'England are arrogant' - but ex-Ireland backrow fears men in white

A former Irish international has branded England 'arrogant', but suggests that is why they will beat Ireland when the sides meet in Twickenham in just over a week.

In an in-depth round table conversation on The42.ie, David Corkery paid England Rugby the ultimate back-handed compliment, saying it was English arrogance was a result of their excellence.

Asked whether Ireland could complete the Grand Slam, and Corkery said he felt they wouldn't.

"My gut reaction is to say no, that both France and England will have too much for Ireland and will win by 10-12 points. England have a stronger bench, and home advantage is such a big thing in this tournament.

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"Another thing to consider is that England are arrogant. But to be arrogant, you need to be good. England are that. You don’t destroy the All Blacks, don’t reach a World Cup final unless you have something about you. They’ll be too strong on the day."

Corkery has never shied away from controversy. In 2017, writing on Facebook, Corkery wrote that women playing rugby is ‘not what God intended’.

“Personally, I find watching the women’s game complicated and arduous to watch,” wrote Corkery.

“I think we all partly watch rugby because of the physical battles it produces. The big hits, the powerful runs, the struggle at the scrum and so on, however I simply do not like watching ladies knocking lumps out of each other, and before any women’s pro right campaigners start circling the wagons and looking to burn me at the stake, this is only an opinion.

“Maybe I’m just getting old but when I see women partake in any kind of confrontational and aggressive behaviourisms, it just doesn’t sit right with me.

“When god (if there is one) created women, he didn’t do so with the intention for them to be smashed in a tackle or punched in the face.”

He was roundly criticised for the comments. You can read the full The42.ie discussion HERE.