Gibson-Park Guides Ireland To Record Away Victory Over England

Ireland registered their biggest ever away win over England, leaving Allianz Stadium with the full five points and their tails up after player-of-the-match Jamison Gibson-Park starred in a stirring 42-21 success.

From Gibson-Park’s opportunist 19th-minute try onwards, Andy Farrell’s men were in control of the scoreboard as their incisive attack and bulwark defensive display delivered Ireland’s sixth victory in seven meetings with their oldest rivals.

Despite losing James Lowe to injury, the visitors were 10 points up midway through the first half, before influential wingers Robert Baloucoune and Tommy O’Brien both touched down during a superb four-minute spell, either side of Freddie Steward’s sin-binning.

Fraser Dingwall’s try on the stroke of half-time limited the damage for England to 22-7, but 15 points was as close as they would come. Dan Sheehan drove over to punish a yellow card for Henry Pollock, with the Irish fans in full voice in Twickenham.

By the time that Jamie Osborne stormed his way over in the 69th minute, the outcome was in no doubt with the full-back – responding to his own sin-binning and an Ollie Lawrence try – adding to successive penalties from the assured Jack Crowley, who kicked 17 points in all.

Ireland’s relentlessly high work-rate was summed up by Stuart McCloskey chasing back to deny Marcus Smith an intercept try. The Bangor man was brilliant throughout. Although Sam Underhill scored late on, England could not avoid their joint-fourth biggest home defeat.

Moving up from fifth to second in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations table, Farrell’s charges have temporarily drawn within a point of leaders France. They end the Championship with back-to-back home games against Wales (March 6) and Scotland (March 14) at the Aviva Stadium.

Full report to follow…