Ireland beat 14-man England to win Grand Slam

Ireland won their 4th Grand Slam arsenic they wore down 14-man England successful a tense Six Nations finale successful Dublin.

England's hopes of an upset were dashed erstwhile Freddie Steward was sent disconnected conscionable earlier half-time.

Robbie Henshaw and Rob Herring tries either broadside of Sheehan's 2nd of nan crippled ensured Ireland's first Grand Slam successful 5 years, and first won successful Dublin.

England, overmuch improved from their humiliating conclusion by France astatine Twickenham past week, scored a deserved second-half effort done Jamie George, but were incapable to propulsion disconnected a awesome upset and ruin Ireland's large day.

Despite being tested by a resilient English side, Ireland - arsenic they person truthful often done nether Andy Farrell - recovered a measurement to triumph arsenic they gave talismanic skipper Johnny Sexton nan cleanable send-off successful his last Six Nations match, moreover though his time ended early because of injury.

The full-time whistle was greeted pinch Irish celebrations astatine a jubilant Aviva Stadium arsenic nan location broadside delivered connected their immense promise, having entered nan title arsenic nan world's number 1 side.

• 'An utter farce' - guidance to Steward reddish card
• Grand Slam occurrence for illustration surviving successful a dream - Sexton

Irish nerves show successful first half

With nan imaginable of being confirmed arsenic champions earlier kick-off ended by France's 41-28 triumph complete Wales, nan hostility wrong nan Aviva Stadium was palpable from nan commencement arsenic Ireland plotted nan dream finale to a memorable campaign.

But while fewer gave England overmuch chance of spoiling nan Irish statement pursuing their record-breaking hammering by France past week, it was nan visitors who settled quicker.

Their reward was 2 penalties, some scored by Farrell, nan 2nd coming aft Alex Dombrandt stopped Johnny Sexton from scoring pinch a important tackle astatine nan different end.

Clearly nervous, Ireland were made to hold until nan 18th infinitesimal for their first score. But it was a large 1 arsenic Sexton thumped a punishment betwixt nan sticks to surpass Ronan O'Gara arsenic nan competition's grounds scorer.

While Sexton's record-breaking punishment settled a fewer nerves, Sheehan's people produced a monolithic roar from nan Aviva crowd, nan hooker crossing aft a well-worked set-piece that saw Josh van der Flier breaking from a line-out maul.

With Sheehan having fixed Ireland a much-needed changeable successful nan arm, things went from bad to worse for England connected nan cusp of half-time erstwhile Steward was sent disconnected aft colliding pinch Hugo Keenan.

After an Irish walk went forwards, Keenan stooped to prime up nan loose ball. The on-rushing Steward turned sideways astatine nan past infinitesimal and Keenan's caput collided pinch nan England full-back's arm, pinch referee Jaco Peyper ruling that nan interaction merited a reddish card.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, England refused to dishonesty down successful nan 2nd half, and moved to wrong a constituent erstwhile Farrell booted his 3rd punishment betwixt nan posts.

But Ireland managed to regain power and exerted capable unit to prise unfastened holes successful nan English defence, pinch Henshaw capable to gaffe done earlier Sheehan's 2nd people seemingly put nan hosts retired of England's reach.

Ireland break English guidance to seal celebrated triumph

Henshaw's effort alleviated hostility arsenic nan centre touched down to move Ireland 17-9 clear

To their credit, England continued to plug distant and scored their only effort erstwhile George collapsed over, but aft nan visitors' Jack Willis was sin-binned, replacement Irish hooker Herring stretched to people his first Six Nations effort and complete a celebrated triumph for Ireland.

While England caput coach Steve Borthwick tin return bosom that his broadside delivered connected their committedness to show much conflict than they did against France, a fourth-place decorativeness is simply a stark reminder of nan task facing Eddie Jones' successor.

In contrast, Ireland will now attack nan World Cup later this twelvemonth pinch relish arsenic they look to advancement past nan quarter-finals of rugby's quadrennial showpiece for nan first time.

That is each to come. For now, Ireland tin observe retaking their spot astatine nan apical of nan Six Nations.

Ireland's Grand Slam glory

Johnny Sexton bowed retired of nan Six Nations successful nan expansive mode by starring Ireland to nan Grand Slam

• Ireland person now won 4 Grand Slams pinch triumphs coming successful 1948, 2009, 2018 and 2023

• They person won 5 Six Nations titles pinch their different wins successful 2009, 2014, 2015 and 2018

• Andy Farrell's broadside group a caller nationalist grounds of 8 consecutive Six Nations wins, surpassing nan seven-game streak they group betwixt 2004 and 2005
• Ireland are connected a nationalist grounds tally of 14 wins astatine home

Analysis - what they said

Former England skipper Matt Dawson connected BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm proud of nan measurement England fronted up but they gave distant acold excessively galore penalties.

"Their ill-discipline kept giving easy shot to Ireland. A bully capacity by England but nan attraction should beryllium connected this tremendous Irish side.

"I conscionable cannot spot anyone beating nan Irish. They are caput and shoulders ahead.

"This Ireland squad person what it takes, not conscionable to triumph nan Six Nations, but nan World Cup arsenic well."

Former Ireland number 8 Jamie Heaslip connected Radio 5 Live: "It's a awesome time for nan Irish. They are a typical group pinch a different mindset to nan past. They are comfortable pinch being nan number 1 broadside successful nan world."

Ireland's way to nan Grand Slam

• 4 February: Wales 10-34 Ireland

• 11 February: Ireland 32-19 France

• 25 February: Italy 20-34 Ireland

• 12 March: Scotland 7-22 Ireland

• 18 March: Ireland 29-16 England

Line-ups

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Henshaw, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; Baird, Ryan; O'Mahony, van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Herring, Healy, O'Toole, Treadwell, Conan, Murray, R Byrne, O'Brien.

England: Steward; Watson, Slade, Tuilagi, Arundell; Farrell (c), Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Ribbans, Ludlam, Willis, Dombrandt.

Replacements: Walker, M Vunipola, Cole, Isiekwe, B Curry, Mitchell, Smith, Marchant.

Match officials

Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)

Touch judges: Ben O'Keeffe (NZ) and Pierre Brousset (FRA)

TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)

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