Scrum-half Dawson believes any remaining World Cup hangovers have been extinguished by the end of Englands 22-match unbeaten Twickenham run.

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 Lives 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 a 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."

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

Leonard, left out of the squad for the defeat, said: Ireland came to Twickenham with no fears and they quite rightly got the result.

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

And the prop, capped 114 times, added: 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.