Marcus Smith kicks a last-gasp drop-goal as England produce their best display of the Steve Borthwick era to stun Ireland in a Six Nations thriller.
Marcus Smith kicked a last-gasp drop-goal as England stunned Ireland and ended their chance to win back-to-back Grand Slams in a Six Nations thriller at Twickenham. England trailed by two points after James Lowe's late try but Smith's final act chipped the ball over the posts to send the home fans into delirium.
In an action-packed second half, Lowe opened his account with an acrobatic finish in the corner before tries by George Furbank and Ben Earl handed a resurgent England the lead. Lowe's second was an equally fine finish and looked set to clinch the title for Ireland, but Smith kept his nerve to inflict a first Six Nations defeat on Ireland since Paris in 2022. Ollie Lawrence opened the scoring for England in a blistering start but Ireland, chasing history in their pursuit of a first double Grand Slam in the Six Nations, gained a foothold in the game through Jack Crowley's assured boot. Victory for England keeps their faint title hopes alive and also means they have ended their run of three successive Six Nations with only two victories from five games. But Ireland still lead the Six Nations standings and will retain their crown with a win over Scotland in Dublin on the final weekend. Ireland were overwhelming favourites to stretch their winning run over England to five games and assert their dominance over the northern hemisphere with another title, but the hosts and their captain Jamie George had other ideas. George put out a call to arms, reminding the fans how the players would valiantly "defend our home" against Andy Farrell's side. Twickenham responded with an atmosphere not seen for some time and they were quickly rewarded as England spotted an opportunity to attack, throwing the ball through the hands for Lawrence to score the first try. Ireland were startled, as they were 12 months ago on the cusp of the Slam before Freddie Steward was controversially sent off and the tide turned green. Crowley's four penalties overturned the early deficit but England remained disciplined and kept 15 players on the field throughout. Lowe's first try did not dampen their attacking intent and more quick ball resulted in Furbank running clear to score his second Test try in as many games before Earl powered over for England's third. Ireland were always going to have another say and Lowe's second try appeared to end England's resistance, but Danny Care came off the bench to win his 100th cap and England had a second wind. The charge to the line gathered momentum before Care fed his Harlequins team-mate Smith to end Ireland's shot at history and seal a famous England win in the Steve Borthwick era.England were widely criticised for their lack of attacking ambition in their disappointing defeat by Scotland while Ireland looked supreme with comfortable wins over France, Italy and Wales in their opening three games. The visitors were overwhelming favourites but no-one within their camp was expecting a forgone conclusion, with head coach Farrell labelling England an "unbelievably dangerous" team. The visitors showed signs of negating England's blitz defence in the first half before pouring through at the start of the second for Lowe's first try with Henry Slade slightly out of position. It happened again late on with almost the same outcome as Lowe finished off in the corner - but they were two moments of exception as Ireland struggled to retain possession. England controlled large spells of the game with their aggression in the carry and tenacious defence close to the breakdown. George Martin was a constant menace and his inclusion at lock was vindicated as he charged up at the Ireland line with ferocity. Ireland are still likely to retain their title on the final weekend when they host Scotland but England will have reminded Scots' coach Gregor Townsend's men of the chinks in the green armour. In the final round of fixtures, Ireland host Scotland in Dublin, England travel to face France in Lyon and Wales play Italy"The team has been progressing. We are four games into building a new team and I am delighted for the players and especially the supporters. "When you look at that game, the players showed incredible intensity from the first minute to the 80th minute. "Against a team of this quality you know you are going to have to problem-solve, and there were small adjustments we could see from the box. "The blend of the game for periods was an arm wrestle and then it would break open with a counter-attack.""For large parts of the game I thought we were a little bit off, and that's down to England, but I felt we had the resilience to keep bouncing back."We have been very good at winning. We have to be good at losing. We have to make sure we review that properly and come into work on Monday with a smile on our faces because there is a championship to win."Fantastic game. Been a long time since we put in a performance like that.What a game!Well played Ireland. A class act. But today it's our day!Speed was everything, well done Mitchell and Earl. Please be last game for Ford, Daly and Care….. how Care thought it was the right thing to do was to kick in the 77th minute makes the mind boggle. Please retire with dignity and celebrate a fantastic achievement of 100 caps.Speaking as a pretty downbeat Irishman I can only congratulate England on bringing a game plan