England 15 Ireland 24: Visitors outclass struggling hosts on St Patrick's Day to clinch third Grand Slam title

Tumult for one, calamity for the other. For Ireland the Grand Slam, thoroughly deserved with a slick, superbly-crafted victory, one that sent their supporters heading towards the bars to toast their emerald heroes with gallons of the black stuff. 

Rumour has it Ireland won the drinking games, too, with the Fields of Athenry echoing round the stadium long before the final whistle, Twickenham no longer a fortress but Party Central for those sporting green. Ireland owned the turf and, later, the Twickenham environs, a takeover mission that brought reward from morn ‘til dusk. 

For England, it was black stuff of a different order, a dark stain on their reputation. Jonny May’s added time try spared their being a record Irish win at Twickenham but it could do little to spare blushes.

It was not just the elements sending a bitter chill through the bones of English rugby, so too did this loss, their first at Twickenham in the championship in six years, a salutary and sobering turn of events. Their 2019 World Cup plans are in tatters, their morale shredded and their prospects bleak with three tests to come in South Africa in June.

It has been quite a fall from grace and the contrast was stark. Ireland were assured and potent while England were ragged and slipshod, infused by the wrong sort of desperation. In the closing stages alone there were several snapshots illuminating their current lack of poise and belief, Owen Farrell, firing one long pass straight into touch and moments later being swamped by what appeared to be a 100-strong mob of Irish shirts following another fumble.

It has been a horrible time for England, bewildering for their followers who had thoughts only of a supposed global shoot-out with New Zealand in November. The All Blacks will be sleeping easy in their beds.

Eddie Jones has gone from messiah to the man with his finger in the dyke as the water comes pouring through. The head coach made ten changes here (three positional) but the outcome was no different from that which it had been in Murrayfield or the Stade de France. Sure, Dylan Hartley, played a captain’s part while wing Elliot Daly, was busy and Farrell did as Farrell does, with heart and head aligned, his break and subsequent kick through creating Daly’s try in the 32nd minute.

But these were glimmers, sporadic upbeat bits of action. Ireland had far too much class, far too much collective understanding, too much cleverness in all that they did, to be unduly bothered by anything that England threw at them. 

They were in control from the moment Garry Ringrose touched down in the sixth minute. Grand Slams are never easily earned and, of course, they had to scrap and toil but there was an authority and purpose about them that England were never able to match. They were immense across the field, from Tadhg Furling in the front-row through their game-shaping half-backs, Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton to the sensation of this championship, 21-year-old wing, Jacob Stockdale, and his record-breaking seventh try of the tournament.

What an item Stockdale is, from novice to master in one exhilarating season, fast, eager, opportunist, living the dream. Ireland have a clutch of such talents, Ringrose, lock James Ryan, a team not just for now but also for the future.

England have to review all aspects of their game. Confident sides do not continue to get penalised. Confident sides do not compound error upon error. England were guilty on all charges. There were three infringements against them, for example, in the closing two minutes of the first half alone. Little things have big consequences. Ireland escaped from their half and within the blink of an eye, Stockdale had shown what a predatory force he is when touching down after a chip-and-chase in added time. Details matters. Ireland are masters of their brief.

England are in a rut of indecision and mental frailty. They had to come back strongly from Ringrose’s early try, show composure and clear heads.

They had a penalty shot well within the range of Farrell yet opted for touch. That was a dubious call but it was indefensible that Farrell’s kick still left them 15 metres from the Ireland try-line. It was no surprise that they were then turned over.

A free-kick for messing around with the lineout formation, Farrell miscuing a clearance kick straight into the back of James Haskell’s head, George Kruis knocking on – mistake after left England on their uppers, shorn of assurance and stability.

When the Gods are agin’ you, they show no mercy. Even Stockdale’s record-clincher would not have happened if England hadn’t inadvertently extended the in-goal area when painting new blue-coloured lines in anticipation of the snow.

England had done little to earn any good fortune, though, and when Sexton’s penalty pot in the 24th minute hit a post, they might have expected to have earned a reprieve. Not so. From the lineout, Bundee Aki carved through England’s defence following a lovely flip-on pass from prop, Furlong, the centre steaming towards the line and feeding his no.8, CJ Stander, who completed the job, Sexton converting.

