Grand Irish slam Poms

Grand Irish slam Poms

19 Mar 2011

English dreams of a first Grand Slam title since 2003 became a nightmare when they lost 24-8 to Ireland in Dublin.

Barring a big Welsh win against France in Paris later tonight, Martin Johnson’s men will still be presented with the Six Nations trophy, but missing out on the big prize will hurt.

Ireland came into this game on the back of two defeats (to France and Wales) and two unconvincing narrow wins (against Italy and Scotland), and weren’t given much chance of finishing their campaign on a positive note. However, the hosts rose to the occasion and were full value for their victory.

Two penalties from Jonathan Sexton gave them an early 6-0 lead, with a nervous looking England making several basic errors. Brian O’Driscoll’s try at the start of the second quarter was disallowed for a marginal forward pass, but the referee was playing advantage and Sexton sent the ball through the posts again.

Soon after, England failed to find touch, Jamie Heaslip ran the ball back and offloaded to Tommy Bowe, who scored in the corner. Sexon missed the conversion.

The visitors finally got on the scoreboard through a Toby Flood penalty but that was cancelled out by another Sexton strike. The Irish should have scored a second try just before the break but Paul O’Connell knocked on with the line in sight.

However, the hosts did get over again, early in the second half, when a botched England lineout resulted in a record 25th Five/Six Nations try for O’Driscoll.

The visitors responded in the 50th minute with a try from Steve Thompson, who intercepted a careless pass from Eoin Reddan, but Jonny Wilkinson’s conversion attempt went well wide.

Neither side could add to their points tally in the remaining half an hour, and Ireland celebrated a famous victory.


14 Comments

  • 1.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2011, 21:10 pm

    Wow, Irish eyes will be smiling and drenched in the black stuff tonight.

  • 2.munkiboi: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2011, 21:14 pm

    nice result. and england had been looking so good.

  • 3.Uitlander: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2011, 21:37 pm

    Nothing sweeter. First the cricket and now the rugby. One for the ages.

  • 4.Guns: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2011, 21:52 pm

    Had a feeling this may happen when I saw BOD’s face on tv and before when watching game against scotts Eng may be bit too Fatigued going into this one..

  • 5.Flametop: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2011, 22:06 pm

    @Uitlander(Uitlander)-3:

    I’ll take a badly needed win in a very poor Six Nations.
    Looking back… really Ireland should be disappointed that they were not in the hunt for a slam themselves.

    Unbelievably poor reffing in this competition]
    (yes you – Kaplan and Poite in particular).
    France. worst French team in years… Ireland really missed a trick.
    Wales… poor and lacked imagination.
    Ire. Did not play one single game well for 80 mins (yes today also… did not scare for the last 30 mins. Good teams put the oppo to the sword in that situation.
    Italy.. good team spirit, improved but will not trouble the big boys in the South.
    Scotland. Decent pack, don’t know what to do with the ball.
    Eng. Showed up to be flat track bullies.

  • 6.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2011, 22:29 pm

    Big Hit

    where are you? ypur hit and run raids of late have been noticed, now come take your medicine.

    wasn’t your strongest team no doubt, or the eyerish had the ref in their back pocket?

    does this mean no second knighthood for Johnson and co? they will be disappointed.

  • 7.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2011, 23:36 pm

    @poppa69(poppa69)-6: Who are the 2011 6N Champions?

    nah it was gutting to lose that, shocking almost during the first half but the better team on the day won and by some distance. Much for Johnno to address before the WC.

  • 8.dquinn25: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2011, 23:56 pm

    England crowned the winners and going by the games they played they deserve it, when they pressed reland today they made a mess of them but t was too little too late, Nothing seen in this tournament will frighten the big three come the world cup

  • 9.Auntie Mavis: Reply to this comment
    20 Mar 2011, 00:07 am

    The 6N would struggle against most Super15 sides.

  • 10.funkyzoo: Reply to this comment
    20 Mar 2011, 01:39 am

    I waa there. Irish line defence fantastic. England witless on attack. No contest.

  • 11.grant10: Reply to this comment
    20 Mar 2011, 06:18 am

    brilliant ! Well done the Irish……

  • 12.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    20 Mar 2011, 09:03 am

    @poppa69(poppa69)-6: just a wind up BH… congrats on the 6Ns trophy..

    rather have plenty still to work on 6 months out than to be firing on all cylinders now..

  • 13.cane: Reply to this comment
    20 Mar 2011, 11:27 am

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-7:

    “the better team on the day “.

    I never thought I would say this…………………………………but here goes.

    Well put Biggles, maybe your best post ever.
    I only wish Stodders was here to read it.

    8)

  • 14.Black Panther: Reply to this comment
    21 Mar 2011, 00:27 am

    Are we still blogging under the @ss’umption that Big.S.Hit is

    English ?

    oh, OK, it sounds like fun. I’ll join the charade too.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.