Ireland secured only their third grand slam in history and inflicted a third defeat in a row on England with a dominant display on St Patrick’s Day
Tumult for one, calamity for the other. For Ireland the Grand Slam, thoroughly deserved with a slick, superbly-crafted victory, one that sent their supporters heading towards the bars to toast their emerald heroes with gallons of the black stuff.
Rumour has it Ireland won the drinking games, too, with the Fields of Athenry echoing round the stadium long before the final whistle, Twickenham no longer a fortress but Party Central for those sporting green. Ireland owned the turf and, later, the Twickenham environs, a takeover mission that brought reward from morn ‘til dusk.
For England, it was black stuff of a different order, a dark stain on their reputation. Jonny May’s added time try spared their being a record Irish win at Twickenham but it could do little to spare blushes.
It was not just the elements sending a bitter chill through the bones of English rugby, so too did this loss, their first at Twickenham in the championship in six years, a salutary and sobering turn of events. Their 2019 World Cup plans are in tatters, their morale shredded and their prospects bleak with three tests to come in South Africa in June.
It has been quite a fall from grace and the contrast was stark. Ireland were assured and potent while England were ragged and slipshod, infused by the wrong sort of desperation. In the closing stages alone there were several snapshots illuminating their current lack of poise and belief, Owen Farrell, firing one long pass straight into touch and moments later being swamped by what appeared to be a 100-strong mob of Irish shirts following another fumble.
Recap Ireland's 24-15 Grand Slam win over England at Twickenham.
