games of the century.

Just as our love affair with the sport was beginning to cool, along came two games to remind us that on its day rugby union can be the most exciting sport on the planet. England put in their best performance against Ireland, the world’s top-ranked side, since the demolition of the All Blacks in the World Cup semi-final in 2019.