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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
