RWC19.2

England win. Before anyone gets caught up in optimism let's consider a few facts: New Zealand 92: Tonga 7; England 35: Tonga 3; now I'll admit that these two results are not perfect comparators - the All Black massacre was a warm-up game and England faced that first game of RWC blast that Tier 2 opponents (as they are so demeaningly termed) often produce. However as the announcer on Five Live tetchily (but pertinently) demanded - would the All Blacks tolerate that many handling errors? Overall a scruffy start.

Another worrying fact. Four years ago in RWC15, England scraped a bonus point victory in their opener. What happened next?

As for Scotland's capitulation to Ireland this morning, less said the better.