Ireland seemed short of ideas as England ran out 32-20 winners at the Aviva Stadium, on Saturday evening.
The visitors were the better team without a doubt but had their fair amount of fortune to gain the win.
They came bursting out of the blocks, showing their intentions right from the off with a try within 90 seconds. After getting up to the Ireland 22, a few passes out wide, and a poor break from the line by Keith Earls and Jonny May was in at the corner.
Captain Owen Farrell added the extras as England led 7-0 after as little as two minutes.
Ireland came back at England over the next 20 minutes. Johnny Sexton slotted over a penalty after 11 minutes before Tom Curry was sin binned two minutes later for a late tackle on Earls.
By the 24th minute Ireland had the lead. They made a bold call with a penalty in front of the posts and deciding to go to touch.
The risk paid off with James Ryan taking the line-out, leading to a few phases ending with Cian Healy touching down. Sexton converted and it was 10-7.
.@IrishRugby‘s @ProperChurch showing his power#GuinnessSixNations #IREvENG pic.twitter.com/M8vLIbSeHf
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 2, 2025
On the half-hour mark disaster struck as Elliot Daly sent a grubber-kick through the Irish 22. Jacob Stockdale caught the bouncing ball initially before Jack Nowell caused him to fumble and Daly put down the loose ball.
Farrell sent the conversion between the posts and added a late penalty to leave the score at 17-10 to England at half-time.
Half Time score from the @AVIVAStadium: IRELAND 10-17 ENGLAND#TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder #IrevEng pic.twitter.com/GJtJuIpH5i
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 2, 2025
The second-half started with Ireland improving slightly and were rewarded with 3-points after Kyle Sinckler tackled Garry Ringrose around the neck.
With only four points separating the two sides the game’s most controversial moment came in the 66th minute.
Following a scrum near halfway, England sent the ball out wide to Jonny May, who kicked ahead. Henry Slade won the foot race and was over for a try.
Referee Jerome Garces went to the TMO to see if Slade was ahead of the kicker, and to many he was, however, Garces awarded the try. Farrell missed the conversion, but Irish fans were left fuming at the decision by Garces which took the game away from the home side.
Pace galore from @EnglandRugby‘s @Sladey_10 #GuinnessSixNations #IREvENG pic.twitter.com/yiBAaHBD8E
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 2, 2025
Farrell added another penalty with 10 minutes remaining to stretch the lead out to 25-13.
Five minutes later and the bonus-point was wrapped up. Ireland tried to build from their own line, but a rushed pass by Sexton handed Henry Slade a chance which he took brilliantly, intercepting and sliding over the white-wash.
The conversion was tapped over and the game as a contest was certainly finished.
Ireland’s John Cooney came on for his debut in place of uncharacteristic Conor Murray and got his reward with a try in the final minute. Sexton sent over the conversion but that was the end as the game finished 32-20 to the visitors.
Full Time score from the @AVIVAStadium: IRELAND 20-32 ENGLAND#TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder #IrevEng pic.twitter.com/6pbOetDjCe
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 2, 2025
The defeat was Ireland’s first home loss in the 6 Nations under Joe Schmidt and he showed his disappointment post-match.
“It’s a tough one to take,” he said.
He also played down the significance of the
defeat saying it was just two high class team with small differences settling
the game.
“It was two really big teams and one winning fine margins and one not,” he added.
Man of the match Mako Vunipola admitted his
pride in gaining a first win against their rivals.
“It’s nice to get one over them,” he said when asked how the win on Irish soil felt.
The loss has ended Ireland’s hopes of
landing back to back Grand Slam titles as many had predicted and has lifted
England’s chances of claiming their 2017 title back.
England will be looking to build on this
impressive win when they host France next Sunday.
While Ireland will have to improve greatly before
heading to Murrayfield to face a high-flying Scotland side on Saturday.
