22nd February 2014
England 13-10 Ireland
I make no apologies for again starting a blog article by mentioning Brian O’Driscoll. This was the Irish legend’s final appearance at Twickenham, and he was equalling George Gregan’s world record of 139 international appearances. No doubt there was nothing the rest of his side wanted than to make his final season one in which they won the Grand Slam, and they could take a huge step towards that by beating England to win the Triple Crown today.
Ireland had the benefit of experience, but perhaps more importantly England were missing props Dan Cole and Alex Corbisiero through injury, and the common consensus was that if Ireland dominated the scrum, they would win.
England started strongly, and after seven minutes it looked as if Jonny May had gone over in the corner for a try, but the replay clearly showed him lose the ball to some great Irish last-ditch tackling. David Wilson was doing pretty well at prop for England, given his forty-six minutes of first class rugby in the last two months, but it was clear that Ireland had the stronger scrum.
Ireland also went close, and only some excellent defending from England thwarted them. It wasn’t the perfect half of rugby, as both sides missed the occasional chance, but it was by far the most impressive in the tournament so far. England took a 3-0 lead through an Owen Farrell penalty, a second attempt bounced wide off a post, and when the teams went in at half-time, England just about deserved their three point lead.
However, just two minutes after the restart, Rob Kearney scored under the posts from a fairly basic, but well worked move, Sexton converted, and the score was 3-7. Another Sexton penalty followed seven minutes later, but to their credit England did not collapse, and Farrell kicked a penalty to make it 6-10. Two minutes later and England scored the try of the match, Robshaw putting Brown through for the full-back then to pass to Danny Care who scored under the posts. The conversion made it 13-10, and the last fifteen minutes saw England defending their slender lead against a determined Irish assault. England’s forwards were always on the back foot, but to their credit the team kept its discipline, did not concede any penalties in danger areas, and held out for the win.
Sir Clive Woodward thought this the most important win so far of Stuart Lancaster’s tenure, and made this comment:
“Ireland are a very experienced, very well-coached team who had more possession, more territory, made more ball carries, burst more tackles and won more rucks and turnovers — but England deserved to win and they did so in style.”
It’s hard to disagree with that. Ireland are still probably favourites for the Championship, but England could do themselves no end of good by beating Wales to win the Triple Crown in two weeks’ time, and if Ireland should slip up...
DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on that sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Dylan Thomas
