JOY OF SEXTON: Ireland 29 England 16: Irish win Six Nations and Grand Slam after seeing off brave 14-man England as Steward sent off
- last year
IRELAND’S victory was controversial, England’s defeat was glorious - but few of those celebrating a green-sweep Grand Slam would have given a stuff.
With Andy Farrell’s ranked No 1 in the world and England having suffered a historic 53-10 humiliation against France last week, Steve Borthwick’s men had been written off as complete no-hopers.
But it took the harsh sending-off of England full-back Freddie Steward on the stroke of half-time to tilt the balance - and even after they were reduced to 14 men, the visitors kept the match on a knife edge until the final 20 minutes.
Steward got his marching orders when his elbow connected with the head of his Irish opposite number Hugo Keenan, as he appeared to be trying to avoid contact.
Ireland had just taken the lead at that point but were only 10-9 ahead going into the final quarter as England restored battered pride even if their best performance of this campaign ultimately ended in defeat.
Owen Farrell, dropped by Borthwick for the French debacle, gave a stirring captain’s performance which at times threatened to rob his dad Andy of his crowning glory.
But three late Irish tries gave the scoreline a flattering gloss to bely a nervy performance from the hosts and an impressive showing from the visitors.
It was only the fourth Grand Slam in Ireland’s history and the first they had ever secured in Dublin.
This had been some week for the Irish, having already dominated the Cheltenham Festival, including a Gold Cup winner on St Patrick’s Day.
In the aftermath of those celebrations, Dublin was still overrun by American tourists, all fancying themselves to have Irish ancestry, but who would have wondered where the crash helmets and shoulder pads had gone if they’d caught any of the action from Lansdowne Road?
Ireland wing Mack Hansen had stoked things up with an ‘everybody hates the English’ jibe but then again Hansen is Australian and we all know about that lot.
The authentic Irish punters were all trying to sound humble and pessimistic before kick-off, believing their countrymen always find a way to ball it up when they have been burdened by expectations of greatness.
And for a long stretch, it felt as though they had a serious point.
Borthwick had also recalled Manu Tuilagi, the powerhouse center he’d discarded at the start of the tournament, and gave a first Test start to young wing Henry Arundell.
Tuilagi was soon bashing his way through a sea of green shirts, Itoje too, and it was clear England had been suitably chastened by last week’s limp capitulation.
While Freddie Steward passed on the chance to send Arundell through for a possible early try, a Farrell penalty put the visitors in front.
Johnny Sexton passed up an opportunity to equalize, kicking for the corner but was robbed after he crossed the line.
Farrell doubled England’s lead, despite a local with a klaxon trying to distract him - but Sexton soon landed a penalty to get Ireland on the scoreboard and set a new Ch
With Andy Farrell’s ranked No 1 in the world and England having suffered a historic 53-10 humiliation against France last week, Steve Borthwick’s men had been written off as complete no-hopers.
But it took the harsh sending-off of England full-back Freddie Steward on the stroke of half-time to tilt the balance - and even after they were reduced to 14 men, the visitors kept the match on a knife edge until the final 20 minutes.
Steward got his marching orders when his elbow connected with the head of his Irish opposite number Hugo Keenan, as he appeared to be trying to avoid contact.
Ireland had just taken the lead at that point but were only 10-9 ahead going into the final quarter as England restored battered pride even if their best performance of this campaign ultimately ended in defeat.
Owen Farrell, dropped by Borthwick for the French debacle, gave a stirring captain’s performance which at times threatened to rob his dad Andy of his crowning glory.
But three late Irish tries gave the scoreline a flattering gloss to bely a nervy performance from the hosts and an impressive showing from the visitors.
It was only the fourth Grand Slam in Ireland’s history and the first they had ever secured in Dublin.
This had been some week for the Irish, having already dominated the Cheltenham Festival, including a Gold Cup winner on St Patrick’s Day.
In the aftermath of those celebrations, Dublin was still overrun by American tourists, all fancying themselves to have Irish ancestry, but who would have wondered where the crash helmets and shoulder pads had gone if they’d caught any of the action from Lansdowne Road?
Ireland wing Mack Hansen had stoked things up with an ‘everybody hates the English’ jibe but then again Hansen is Australian and we all know about that lot.
The authentic Irish punters were all trying to sound humble and pessimistic before kick-off, believing their countrymen always find a way to ball it up when they have been burdened by expectations of greatness.
And for a long stretch, it felt as though they had a serious point.
Borthwick had also recalled Manu Tuilagi, the powerhouse center he’d discarded at the start of the tournament, and gave a first Test start to young wing Henry Arundell.
Tuilagi was soon bashing his way through a sea of green shirts, Itoje too, and it was clear England had been suitably chastened by last week’s limp capitulation.
While Freddie Steward passed on the chance to send Arundell through for a possible early try, a Farrell penalty put the visitors in front.
Johnny Sexton passed up an opportunity to equalize, kicking for the corner but was robbed after he crossed the line.
Farrell doubled England’s lead, despite a local with a klaxon trying to distract him - but Sexton soon landed a penalty to get Ireland on the scoreboard and set a new Ch