It was a trough of misery for England, deepened when they made a mess of repeated pressure on Ireland’s line, enough to see Peter O’Mahony sin-binned for pulling down the drive, but on the fourth penalty lineout, England bombed the position by throwing too long. 

It was a gilt-edged chance and they did not take it. Ireland were sharp, relentless and decisive. England, quite simply, were not.

Nothing went their way and nothing deserved to. Right from the moment when Anthony Watson fumbled in the air from Sexton’s wicked kick in the sixth minute, jostled legitimately by that Gaelic-reared footballer, Rob Kearney, the ball falling to the turf and Ringrose being alert enough to capitalise, England fretted and frittered. TV replays suggested the ball had come off Kearney but the rub of the green was with the men in green.

England had too much ground to make up. Daly did get his second in the 65th minute with a smart out-the-back pass from Mike Brown and May’s late effort put a spin on the scoreboard but it was catch-up rugby and Ireland were too far in front. The day, and the Grand Slam, belonged to them.

5:10PM

Thoughts from Eddie Jones

"We have to keep working and improving our game. This is natural for a team to go through. It's not good, but natural. We gave them too many penalties at the start of the game.

"Ireland a good tough team, well coached, well disciplined and very worthy Grand Slam winners."

5:03PM

Grand Slam, Six Nations, Triple Crown... job done

5:00PM

Players coming up

There's Furlong, a quality Man of the Match today.

4:57PM

Rory Best reflects

"Words can't describe how happy we are with the result and the Slam. We had to build the moments on top of each other because we knew the reward would be worth the massive effort required.

"You have to give massive credit to the 30 odd players we have had in camp. We showed in a cup final today what we're made of."

4:55PM

Confirmation of the table

4:51PM

Horrorshow for England

To recap:

• England lose three NatWest Six Nations games in a row for the first time since 2006

• England lose at home in the Six Nations for the first time since 2012

• England lose at home for the first time under Eddie Jones (since January 2016)

4:49PM

IRELAND ARE GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONS!

They have been outstanding. On St. Patrick's Day, Ireland clinch their first Slam in nine years! A 24-15 win at Twickenham.

4:48PM

TRY MAY! England 15-24 Ireland

England's passing has been embarrassing. Another through the hands, but also another penalty. Desperate to end this championship on a high note.

Ireland's defence holds for now... but there's space out wide for May to go over in the corner. It took a phenomenal amount of work for just a consolation score.

4:44PM

79 mins - England 10-24 Ireland

England's intensity has gone up but it's obviously way too late. Murray penalised, but the ball is then trapped in the ruck meaning England have a five-metre scrum.

4:43PM

78 mins - England 10-24 Ireland

Furlong named man of the match and rightly so, after a great shift and a key pass in that Stander try. 

4:41PM

77 mins - England 10-24 Ireland

May with a half break before Ireland rally. England's passing has been poor today, if anything just pressing them backwards. Care tries to put Brown into the corner... but he's tackled into touch.

4:39PM

75 mins - England 10-24 Ireland

O'Mahony off for good now. Ireland's scrum splintering England, not for the first time. Chance to gain some territory.

As Earls and O'Mahony go off, worth thinking about just how long those players have been around waiting for this moment. Only Best and Kearney were in the side back in 2009. Nine years later, Ireland will have a new crop of Grand Slam winners to celebrate.

By the way, this (as things stand) is a record home Five/Six Nations defeat for England.

4:37PM

73 mins - England 10-24 Ireland

Earls limps off which is a real shame, he's had a superb tournament.

4:35PM

73 mins - England 10-24 Ireland

Irish bodies everywhere England look. Larmour hauls down Daly with England a bit lateral. Farrell's chip is easily fielded by Kearney. Daly then has the ball ripped out of his hands in the tackle and takes a knock. Ireland six and a bit minutes away.

4:32PM

71 mins - England 10-24 Ireland

Carbery pushes it to the left. England down by two scores. Surely, surely, Ireland have done enough. Launchbury on for Kruis.

4:31PM

70 mins - England 10-24 Ireland

Field of Athenry ringing out as Marler gives up a soft penalty. Carbery to take a shot.

