[1/5] Rugby Union – 6 Countries Champion – Ireland v England – Aviva Arena, Dublin, Ireland – March 18, 2023 Ireland’s Johnny Sexton commemorates after Dan Sheehan ratings their very first shot REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
DUBLIN, March 18 (Reuters) – Ireland finished their 4th 6 Countries Grand Slam with a 29-16 triumph over England at a pulsating Aviva Arena on Saturday, absolutely highlighting their status as the world’s top-ranked group heading into September’s World Cup.
The script might not have actually been much better ready – an opportunity to seal a very first Grand Slam in Dublin on St Patrick’s Day weekend – and Ireland provided, although it was nervier than they would have liked versus an England side decreased to 14 males for the whole 2nd half.
England were within one point of an upset with 20 minutes to go however late shots from Robbie Henshaw, Rob Herring and a 2nd for guy of the match Dan Sheehan ensured of Ireland’s 15 th champion and 5th considering that 2009.
” You could not make it up, it resembles residing in a dream. We didn’t play our finest however bloody hell, what a group. What a group of coaches,” Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, playing in his last 6 Countries video game, stated in a pitchside interview.
” To come here and get a win on St Patrick’s weekend, it boggles the mind. What a day.”
Andy Farrell’s side were well worthwhile of the tidy sweep, having actually won every video game by 13 points or more, balanced 4 ties per trip and ending 2022 winners France’s 14- video game unbeaten run along the method the video game of the champion.
The coach applauded his whole team for how they handled difficulty from losing some crucial guys to injury – 5 in recently’s win versus Scotland alone – to grinding out a win when they required to as they quite did on Saturday.
PRIDE BROUGHT BACK
England on the other hand were looking for to gain back some pride after the record 53-10 house defeat by France recently and they were more cohesive in winning a number of early turnovers and turned their pressure into a been worthy of 6-0 lead.
While looking a clear hazard in attack, Ireland were making uncharacteristic mistakes. Sexton, whose 19 th-minute charge made him the 6 Countries’ greatest all-time scorer, later on joked that they did the specific reverse of what the coaches informed them to.
With England’s charge count ticking up as they looked for to stem the tide, the advancement began 32 minutes. Josh van der Flier peeled the back of a ruck, discovered Sheehan with a reverse pass and there was no stopping the explosive hooker when he had the line in his sights.
The larger pivotal moment showed up 8 minutes later on however as Freddie Steward struck his opposite number, Ireland fullback Hugo Keenan, with an elbow to the head while in an upright position and was dispatched.
If it appeared like Ireland would travel towards a Grand Slam in Dublin, following success in Twickenham (2018), Cardiff (2009) and Belfast (1948), England had other concepts and another Owen Farrell charge after the break made it 10 -9.
It took the shot for Henshaw, beginning his very first video game of the champion, for the relief to spread out through the arena with Sheehan’s 2nd all however clinching a very first 6 Countries title in front of their own fans considering that 1985.
Jamie George got an alleviation pursue England prior to replacement Irish hooker Herring extended the lead once again as Ireland made it 22 wins from their last 24 video games and the celebration started.
” I believed we revealed a significant quantity of battle. Undoubtedly the video game altered with the card however we still revealed a substantial quantity of battle and stuck in it,” England captain Farrell stated.
” We have actually developed some structures throughout the 6 Countries however plainly we wish to be a much better group.”
The defeat consigned England to 4th location in the table and a 3rd succeeding 6 Countries with more beats than success after winning the champion in 2020.
France ended up in 2nd location with Scotland in 3rd. Wales were 5th and it was another wood spoon for Italy.
Reporting by Padraic Halpin
Modifying by Toby Davis
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