and basically sticking to it. Wasn’t sure about our decision making at key moments - not least kicking at the end there. But we were rattled for the first time in a long time.Speaking as a pretty downbeat Irishman I can only congratulate England on bringing a game plan and basically sticking to it. Wasn’t sure about our decision making at key moments - not least kicking at the end there. But we were rattled for the first time in a long time.Some Irish fan on here described us as"canon fodder" for this match so it feels sweet to deprive them of the Grand Slam.I thought the commentary today was so biased to Ireland that they were almost gushing about Ireland at every opportunity. The match was an England home game, you would never have known come on ITV give England fans better. At least the team did better, well played England.I thought the commentary today was so biased to Ireland that they were almost gushing about Ireland at every opportunity. The match was an England home game, you would never have known come on ITV give England fans better. At least the team did better, well played England.Where has THAT performance been all these months? Ireland are so strong and they didn’t lay badly – but England THOROUGHLY deserved that win. Whatever, huge thanks to both teams for some great entertainment!Where has THAT performance been all these months? Ireland are so strong and they didn’t lay badly – but England THOROUGHLY deserved that win. Whatever, huge thanks to both teams for some great entertainment!Finally there is justice in the world of rugby. I told you all that England are on the rise and was bullied and tormented for it. England should rightfully be grand slam champions in waiting. This is very likely next year as soon as the world rugby match officials scandal breaks.Irishman here. Well done England thoroughly deserved. Well done Ireland heroic rearguard defence at times. I hope the media learn their lesson. Suggesting Ireland would beat any England team by 30 points having only one twice in 18 years was completly disrespectful. Great for the tournament.Irishman here. Well done England thoroughly deserved. Well done Ireland heroic rearguard defence at times. I hope the media learn their lesson. Suggesting Ireland would beat any England team by 30 points having only one twice in 18 years was completly disrespectful. Great for the tournament.Agreed. The media hype is pathetic. It will now flip on its head and we will not hear the end now of England’s brilliant one point win virtue of the genius Marcus Smith.England were the better team, to be fair. From an Irishman. There's been a very good English team in there for a while, today they showed it.England were the better team, to be fair. From an Irishman. There's been a very good English team in there for a while, today they showed it.Grace in victory or defeat. Always a pleasure to share the rugby and the craic with you guys. Good luck next week. Scotland might not be quite as good as we made them look.Never thought I'd see England play ball in hand again, but a rapid back 3, slick hands and dynamism up front, well done lads. I'd start Smith over Ford going fwd to avoid England ever going back to just box kicking which nearly lost the game.Well done England! Earl was immense. Commiserations to Ireland, it’s rare to see them pressured out of shape. Great to hear Twickenham singing again.What a game, breathless! A genuine test match. In fact what a great couple of games today. Well done England! Earl was immense. Commiserations to Ireland, it’s rare to see them pressured out of shape. Great to hear Twickenham singing again.Also worth mentioning Amashukeli performance, top notch refereeing. Ireland cynical cheating gets pinged and hey presto, they lose!!! Who knew…Some excellent performances in white today.IFW outstanding!Earl outstanding!Martin outstanding!Also worth mentioning Amashukeli performance, top notch refereeing. Ireland cynical cheating gets pinged and hey presto, they lose!!! Who knew…One of the best Six Nations matches I have seen for a while.Credit to both teams for an outstanding game to watch.Have that Ireland! Absolutely Humbled after fans being so arrogant and brash about winning a double slam! Well played England, a superb game to watch from this Welsh fanHave that Ireland! Absolutely Humbled after fans being so arrogant and brash about winning a double slam! Well played England, a superb game to watch from this Welsh fanI think youll find it was both the Irish AND English media that got this wrong. Genuine Irisg fans understand we have won twice in 20 years in Twickenham. Well done EnglandWhat a game, what a win, is that the same team that played Scotland? It proves that we can play let's do it more often! Fair play to Ireland limited possession but always dangerousWhat a game, what a win, is that the same team that played Scotland? It proves that we can play let's do it more often! Fair play to Ireland limited possession but always dangerousBBC pundits Sam Warburton and John Barclay discuss whether France are in crisis following their 13-13 draw at home to Italy in the Six Nations.Before the Oscars on Sunday, we ask BBC Sport's Six Nations team who would play them in a movie, who gives the most emotional team talks and who has the best chance of making it to Hollywood.The two-headed dog experiments that shocked the world'Why not?' - Barkley on England recall dreams
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