England 30 Ireland 9:England clinched second place in the Six Nations championship with a comprehensive victory over Ireland that was founded on a destructive scrimmaging performance at Twickenham.

Owen Farrell kicked 20 points in another nerveless display but, on this occasion, it will not be England’s new golden-boy outhalf who takes the plaudits.

It will be Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole and the destructive England pack who obliterated the Irish scrummage and earned just reward with a second-half penalty try.

Ben Youngs then came off the bench to score England’s second try from a quick tap penalty that had been earned by his forward pack.

The one sour note for England was an allegation of biting made by Ireland against an unnamed player which could, if proven, have serious ramifications.

England established their scrummaging dominance from the outset, earning a penalty from the first set piece which Farrell converted in the third minute.

Lee Dickson invited pressure on England as he sliced one box kick into touch and then had a second-half kick charged down, both inside England’s 22.

It typified an error-strewn first half of spilled balls, knock-ons and turnovers which only served to encourage both outhalves to take to the air.

Farrell had a tactical kick charged down but the ball rebounded for Brad Barritt who linked with Manu Tuilagi and Chris Ashton down the right before Mouritz Botha spilled the ball in midfield.

Ireland counter-attacked promisingly with hooker Rory Best floating a long pass to Keith Earls but Ben Foden made the tackle and then executed a vital turnover.

Rob Kearney’s 45-metre drop goal attempt had crashed back off the post before a Jonathan Sexton penalty brought the visitors level.

England edged ahead with two more penalties from Farrell, the first a reward from another dominant scrum performance.

In between time, Gordon D’Arcy saw an ill-judged drop goal charged down before Ireland lock Donncha O’Callaghan made the allegation of biting.

For all their scrum strength, England were struggling against Ireland’s ferocity at the breakdown and twice they were counter-rucked, the second time allowing Sexton to land a penalty.

England were in complete control after the interval, though. Foden ran back a poor kick and then fed Croft who galloped into the Ireland 22 but, just as he looked for the try-scoring pass to one of two men on his inside, the ball slipped clear.

It was agonising for Croft but the England scrum, led by Corbisiero, earned immediate redemption by shoving Ireland back and winning a penalty for Farrell to convert.

Sexton responded before

Tomás O’Leary committed the grave error of carrying the ball back over his own line after sweeping up a Farrell grubber kick.

England’s scrum had a golden attacking platform. They drove Ireland back and referee Nigel Owens blew for a penalty just before Tom Palmer touched the ball down.

Chris Robshaw opted for another scrum, England drove on, Ben Morgan peeled off the back and the Irish back row dived on top of him to concede a penalty try.

Keith Earls made one breakaway but otherwise Ireland spent the last quarter camped inside their own half, taking blow after blow from the England team.

And Youngs, who has struggled for form through the championship, applied the coup de grace for England with a try from a quick tap penalty that had been earned by his dominant forward pack.