England produced an outstanding efficiency to assert a 23-22 victory over Eire and finish the customer’s hopes of back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams.
Marcus Smith delivered an inch-perfect drop aim within the dying moments of the thrilling conflict at Twickenham to ship the house followers into raptures.
Steve Borthwick’s aspect had burdened the significance of bouncing again from their defeat final day trip towards Scotland at Murrayfield.
The victory will probably be a welcome reduction for the England boss, who confronted criticism following that loss two- weeks in the past.
Mail Sport’s CHRIS FOY was at Twickenham and appears at some stuff you may need missed from Saturday’s match.
Marcus Smith’s last-gasp drop aim earned England a 23-22 win over Eire at Twickenham
The fly-half’s effort was the ultimate kick of an enthralling Six Nations conflict on Saturday night time
Eire’s hopes of a second consecutive Grand Slam triumph had been surprisingly dashed
Handshakes all spherical for Care’s magic milestone
When Eire captain Peter O’Mahony stepped into the Twickenham tunnel prepared for kick-off, he was very a lot in stern, enterprise mode.
However even the robust, centered Munster flanker took a second to supply a handshake to Danny Care. The scrum-half was about to stroll out along with his three kids to be acclaimed earlier than changing into simply the sixth England participant to make 100 Take a look at appearances for his nation.
Care is a well-liked determine within the recreation and hard-earned the special day. He was smiling and fist-bumping followers on his approach in by way of the west automobile park along with his England team-mates and was quickly hugging individuals and stopping for selfies contained in the stadium. TV cameras captured Care sitting alongside Immanuel Feyi-Waboso — earlier than his first England begin — within the changing-room, the place they flicked by way of the matchday programme. A proud day for the pair, at completely different ends of the expertise spectrum.
Danny Care made his one hundredth appearances for England within the win over Eire at Twickenham
A story of two head coaches
It was fascinating to observe the 2 head coaches in the course of the build-up to this encounter, as there was a transparent distinction whereas the group warm-ups had been happening. Andy Farrell was very a lot an observer as his Eire aspect ready — wanting on, usually with arms in pockets, whereas his assistants ran the apply drills.
All of it regarded very slick and well-drilled, which allowed the person in cost to maintain his distance. In the meantime, Steve Borthwick was busy and straight concerned in the course of the England warm-up; usually clutching a ball and working near his gamers, barking out directions. He had far more shut private management over proceedings than his counterpart.
Steve Borthwick was busy and straight concerned in the course of the England warm-up forward of the conflict
Owen on the sting of his seat
There was no household battle for the Farrells this time as Owen was not enjoying for England, having opted to step again from Take a look at rugby after the latest World Cup. Nonetheless, amid an prolonged break within the membership season, the veteran Saracens fly-half was in attendance right here.
He appeared on the large display screen in the course of the anthems — sitting in a stand alongside club-mate Mako Vunipola. Not so way back, each males would have been on the coronary heart of the hosts’ resistance, however now they had been watching on, powerless to have an effect on proceedings. It should have been an odd expertise.
Former England captain Owen Farrell was noticed within the crowd on Saturday night, having determined to step again from Take a look at rugby final yr
Half-time leisure with a twist
There was a concerted try and ramp up the Twickenham matchday expertise this yr and little doubt a hefty sum was concerned in hiring the hefty determine of Rag‘n’Bone Man for a half-time efficiency on the pitch.
The singer actually added a touch of sartorial color to an enviornment identified for Barbours and chinos, and it’s unlikely that anybody with extra facial tattoos has ever graced the sacred turf. In the meantime, Netflix crews proceed to comply with the groups round and likewise their nearest and dearest — as Joe Marler’s household had been being trailed by cameramen within the automobile park earlier than this match.
There have been the standard entry difficulties for these coming out and in of Twickenham on Saturday
Entry virtually denied: a persistent actuality for punters
Sadly, there have been the standard entry difficulties for these coming into and out of Twickenham on Saturday. As ever, there was gridlock on native roads and bother with over-flowing automobile parks, even two or three hours earlier than kick-off, plus typical, lengthy queues for the practice station after the sport.
If the RFU had been ranging from scratch now, let’s face it, they might by no means dream of situating their nationwide stadium in a crowded residential space of south west London. It simply doesn’t work.
