Ireland lost their first Championship match under Joe Schmidt by a three-point margin, as Danny Care’s second half try proved decisive for England at Twickenham.
RBS 6 NATIONS HIGHLIGHTS: ENGLAND 13 IRELAND 10
The key moment of a compelling encounter arrived with Danny Care’s 57th-minute try, enabling hosts England to turn a 10-6 deficit into a 13-10 lead that they never relinquished.
Brian O’Driscoll’s 13th and final appearance against England ended in bitter disappointment as Ireland’s Triple Crown and Grand Slam ambitions evaporated with their first defeat of the Championship.
When full-back Rob Kearney capitalised on slack defending to run in a superb score early in the second half, Joe Schmidt’s men had established a seemingly commanding position at 10-3 up.
But the energetic English outfit rallied impressively to register their fourth successive victory over Ireland.
Remarkably, the score had been limited to just 3-0 in England’s favour at half-time as defences reigned, the sides taking it in turns to trade blows in an absorbing contest full of hard hits.
For the second successive game running, England full-back Mike Brown was named man-of-the-match with his run to set up Care’s try the high point of another outstanding afternoon.
Brown was influential as England made a bulldozing start, producing a diving catch off O’Driscoll’s chip and then speeding free from the breakdown.
Seventeen phases passed as the Irish defence came under pressure, but when England went wide in search of the try they blundered, Owen Farrell delaying his pass to Billy Twelvetrees which reduced the space available.
The whitewash still beckoned for Jonny May only for the Gloucester clubman to drop the ball over the line following a crucial double tackle from the covering Andrew Trimble and Conor Murray.
A breathless first quarter continued to unfold at breakneck speed and now it was Ireland who poured forward, going inches close twice through winger Trimble after quick hands in the backs.
An impressive start from the Irish gave way to a renewed attack from England, although their efforts lacked the imagination and skill displayed by their opponents.
Farrell conceded a penalty for a late tackle on Murray as the move died out, but once that had been defended the Saracens out-half landed the first points of the match in the 23rd minute.
The frantic pace finally slowed in the second quarter, but Ireland were still looking to put as much speed on the ball as possible when they attacked.
Seizing the opportunity to put pressure on Dan Cole’s replacement at tighthead, David Wilson, the men in green opted for a series of scrums.
Having attempted to soften up England at the set piece, they probed out wide on the left on two occasions, but the English defence managed to keep Dave Kearney wrapped up.
Farrell struck the left post with a second penalty attempt before England suffered a damaging blow when Billy Vunipola fell awkwardly on his right ankle and had to be replaced by Ben Morgan.
Captain Chris Robshaw opted for touch instead of taking a long range shot at goal in the dying embers of the first half, but the gamble failed when Luther Burrell knocked on.
Just 82 seconds after the interval Ireland raced ahead when Jamie Heaslip sent Rob Kearney darting through a hole on the 22 and the Louth man easily evaded Brown on an angled run to the line.
The gap in England’s defence was compounded by the fact it was forwards Wilson and Joe Launchbury who attempted to close the space and there was only one winner when Heaslip teed up the in-form Kearney.
Sexton converted and added a penalty as Ireland turned the screw, but the deficit was slashed to four points by Farrell following a strong passage of play that almost saw Burrell squeeze over.
The pivotal moment arrived 16 minutes into the second half with an outstanding try launched by captain Chris Robshaw’s break through the midfield.
Robshaw fed his Harlequins team-mate Brown who darted over halfway and just as the full-back was hauled down, Care grabbed his pass and raced in under the posts with Farrell converting.
England had to show plenty of defensive grit as they repelled a dangerous driving maul – led by skipper Paul O’Connell – that showed Ireland were far from finished as an attacking force.
Dave Kearney was brought down by Launchbury’s tap tackle as Ireland staged one final attack and although the Irish bench once again made their presence felt, England’s solid defence helped them see out a tight win.
This website uses cookies.
Read More