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Crown slips as England outlast Ireland in Twickenham slugfest

Danny Care’s second-half try settled a ferocious contest in England’s favour.

Issac Boss, Martin Moore, Gordon D'Arcy and Devin Toner dejected ©INPHO / James Crombie ©INPHO / James Crombie / James Crombie

England 13

Ireland 10

IRELAND’S TRIPLE CROWN hopes were dashed by a stunning Danny Care try and some determined English defence at Twickenham.

Ireland looked set for their third win of the championship when Rob Kearney scored a fantastic darting try after the break but England regrouped and Care provided the matchwinning spark.

The opening 20 minutes were a complete slugfest as both sides traded lusty blows. The game veered from one 22 to the next with the try-lines somehow left intact.

England thought they had scored after seven minutes but Jonny May was denied by a determined Peter O’Mahony and the video referee. The visitors threatened next with Jonny Sexton finding Andrew Trimble with a beautifully executed cross-field kick.

©INPHO / James Crombie ©INPHO / James Crombie / James Crombie

The first score came with 24 minutes on the clock as Owen Farrell sent over a slinger from all of 47 metres out. The penalty settled the home side and their scrum was starting to tick.

They won their second penalty, which Farrell struck off the post, on 33 minutes.

The home side got one more chance to alter the scoreboard as they tried to beat Ireland at their rolling maul game. The Irish defence held firm but Luther Burrell almost darted over for a try before Jamie Heaslip wrapped him up with a fine tackle.

©INPHO / James Crombie ©INPHO / James Crombie / James Crombie

The second half started with a blaze of Rob Kearney glory. The fullback ran from deep and crashed through the English defence at full pelt after receiving a Heaslip pop pass. Sexton added the extras and Ireland survived another close May call before clearing their lines.

The Irish rolling maul was getting into its groove and earned a penalty, which Sexton converted on 48 minutes to make it 10-3.

©INPHO / Dan Sheridan ©INPHO / Dan Sheridan / Dan Sheridan

England were not finished yet, though, and they responded through their forwards with scrum-half Care orchestrating their drives. They won a penalty in front of the posts and Farrell converted.

Worse was to follow for the visitors and England captain Chris Robshaw and the electric Brown combined to set Care up for a sprint to the sticks. He dived under the posts to round off an 80-metre attack and score. Farrell added the conversion and, with 25 minutes left, the hosts led 13-10.

©INPHO / James Crombie ©INPHO / James Crombie / James Crombie

Ireland looked to have worked themselves into position for a late rolling maul or a kick at the posts but England clung on and forced a turnover.

Dave Kearney burst up the left in the closing stages but Joe Launchbury connected with a crucial tap tackle and England closed out the game by squeezing out another maul on the halfway line.

©INPHO / Dan Sheridan ©INPHO / Dan Sheridan / Dan Sheridan

©INPHO / Dan Sheridan ©INPHO / Dan Sheridan / Dan Sheridan

Ireland: R Kearney; A Trimble (F McFadden), B O’Driscoll (P Jackson), G D’Arcy, D Kearney; J Sexton, C Murray (I Boss): C Healy (J McGrath), R Best (S Cronin), M Ross (M Moore); D Toner, P O’Connell (capt.); P O’Mahony (I Henderson), C Henry (J Murphy), J Heaslip.

England: M Brown; J Nowell, L Burrell, B Twelvetrees, J May; O Farrell, D Care: J Marler (M Vunipola), D Hartley (T Youngs), D Wilson (H Thomas); J Launchbury, C Lawes; T Wood (D Atwood), C Robshaw, B Vunipola (B Morgan).

Referee: C Joubert

How the Irish players rated after their narrow loss to England

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24 Comments
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    Mute Andrew Potts
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 6:51 PM

    What was the story with Joubert and the maul England can use blockers on theirs and bring it down from any direction on ours Once again Joubert refuses to ref the home team in the last ten.

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    Mute Patrick McCarry
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 8:47 PM

    I’m with you on that one. Paul O’Connell complained about that in his post-match briefing with us.

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    Mute Dan
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 6:41 PM

    The most disappointing thing is England didn’t do anything special we either needed to be faster or stronger and couldn’t manage it.

    54
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    Mute Shane Robinson
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 6:53 PM

    Very poor. Sloppy stuff. Expectations shattered yet again. Sexton awful, single handedly presented them with the momentum when we were on the ascendency.

    41
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    Mute Alan Seag
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 6:37 PM

    Still loads to play for.

    Italy should be a handsome win – if ireland are serious about making inroads in the wc they should be putting the demoralised italians to the sword.