4:29PM

67 mins - England 10-24 Ireland

Stockdale bounces off Brown all too easily before England get him into touch. That whole Irish attack stemmed from a Daly fumble chasing a kick. England with a lineout in their 22.

4:28PM

TRY DALY! England 10-24 Ireland

Ford and Farrell click. Slick passing and then an offload out the back from Brown puts Daly over for his second. Great offload by Brown. Farrell can't convert.

Sexton now off permanently for Carbery. Ryan replaced by Toner, England bring on Armand.

4:25PM

65 mins - England 5-24 Ireland

Looked like another broken England attack but O'Mahony is penalised. England kick to the corner. Best is replaced by Cronin.

4:23PM

62 mins - England 5-24 Ireland

Care on for Wigglesworth, Ford and Farrell trying to get Daly in space. His grubber though is well covered and Ireland will have a 22 dropout.

4:21PM

PENALTY MURRAY! England 5-24 Ireland

Well struck by the scrum-half, Ireland with a very healthy 19-point advantage.

4:20PM

60 mins - England 5-21 Ireland

Larmour - such an exciting prospect - nearly slips through. Ireland stopped short of the line, George pinged though for not rolling away. Murray, not Sexton, on penalty duty.

4:18PM

58 mins - England 5-21 Ireland

Brown pinged for not releasing Kearney. This is slipping away from England quickly. Sexton nudges the ball into England's 22. George on for Hartley. Larmour replaced Aki and is playing at 13.

4:16PM

56 mins - England 5-21 Ireland

Joseph off, Ford on for England. Back to the old 10-12 playmaker combo. England need that now chasing the game.

4:14PM

54 mins - England 5-21 Ireland

England turned over, Ireland hack clear with Te'o back to secure possession. Aki down for treatment by the looks of things. Play stopped and it looks as though he'll be heading off.

4:12PM

52 mins - England 5-21 Ireland

Great hit by Sinckler on Kearney and that will be his last act, heading off along with Vunipola to be replaced by Cole and Marler. Ireland pinged for obstruction at the lineout, allowing England to clear.

4:09PM

50 mins - England 5-21 Ireland

Scrum penalty Ireland, met with an almighty roar. The Slam is edging closer. Kicked to touch in England's half.

4:06PM

48 mins - England 5-21 Ireland

Good ground made by Ireland's maul before they clear. May hit but no penalty, Brown now trying to power through. Itoje's offload is then knocked on by Robshaw.

4:04PM

46 mins - England 5-21 Ireland

Penalty given against Daly. England come away with nothing, again. Ireland have their number.

4:03PM

46 mins - England 5-21 Ireland

Phases not an issue for England, but Ireland's defence is holding. Up to 15 phases now. Play stopped by the assistant referee Peyper for a possible neck roll.

4:00PM

44 mins - England 5-21 Ireland

Ireland clear. Still England's possession and territory though. They need points, fast. Few good carries by Vunipola and Sinckler.

Farrell hits Te'o, then flashes a wide pass to Daly, somehow avoiding the interception. Earls forces him into touch. What a tackle.

3:57PM

42 mins - England 5-21 Ireland

Nice nudge from Farrell for a chasing Daly, but the ball beats him into touch. Ireland with a lineout deep in their own 22.

3:56PM

Second half underway

Ireland 40 minutes from glory, and taking England's unbeaten record at Twickenham under Eddie Jones.

3:50PM

Superb Stockdale

In all the commotion, forgot to note this about Stockdale. The first ever player to score seven tries in one Six Nations. He's a freak.

3:48PM

Sir Clive Woodward suggests the first try should not have stood

The former England head coach says that Kearney knocked on. He might have a point.

3:45PM

Paul Hayward's thoughts

3:43PM

HALF-TIME: England 5-21 Ireland

What an insane half. Ireland have been so clinical yet again. Three tries up and cruising towards a third Grand Slam.

3:40PM

TRY STOCKDALE! CONVERSION CARBERY! England 5-21 Ireland

Looks as though Sexton is ready to come back on. But we might have another Irish try! Stockdale breaks, chip and chases down the touchline. Ball ricochets in the in-goal, Stockdale chasing... does he get there in time? He does!

