Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt admitted his side were handed a ‘reality check’ in their Six Nations opener against England, the BBC report.

Eddie Jones’ side got their campaign off to the perfect start with a 32-20 bonus-point win in Dublin, thanks to tries from Jonny May, Elliot Daly and two from centre Henry Slade.

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Cian Healy and John Cooney went over for the Irish on Saturday, however, the dominant display from England ensured that Ireland would suffer their first Six Nations defeat at home in six years.

Following the defeat, Schmidt heaped praise on England’s physical performance, admitting Ireland were handed a ‘reality check’ in Dublin.

That is a reality check. That is how it’s going to be (at the World Cup) and that’s why England are, literally, such a big team and I thought they played really well tonight.

It’s hard to take anything away from England and the intensity they brought to the game from the very first line-out.

It was more a kind of simmering, physical intensity that they collectively delivered, which made it a really suffocating place to be out on that pitch tonight.

Schmidt and Ireland will be looking to bounce back from their opening defeat when they travel to Murrayfield to take on Scotland next Saturday.

Jones and England will look to continue their positive start to the campaign when they take on France at Twickenham next Sunday.