Ireland Win Grand Slam in Style

Irish Captain on Victory Over France

“We’ve done this four time, but this is the first time we’ve done this at home and it means so much for the Irish here and around the world. It was squeaky bum time for a while at 10-9, and the pressure France had put on us in recent weeks. It was stop start match, a proper test match, but in the end we have a bonus point victory. This is unbelievably fitting for Johnny (Sexton), he wanted to lift the trophy with someone else, but I told him he mustn’t, and he and we have bigger fish to fry with the World Cup coming up.”

Eddie Jones on England’s Efforts

“Congratulations to Ireland, winning a GS is special. I thought we showed a tremendous amount of fight, we gave away too many penalties and the game changed with the card, but we stuck in it and caused them some problems. It’s not for me to have an opinion on the card, but it did seem harsh to me, but the rules are there.

We’ve got to go back to our clubs now to be better players, and we’ve laid some foundations this Six Nations, but we have to build on that.”

Awarding of Medals

The medals are being hung around the necks of the Irish players, each having their named called and followed by a cheer from the crowd, all of whom have stuck around.

James Ryan takes the Triple Crown plate, and last up is Sexton to carry the big trophy to his players assembled on the plinth of victory.

The cheers and arms go up, along with the golden tickertape, as this enormous achievement sinks in and he lap of honour begins.

Ireland Captain Reflects on Win

“One of the best nights of our careers today. We spoke of the opportunity to win a Grand Slam in Dublin in front of home fans. We didn’t quite get it right in the first half, but we stuck in there and found the way, but that’s good for us as you have to test yourselves. These are the days, it’s really special, Johnny’s last home Six Nations game and what a servant he’s been”

Winning with 14 men

There will be a lot of talk about beating 14 men and whether that was fair to England, but it’s hard to see how this result would’ve gone any other way even with a full compliment. England did a good job to curtail Ireland in the first half, but from the second quarter onwards the home side were building dominance in the way that is typical of what has taken this Irish team to the top of the world.

Greatest Period in Irish Rugby History

Beginning with the tour victory in New Zealand last summer, via some hard fought wins in the Autumn to this crowning achievement, this has been the greatest period in Irish rugby history.

Knowing Andy Farrell, he’ll see this as nothing like job done yet.

Ireland Secure Victory Over England

IRELAND WIN THE GRAND SLAM!

80+2 mins. Isiekwe claims the ball in the middle of the lineout, and the carries start hammering the Ireland line, but the home side are not keen to end with conceding a try and tackle accordingly.

80 mins. Songs ring out in the crowd as England continue to work the ball in the Ireland half, winning a penalty that Farrell kicks to touch in the corner.

79 mins. England go from a lineout on halfway, putting it through hands as the time ebbs away.

78 mins. 90 seconds to glory for Ireland.

Ireland Scores Again

77 mins. Herring peels off the maul to dive over in the corner to score against thirteen men. Ross Byrne misses a difficult conversion from out wide.

75 mins. The TMO draws Ref Peyper’s attention to Jack Willis lifting Ross Byrne beyond the horizontal. He really lifts him quite high, but lands him on his back, not particularly hard, so it’s a yellow.

74 mins. Jamison Gibson-Park and Johnny Sexton leave the field for Conor Murray and Ross Byrne. Sexton limps off to standing ovation in what many assume is his last Six Nations match at the home of Irish rugby.

72 mins. The Fields Of Athenry is ringing around the stadium as the home fans finally start to relax and truly believe. But England aren’t lying down for it as they catch and drive a maul over the line for George to dab it down.

That’s Dan Sheehan’s final act of a very good game for him, replaced by Rob Herring.

Alex Mitchell has replaced Van Poortvliet for England.

Ireland Scores One More Time

69 mins. Ireland work the short-side via Mack Hansen who feeds Dan Sheehan who is lurking on the right touchline. He’s stopped, but on the next phase he’s up to take an offload from Conan to run over in the corner. Sexton booms the conversion over. Beyond penalties for breakdown pressure, England haven’t looked like scoring all game, this feels a long way back now for the visitors. Genge and Sincker are off, replaced by Mako Vunipola and Dan Cole. Jack Willis returns from his blood bin, and that’s a cue for Dombrand to leave the field to officially be replaced by Ben Curry.

England Fighting Hard, But Victory is Certain for Ireland

62 mins. Playing on an advantage from the scrum, Ireland go to Aki who sucks in two defenders and feeds a short pass right to Henshaw to dive over. Sexton bends the conversion over.

60 mins. Sexton sprays a kick in behind Watson, who is hounded over his own line by Hansen and tackled to give Ireland a huge five metre scrum platform, assuming they can manage to hold it up! Joe Marchant comes on for Henry Arundell, who’s had a difficult game. Tom O’Toole replaces Tadhg Furlong for Ireland.

England Defeated By Ireland

57 mins. Ireland snaffle the ball from England’s lineout maul to save Sexton’s blushes, with Gibson-Park breaking up the field. The ball ends up in touch and the teams set to with some pushing and shoving, which adds even more to the tension and drama. When it all settles down it’s an England scrum and they win another penalty as Porter collapses.

55 mins. The ball is spending a lot of time in the

Credit: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2023/mar/18/ireland-v-england-six-nations-live

ENND