Worth noting, England moved the dead ball line back deliberately for this game. You can see the old line on the screenshot (hit refresh). Had the line been in the old spot, the try wouldn't have been scored!

Replays from the TMO show no knock-on... what a score! England's tactic with the line backfires!

3:36PM

40 mins - England 5-14 Ireland

Itoje penalised for playing the man in the air for the second time. Ireland kick to touch, time for one last attack of what has been an excellent first half for the visitors.

3:34PM

38 mins - England 5-14 Ireland

England's maul goes nowhere, Ireland's pack working so hard to stop that. Itoje just couldn't get to ground, Henderson and Ryan all over him.

Ireland opt for another scrum after getting a free-kick. And they get a scrum penalty! Aki packing down at blindside there as well with O'Mahony now back on.

3:31PM

36 mins - England 5-14 Ireland

Carbery on for Ireland momentarily. Brown on permanently for Watson. Still a few minutes left on the O'Mahony sin-bin as well. Multiple phases for Ireland with not a lot of ground.

Brown scoops up a grubber before Wigglesworth clears well. Not the best reply from Earls.

3:27PM

TRY DALY! England 5-14 Ireland

Better by England, Farrell with a clean break. Five metres short but Joseph slips. England still pressing, Itoje knocked back short of the line. Vunipola nearly there... Farrell's kick-pass to the corner finds Daly! How they needed that. Brilliant kick by Farrell.

Farrell pulls the conversion to the left. Bad news however is that Watson appears to be heading off on a stretcher.

3:24PM

30 mins - England 0-14 Ireland

Hartley misses Robshaw! The lift not quite firing and Ireland clear their lines. Four big chances gone for England in that set. Sexton has a bit of claret.

3:22PM

YELLOW CARD O'MAHONY!

Another maul stopped illegally means O'Mahony sees yellow for illegally swimming up the side of the maul. England into the corner for the fourth time...

3:21PM

28 mins - England 0-14 Ireland

A better maul, somehow recycled under a pile of bodies right up on Ireland's line. England get tricky but Kruis knocks on... Henderson offside though and England get another penalty, going back to the corner.

3:20PM

27 mins - England 0-14 Ireland

England's maul stopped but they get another penalty. Back to the corner...

3:18PM

26 mins - England 0-14 Ireland

It's a penalty for leading with the shoulder, head on head clash. I'd say Aki's a touch lucky there.

England kick into the corner.

3:16PM

26 mins - England 0-14 Ireland

Off the restart England win the ball back. Wide pass to Watson gives him a chance but he's stopped short, doing well to stay in. Ball lost! Another England spill, Ireland's defence is ferocious.

Maybe too ferocious? Possible no-arms tackle by Aki on Daly.

3:15PM

TRY STANDER! CONVERSION SEXTON! England 0-14 Ireland

Itoje had taken O'Mahony out at the lineout before the break. Hartley asking the officials to check if the last pass was forward.

Stander clearly grounds it against the post, passes are good. Ireland totally dominant, England an utter mess.

3:13PM

22 mins - England 0-7 Ireland

Simple shot for Sexton but it's back off the right post! England clear. Sweeping Irish move off the lineout! Aki flies through, onto Stander who grounds the ball at the base of the post! TMO to confirm...

3:10PM

20 mins - England 0-7 Ireland

Bright touch for Joseph before Kruis spills an easy pass. Ireland with a lot of territory over the last ten minutes. Ireland penalty! Sinckler goes off his feet. Chance for Sexton to put Ireland 10-0 up.

3:09PM

18 mins - England 0-7 Ireland

Lots of scrum resets - four now in the first quarter of the match. Murray offside trying to pick the ball up, England can clear and do to just outside their 22. Furlong angling in the reason for the penalty actually.

3:05PM

16 mins - England 0-7 Ireland

Solid Irish scrum. Best driven back, Aki then getting over the 22. Great build-up this from Ireland, ten metres short.

Up to 17 phases but Aki drops it! England with a scrum backed up in their own 22.

3:01PM

14 mins - England 0-7 Ireland

Itoje goes offside, allowing Ireland to clear. Free-kick at the lineout... England's composure slipping already. 

Ireland trying to build phases around halfway but going nowhere, so Murray kicks low. Farrell clatters the ball into the back of Haskell's head with a kick... accidental offside. How apt is that? Ireland's attacking scrum.

