Hanging tough when the going got rough, Ireland retained their composure to produce one of their three best halves of rugby since the World Cup. Hats off to England, they came with a plan and a purpose, sparking both the team and the crowd into life. Heck, even the atmosphere was good and a bonus point 27-22 win gives Ireland’s tilt at the title lift-off, yet with plenty to work on. Even the imperfections might be a good thing.
Conceding two late tries was an irritant but best of all, Ireland’s attack hit heights they hadn’t reached in the Autumn Series. Their belief in their own high-tempo, ball-in-hand game never wavered. Only one of Ireland’s 15 tries in November originated outside the 22. Here, all four did, with three coming from inside halfway, and one from a lineout which purred, admittedly under little pressure.
Although England’s trio of opensides helped England win five turnovers at the breakdown, the selection of Ryan Baird exposed Steve Borthwick’s selection, yielding a return of 23 from 23 on Ireland’s throws.
Better still, in some respects, Ireland also left several tries behind, so when the players adhered to the Simon Easterby post-match mantra that there is plenty of room for improvement this was based on truth rather than cliche.
In maintaining plenty of continuity from the habits instilled by Andy Farrell, there’s no doubt that Ireland have the more settled team and developed game.
True, the opening half especially had echoes of the autumn, with Ireland making 23 handling errors to England’s 14, but that is also a consequence of the home side making more passes (207 to 128) and offloads (nine to three). But that first period had something to do with the slicker second one when Ireland were a little more direct and played a little closer to the gain line, as well as sharpening their kicking and aerial games.
Sam Prendergast was inevitably targeted by England, who played in his face as much as possible. Despite one daring chip from inside his own 22 early on, initially, Prendergast wasn’t striking the ball as sweetly as he can and Cadan Murley’s try from Henry Slade’s grubber emanated from Smith running back one such kick.
But, true to type, Prendergast was coolness personified amid the heat of his Six Nations debut. Until Jack Crowley was entrusted with the final quarter, and delivered handsomely, Prendergast was both the heartbeat and barometer of Ireland’s performance.
He kept taking the ball to the line, probing with that heads-up style of his, picking his passes and dovetailing with Bundee Aki, especially in a manner that had Johnny Sexton’s imprint.
If there was frustration in the crowd, it didn’t transmit to Prendergast and company, even when Ronan Kelleher’s finish was ruled out for Tadgh Beirne tugging Maro Itoje’s leg. Prendergast put Hansen through a hole outside Smith from Aki’s pull back for Baird to skittle Mitchell and Murley and this led to Smith being binned for England’s umpteenth offside.
More chances and penalties to the corner went abegging but Ireland were making inroads, selectively pulling the trigger in hitting James Lowe and others when hugging the touchlines in a clearly pre-ordained plan to seek out Smith and Mitchell when hidden out wide.
Past the half-hour, Ireland took England through phases from a lineout on halfway when Garry Ringrose picked out Lowe to skittle Mitchell and Jamison Gibson-Park was on his inside to do Freddie Steward like a kipper.
As so often, if all else fails get the ball to Lowe. Here, after just one outing since November, he made 123m from 13 carries, had five of Ireland’s 10 line breaks and had three try assists. He is the team’s main supplier of something out of nothing, of X factor.
And failing that, get the ball to Aki. After Dan Sheehan and Jack Conan had injected some immediate oomph off the bench, Prendergast’s skip pass to Aki on the left touchline was a beauty, and he skittled Smith and Mitchell before swivelling through Tommy Freeman. That’s why, more often than not, they pick Aki.
Prendergast atoned for two conversion misses with a sweetly struck long-range penalty before Crowley saw Ireland home. Gibson-Park deftly put Lowe through an inviting gap and he put the supporting Beirne over.
The pick of Ireland’s quartet was arguably the fourth. Originating in Keenan’s take on his 10m line, Sheehan had three big involvements: his tip-on leading to Conan’s break; his wide pass then hitting Lowe for him to this time beat Freeman; and the hooker was then on hand for the powerful inside finish. Sheehan’s back, and what a fillip.
Ultimately, England neither had the fitness, defence nor the depth to maintain their aggression and intensity, whereas Ireland could turn to a more impactful and experienced bench boasting 509 caps to the visitors’ 91. It was well used too.
The displays of Lowe and Sheehan (after one game since July) are a testament to the medical fitness teams at province and country, while for Conan this was a first Test since last year’s Six Nations due to injuries.
“You miss the environment, you miss the craic, you miss the lads. I was unbelievably excited to get back. It’s so special, the group, the atmosphere, the culture, it’s incredible,” said Conan.
“It’s something that’s been honed and orchestrated by the management, Si, Faz, everyone. Paulie, Fogs, Goodie, Catty as well and it’s just a special place to be.
“I’ve been bouncing in every day. It’s an incredible privilege. When you get a bit older, you realise that probably most of your good days are behind you. I just want to make the most of every chance I get and I feel like I did that today which was important to me.”
“I’d carry the water if I felt I could make a difference for the team. I’m glad I got a decent stint, 30 minutes maybe.”
Scoring sequence: 9 mins Murley try, Smith con 0-7; 35 mins Gibson-Park 5-10; 40 (+1) mins Smith pen 5-10; (half-time 5-10); 52 mins Aki try 10-10; 56 mins Prendergast pen 13-10; 65 mins Beirne try, Crowley con 20-10; 72 mins Sheehan try, Crowley con 27-10; 82 mins Freeman try, Smith con 27-22.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster, capt). Replacements: Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) for Hansen (4-15 mins) and for Aki (58 mins), Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster) for Kelleher, Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) for Baird (both 50 mins), Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster) for Bealham, Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster) for Prendergast (both 59 mins), Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster) for Ryan (62 mins), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) for Porter, Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) for Gibson-Park (both 75 mins).
England: Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers); Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Cadan Murley (Harlequins); Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints); Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Maro Itoje (Saracens, capt) George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Ben Earl (Saracens). Replacements: Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers) for Stuart (35-50 mins), Theo Dan (Saracens) for Cowan-Dickie, Tom Willis (Saracens) for Earl (56 mins), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers) for Martin, Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins) for T Willis (both 60 mins), Stuart for Heyes (60-71 mins), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints) for Steward (65 mins), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears) for Mitchell (66 mins), Fin Baxter (Harlequins) for Genge (71 mins). Sinbinned: M Smith (25-35 mins).
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
