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 8-9 Ireland, 39 mins
England aggressive in defence again and cause a Beirne knock-on but Martin and Ford (and frankly most of the defensive line) called for offside.
Some final points for Ireland before the break coming up
England 8-9 Ireland, 38 mins
Lowe and his cannon of a left boot launches a kick from his own 22 all the way to England’s 22 and Furbank makes a mess of it on the touchline.
As he catches the ball he tries to flick it back up to himself to avoid going into touch but his foot is on the line and it’s Ireland’s lineout in a great position. Furbank has to let the ball go out there/
England 8-9 Ireland, 37 mins
Furbank hits the line at speed just outside the 22 but knocks on in contact. The sort of error England were making plenty of against Scotland a fortnight ago but had largely cut out so far today.
England dominating the territory but other than Lawrence’s early score, they’ve been unable to take advantage.
PENALTY! England 8-9 Ireland (Jack Crowley, 35 mins)
The penalty is just inside England’s half but it is bang centre. Still a tough ask for Jack Crowley.
It’s an ugly-looking kick, low trajectory but creeps over the bar. They all count and Ireland lead!
England 8-6 Ireland, 33 mins
Furbank tries to run a kick back from his own half and evades a couple of tacklers before being wrapped up.
Ireland then aggressive with their defensive line and Aki forces the turnover as he gets over the ball after brining down Chessum.
Looks like Crowley will go for the posts from just inside England’s half.
England 8-6 Ireland, 33 mins
Spiral bomb launched by England but Frawley claims well. Ford then tries an up-and-under but it’s too deep, allowing Frawley to claim a relatively unchallenged mark in the 22.
England’s gameplan is working well so far - they’ve starved Ireland of abasically any ball in enemy territory but they need o be winning the kicking battle to maintain that.
MISSED PENALTY! England 8-6 Ireland (George Ford, 31 mins)
On the 10-metre line but fairly central and George Ford lines it up. The distance proves to be an obstacle though as he goes for extra power but drags the kick wide of the right upright. Missed opportunity.
England 8-6 Ireland, 30 mins
England competing at the breakdown well so far. Ireland not looking like 12-point favourites at the minute.
Another breakdown penalty won in Irish territory and Ford will go for the posts from long-ish range.
England 8-6 Ireland, 28 mins
Ireland go down the blindside from the scrum, Gibson-Park forced to kick and England have a lineout in their own 22.
Martin leaps to claim it and O’Mahony pinged for playing the man in the air, so England gain territory into the Ireland half with the penalty
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