    Then france who look awful again this year. Bring back the intensity we witnessed against the NZ and Welsh and the side could create a fairytale finish for BOD, in him breaking the world record for caps and claiming another championship.

    35
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    Mute seamus mckenzie
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 6:42 PM

    The Ref In the woman’s game is a disgrace. Currently, giving everything to England. Come on the girls.

    33
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    Mute Conor O'Brien
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 7:06 PM

    Is it just me or are we far FAR too lee in cross field kicking/kicking through? Seriously, for every instance where these tactics work there’s ten times when they don’t, I think sometimes we’d be far better just keeping the f*cking ball in hand and going through the phases…

    30
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    Mute Peter - County Arms
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 6:40 PM

    I hope Schmidt doesn’t have a blind spot when it comes to Sexton. Why did he bother selecting Jackson in the squad if he wasn’t going to put him on today? Love to see Madigan getting a start the next day.

    28
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    Mute Peter Sullivan
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 6:55 PM

    Madigan? Are you for real? The lad can’t make the Leinster team. A better game plan than we had today was required. Probing kicks behind the English rush defence. Garryowens, anything other than what we did for the last 20 mins today. Mindless rugby. Played into the English hands.

    36
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    Mute paddy heffernan
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 6:47 PM

    Are you serious? Madigan can’t even get into the Leinster team and you want him playing for Ireland!!!!!

    27
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    Mute Peter - County Arms
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 6:51 PM

    I think Schmidt should sit Sexton down and explain that whilst he’s obviously his first choice 10, he needs a break. starting Madigan against Italy would be the perfect match to rest Sexton and give Madigan the confidence to step up. Jackson is NOT the answer.

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 7:09 PM

    Neither is Madigan. …

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    Mute Shane O'Donnell
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 7:10 PM

    Seeing as some people here we’re trying to credit sexton’s great kicking against wales to o’gara’s coaching, does this now count as a mark against o’gara’s coaching?

    23
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    Mute John Craven
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    Feb 23rd 2014, 6:47 AM

    Harsh to knock a man who hasn’t even had a chance. Don’t think Madigan should start but certainly one for the future. Sexton is quality and clearly under instruction to kick yesterday. Execution was off but he can play any game

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    Mute Mark Lillis
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    Feb 23rd 2014, 1:07 PM

    JJ Hanrahan is Ireland’s future No. 10 not Madigan. Probably too soon for him now but for next years six nations and WC he should be there.

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    Mute Andrew Nolan
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 8:36 PM

    Why do we continue to hire world class coaches when armchair pundits on this site know what it takes to win games.

    27
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    Mute Cian O'Connor
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 6:46 PM

    Makes me sick….AND LOSING TO ENGLAND!!

    15
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    Mute Padraig Culbert
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 9:48 PM

    It was Andrew Trimble and Conor Murray who stopped the English try, not Peter O’Mahoney.

    14
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    Mute Adam Hoban
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 6:44 PM

    We will still leave BOD leave on a high by winning the six nations and it will get us in a good position for the Wc I thought a couple of our players played good BOD and POC

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    Mute Ger Gavin
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 7:54 PM

    You obviously know absolutely nothing about rugby

    7
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    Mute Matt Parker
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 9:08 PM

    Ireland have one of the best coaches in the world. But the team is ageing, particularly in the backs. The threat from the backs is not inspiring at all despite the fancy wrap arounds. The only moment of brilliance was the training ground move producing Kearney’s try.

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    Mute Aaron t
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 7:36 PM

    Absolutely gutted with that loss. I honestly thought Ireland would have that, living in England right now is not easy hahahaha getting destroyed by my English friends hahahaha

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    Mute Noel Dunbar
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 8:36 PM

    England are much further down the road than us but we will catch up by the time it matters, which is Rwc next year…. 6 nations rite now Is the equivalent of provincial championships …..

    The ” luv in”‘which is Irish rugby nite slow down a bit now.. So what we beat wales n Scotland at home…why not?

    When we start winning games when it matters then I think we have Mage progress … Can’t honestly think of one !!!!

    3
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    Mute Finn O'Gorman
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    Feb 22nd 2014, 11:50 PM

    All week long we have being hearing about winning the contestables today we did not win enough of them. Too many poor kicks that were deep and not giving chasers a chance. Also with the English rush defence there was plenty of open space in behind but we were too busy trying fancy wrap arounds rather than punching holes with “clever kicks” into space. Lets hope we learn from this move on and still win the championship.

    2
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