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:
KICK-OFF! England 0-0 Ireland
Underway at Twickenham! Jack Crowley kicks long to get us started A huge task for England, while Ireland try to wrap up the Six Nations title - if they avoid defeat, it’s theirs.
The crowd roar as the action starts.
England v Ireland
Anthems done - typically stirring stuff. The camera pans to Owen Farrell in the crowd, the former England skipper here to support his country
England v Ireland - Danny Care set to earn 100th cap
A huge roar at Twickenham as, before the teams walk out, Danny Care exits the tunnel and heads on to the pitch with his three children in tow.
If Care comes off the bench this afternoon he’ll win his 100th England cap. He looks a little emotional as he soaks in the applause. Lovely moment
England v Ireland
Warm-ups done and we’re around 10 minutes from kick-off here at Twickenham
Flawless Ireland have just one question left to answer in England showdown
Perhaps the only minor question left to answer for Ireland comes at fly half. This is not to diminish what Jack Crowley has done by stepping into Johnny Sexton’s shoes. There were genuine concerns ahead of the tournament that Sexton was irreplaceable in the Irish system and as their emotional leader but Crowley has directed the attack to impeccable results
But there’s a nagging feeling that Crowley has not been truly tested yet and that as long as Ireland’s attack is humming along in cruise control, he hasn’t proven he can overcome adversity at Test level. This, of course, is not his fault – after all, it’s unfair to hold someone responsible for playing in a team that’s too good – but if England are to spring an almighty Twickenham surprise, then the route to victory probably runs through disrupting Crowley.
Read Luke Baker’s full preview as we may be about to move a step closer to the answer of whether Crowley really is Sexton’s heir apparent:
Flawless Ireland have just one question left to answer in England showdown
Andy Farrell’s side head to Twickenham on a seemingly unstoppable march to a Six Nations grand slam but England will provide one specific test
Ireland have cracked the rugby code – but Steve Borthwick’s England have a plan to match them
It has fast become rugby’s great puzzle – how do you stop Andy Farrell’s Ireland? The green giants of the Six Nations march towards history and a second consecutive grand slam with inexorable intent, carrying the confidence and certainty befitting one of the best teams of the modern era. In the last two years, their record reads played 25, won 23, lost two; the last time Ireland lost to someone other than New Zealand or France, Joe Biden had been in office for a fortnight.
How do you beat them? The answer at the World Cup was to produce something resembling rugby perfection. In the All Blacks’ quarter-final win in Paris, New Zealand turned the ball over thrice in 80 minutes; they did not allow Ireland a single scrum feed. Ireland were rattled, ruffled and roughed up, but were the girth of Jordie Barrett’s thigh away from victory; New Zealand still required a remarkable 37-phase defensive stand to cling on at the end.
Good luck England.
Read Harry Latham-Coyle’s full preview of this afternoon’s clash:
Ireland have cracked the rugby code – but Steve Borthwick has a plan to match them
Ireland come to Twickenham seemingly on an inexorable march towards another grand slam – can England close the chasm between the two sides and secure a statement victory?
What do Ireland need to win the Six Nations against England this afternoon?
Ireland could secure successive Six Nations crowns with a game to spare as they travel to Twickenham to take on England today. Andy Farrell’s side remain unbeaten in this year’s championship and will hope to make history as the first men’s team to secure back-to-back grand slams since the tournament’s expansion to six teams.
After taking on England, Ireland host Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on Super Saturday — but the title could be sewn up before then.
The defending champions currently top the standings and Scotland’s shock defeat in Rome just now has made their job a little bit more straightforward.
Ireland will be crowned champions if they avoid defeat to England, with either a win or a draw being enough to ensure Steve Borthwick’s men can’t catch them on the final day.
Everything you need to know about England v Ireland
Ireland continue their pursuit of another Six Nations grand slam with a trip to Twickenham to take on England.
Andy Farrell’s side have secured three wins from three in this year’s championship and will secure another crown with a bonus-point win regardless of Scotland’s result against Italy.
But England showed during the World Cup that they are capable of pushing the world’s best sides close and will hope to again give Ireland problems.
Steve Borthwick’s team were right in the game until Freddie Steward’s sending off at the Aviva Stadium 12 months ago and will be backed by a home crowd expecting a better performance than the one produced in the Calcutta Cup.
Here’s everything you need to know:
England v Ireland live stream: How to watch Six Nations online and on TV
Everything you need to know ahead of the round four clash
Ireland team news
Hugo Keenan returns to the Ireland side after injury in an otherwise familiar line-up. Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continue in midfield with Garry Ringrose fit but unable to force his way in.
There are six forwards on the bench, but lock James Ryan will miss the rest of the tournament with a “freak” bicep injury suffered in training.
Ireland XV: 15 Hugo Keenan; 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe; 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong; 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 Tadhg Beirne; 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Jack Conan; 22 Conor Murray, 23 Ciaran Frawley
England team news
England hand a first international start to Immanuel Feyi-Waboso after a try-scoring cameo from the bench against Scotland, with Alex Mitchell also fit to return at scrum half.
George Martin adds extra weight to the tight five as Ollie Chessum shifts to the blindside to give Steve Borthwick three lineout jumpers. Marcus Smith is fit again and makes the bench, while Harlequins teammate Danny Care is set to win his 100th cap.
England XV: 15 George Furbank; 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Tommy Freeman; 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George (c), 3 Dan Cole; 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Martin; 6 Ollie Chessum, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Ben Earl
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Chandler Cunningham-South, 20 Alex Dombrandt; 21 Danny Care, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Elliot Daly
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