England – shorn of stars like Martin Johnson and Jonny Wilkinson – looked a pale imitation of the side which had conquered the world.

Dawson told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek: “The slate is clean now and there are no new records for us to aim at.

“This level that everyone has been putting us on will hopefully disappear a little bit now so we can just get on and keep playing rugby.

“I am just looking forward to getting on with playing in the new England team.”

Dawson insisted his side had not been beaten by complacency despite an incredible number of errors in lineouts in particular.

He added: “I have never played in a complacent England side and we are a hugely humble group of individuals.

“A few people are saying that the fortress has been smashed but we should concentrate on the fact that Ireland played very well.

“Everybody has shouldered the blame because parts of our game just weren’t good enough yesterday.”

England record-breaker Jason Leonard also believes the Irish win would only serve to steel England for the battle ahead.

Leonard was a surprising omission from Sir Clive Woodward’s squad and admitted he found it uncomfortable watching from the sidelines.

But Leonard, who has been capped 114 times by his country, admitted: “Ireland came to Twickenham with no fears and they quite rightly got the result.

“I think Sir Clive will react as he always does. Every single time England have had a setback they have come back stronger.

“They will look at it, learn from it, and all the players and managers will learn from the experience and be a better squad for it.”