2:57PM

10 mins - England 0-7 Ireland

Catch and drive from Itoje but Ireland splinter that maul and turn the ball over. Three points wasted. Ireland with the scrum in their 22.

2:56PM

9 mins - England 0-7 Ireland

Was it a tough kick? Very. Should Watson have done better? Yes.

England get a chance to hit back though after Ireland go off their feet at the ruck just outside their 22. Chance for Farrell. Nope, he'll go to the corner...

2:54PM

TRY RINGROSE! CONVERSION SEXTON!  England 0-7 Ireland

Second lineout take for Kruis before England clear. Sexton sends up a bomb right on England's line, Watson under it... he spills it! Is this an Ireland try? Kearney was there and looks to have knocked on before Ringrose grounds the ball. Or did Kearney knock on? This is a tricky one.

Ireland try! Ball wasn't knocked on, Watson failed to ground it... but Ringrose does! Ireland strike early.

2:50PM

5 mins - England 0-0 Ireland

Ireland clear after that deep lineout, Kruis rising next to give England possession. Late tackle by Farrell on Kearney after his clearing kick gives Ireland a penalty on their 10-metre line. Sexton to touch 30 metres out.

2:48PM

3 mins - England 0-0 Ireland

Stander's spill leads to an England clearance. No stoppages yet after a couple of kicks from both sides. Tap tackle on Murray in his own 22 forces Ireland to retreat. Slow, controlled, Murray then clears. Not to touch.

England back up to Ireland's 22. Daly drills a grubber into the corner.

2:45PM

We're underway!

Itoje takes the kick-off, Wigglesworth clearing with a box kick. Taken by Kearney, who slips a couple of tacklers. Ireland starting in England's half.

2:44PM

Kick-off seconds away

Gut prediction: Ireland to narrowly edge this. In recent weeks they have been incredibly efficient and there's more to come too.

Reminder of the teams, and England's seven changes.

2:42PM

Few tears for the Irish anthem

Jack McGrath, Rory Best doing well to hold it all in.

2:39PM

Teams in the tunnel

2:36PM

The snow is coming down

Apparently. How are your nerves, Ireland fans?

2:30PM

Scotland have got the job done in Rome

Latest here on Scotland's comeback win.

2:19PM

A pre-match chat between the two coaches

2:09PM

Tense final few minutes in Rome

Italy have been excellent but Scotland are fighting back. Latest here with Charlie Morgan.

1:58PM

Huge day for Rory Best

One of the 2009 Grand Slam survivors - Rob Kearney is the other - the Ireland captain has spoken about keeping the Twickenham crowd quiet as early as possible.

1:47PM

James Haskell back in the side, but for how much longer?

Maggie Alphonsi suggests that while Haskell is back in the starting line-up, this may well be his England swansong.

1:30PM

How can England derail Ireland's Grand Slam hopes?

Our columnist Will Greenwood has taken a look at how England can deny Ireland at Twickenham.

1:27PM

Blue lines

The prospect of snow in south-west London has led to Twickenham's line markings being painted a slightly different colour today rather than the usual white...

1:11PM

Welcome all

Afternoon everybody. Irish fans must have woken up with a few butterflies this morning. Facing England for the Grand Slam on St. Patrick's Day, at Twickenham. It makes one hell of a script.

Then again, it's not quite the title decider we hoped for between the new and former champions. That would have been quite something had both teams been gunning for the trophy on the final day.

Instead England are busy trying to right a bucket load of wrongs, starting with their ineptitude both at the breakdown and in attack.

Changes have been made in both the back row and midfield, with the returns of James Haskell and Jonathan Joseph plus starts in the pack for Kyle Sinckler and George Kruis.

Ireland on the other hand are impressively settled and nearly all of their players have had standout tournaments, particularly the half-backs Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton and the O'Mahony-Leavy-Stander back row.

Not forgetting breakout tournaments for Andrew Porter and Jacob Stockdale, and the way Ireland have handled disruption in the 13 shirt due to injury with Robbie Henshaw and Chris Farrell sidelined.

The scary part? Personally, I think Ireland are yet to fully fire. Perhaps their best performance will have been saved for last.