England are improving but are nowhere near their best, coach Eddie Jones said after they put last year's disappointing Six Nations behind them with a thumping 32-20 victory over holders Ireland.
Without a victory in Dublin for six years, England secured what before Saturday's kick-off seemed to be the unlikeliest of bonus-point wins with two tries from Henry Slade and one each to Jonny May and Elliot Daly.
"We're a team that's still growing, we're nowhere near our best," Jones told a news conference, where he nevertheless delighted in the intensity his side showed.
"Some games are immensely physical, some are more tactical and we went in there and probably shaded them a little bit in that area.
"We know they're a top team but I thought our intensity, particularly in the first part, was outstanding."
The Australian coach singled out captain Owen Farrell for praise alongside try scorers Henry Slade and Jonny May but was most pleased with his front five - one of whom, Maro Itoje, had departed the game with a medial ligament injury in his knee, he said.
"Maro's probably got some sort of medial ligament but like all these things you never know until they get an MRI," Jones said.
He was delighted with the leadership and composure England showed and said those characteristics bode well in a World Cup year but the coach was not thinking beyond next week's home game against France.
"If you take away the 14 points they (France) gifted Wales, they would have won that game so we're not going to get too far ahead of ourselves," he said.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt was left to ponder a third Six Nations opening defeat in four years and said his side was battered in every area.
"That is a reality check about the physicality that will be required to be successful in this World Cup year," he said.
"England collectively delivered a simmering physical intensity. It was a suffocating place to be out there. It's a challenge to all our confidence.
"I am frustrated that we do tend to start slow and we can't afford to. Looking further ahead into the World Cup, we've got to hit the ground running."
Ireland are away to Scotland in their next Six Nations clash.
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