England v Ireland LIVE: Result and reaction from Six Nations as Marcus Smith denies Irish grand slam with last-gasp drop goal
England 23-22 Ireland: Smith slotted a drop goal with the final kick to snatch a shock victory for the hosts and stop back-to-back Irish grand slams
Marcus Smith slotted a last-minute drop goal as England ended Ireland’s double grand slam dream with an exhilarating 23-22 win in a display of their best attacking rugby for years to take the Six Nations championship to the final round.
After Scotland’s shock loss to Italy, Ireland knew victory would give them the title with a round to spare and set them up for back-to-back grand slams and they looked on course with a 12-8 half-time lead via four Jack Crowley penalties despite England scoring the only try through Ollie Lawrence.
Ireland surged 17-8 ahead thanks to James Lowe’s try early in the second half but England roared back with scores from George Furbank and Ben Earl to edge three points clear heading into the final quarter.
A second Lowe try put Ireland back in front, only for replacement fly half Smith to send Twickenham wild at the death as he dropped back and slotted the decisive drop goal for the best performance and result of the Steve Borthwick era.
Relive all the action from England v Ireland below:
England 13-17 Ireland, 50 mins
England have fought their way back in the contest with that try. And further bad news for Ireland.
Frawley forced off with a HIA and Conor Murray is the only back left on the bench. He’s on at scrum half, Gibson-Park shifted out to the wing (!) and Keenan slots back in at full back. Could this cause Irish confusion?
TRY! England 13-17 Ireland (George Furbank, 47 mins)
But England hit back and it’s George Furbank with the gas on the outside!
Space spotted to the left as England return a kick. Martin with a powerful carry, offloads out to Itoje, who draws a defender, feeds Furbank and the full back turns on the jets to race over.
But that’s not a great conversion attempt from Ford. Shanked miles wide of the right post. Still, England close the gap.
TRY! England 8-17 Ireland (James Lowe, 44 mins)
It’s ruthless from Ireland and they’ve got one hand on the Six Nations trophy. James Lowe with the finish in the corner.
Gibson-Park’s box kick is spilled by Freeman coming forward and reclaimed by Ireland. They spot the overlap on the left, lovely flat pass from Crowley- to Dories gets them outside, through the hands, Frawley on to Lowe and he acrobatically dives over out wide. Efficiency.
Crowley’s conversion skews wide but Ireland now lead by nine points.
England 8-12 Ireland, 43 mins
Turnover in the 22 and Van der Flier is getting the plaudits of his teammates. It was scrappy ball from England and the Irish flanker managed to get over the ball, causing Lawrence to come in from the side trying to clear him out.
England 8-12 Ireland, 42 mins
Ford puts up an early kick and Crowley leaps into the air but knocks on trying to collect it. England scrum in the Ireland half.
Solid and England on the attack as they go to the left.
KICK-OFF! England 8-12 Ireland
Back underway in SW London. Can England build on that first 40 minutes and find a way back into this contest
WATCH: First-half highlights from Twickenham
Here’s the best of the first-half action. Not much in it but Ireland have found a way to lead
HT: England 8-12 Ireland
An encouraging half in so many ways for England, but they nonetheless go down the tunnel four points behind. Both their attack and defence have caused Ireland significant problems, but familiar wastefulness inside the opposition 22 and some curious decision-making from George Ford has prevented them from building the lead that their territorial advantage suggests they should have been able to. Ireland have fired few shots - you'd think Andy Farrell's side still have plenty left in the tank.
The visitors may need to get Hugo Keenan on the ball more, with the full-back a bit on the periphery after Calvin Nash’s head injury forced him out to the wing. Ireland have missed his clever touches closer in.
HALF-TIME! England 8-12 Ireland
A pretty good 40 minutes from England as they’ve avoided giving Ireland lots of ball in enemy territory and even the attack has shown flashes.
They have the only try of the half but Ireland, and the boot of Jack Crowley, have punished every little error, so the visitors lead 12-8
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