Eire accomplished their fourth ever Six Nations Grand Slam with a 29-16 victory over England at a pulsating Aviva Stadium on Saturday, emphatically underlining their standing because the world’s prime ranked workforce heading into September’s World Cup.

The script couldn’t have been higher ready — an opportunity to seal a primary Grand Slam in Dublin on St Patrick’s Day weekend — and Eire delivered, though it was nervier than they’d have favored in opposition to an England facet lowered to 14 males for the whole second half.

England had been inside one level of an upset with 20 minutes to go however late tries from Robbie Henshaw, Rob Herring and a second for man of the match Dan Sheehan made positive of Eire’s fifteenth championship and fifth since 2009.

“You could not make it up, it is like dwelling in a dream. We did not play our greatest however bloody hell, what a workforce. What a gaggle of coaches,” Eire captain Johnny Sexton, enjoying in his last Six Nations recreation, stated in a pitchside interview.

“To return right here and get a win on St Patrick’s weekend, it is unbelievable. What a day.”

Andy Farrell’s facet had been effectively worthy of the clear sweep, having received each recreation by 13 factors or extra. They averaged 4 ties per outing and ended 2022 winners France’s 14-game unbeaten run alongside the way in which within the recreation of the championship.

England alternatively had been searching for to regain some pleasure after the document 53-10 house defeat by France final week they usually had been extra cohesive in profitable a few early turnovers and turned their strain right into a deserved 6-0 lead.

Whereas trying a transparent menace in assault, Eire had been making some uncharacteristic errors and captain Sexton sought to calm the nerves with a penalty on 19 minutes that additionally made him the Six Nations’ highest all-time scorer.

With England’s penalty depend ticking up as they sought to stem the tide, the breakthrough got here on 32 minutes. Josh van der Flier peeled off the again of a ruck, discovered Sheehan with a reverse move and there was no stopping the explosive hooker as soon as he had the road in his sights.

The larger turning level arrived eight minutes later although as Freddie Steward struck his reverse quantity, Eire fullback Hugo Keenan, with an elbow to the top whereas in an upright place and was despatched off.

If it appeared like Eire would cruise in the direction of a Grand Slam in Dublin, following success in Twickenham (2018), Cardiff (2009) and Belfast (1948), England had different concepts and one other Owen Farrell penalty after the break made it 10-9.

It took the attempt for Henshaw, beginning his first recreation of the championship, for the aid to unfold by the stadium with man of the match Sheehan’s second all however clinching a primary Six Nations title in entrance of their very own followers since 1985.

Jamie George grabbed a comfort attempt for England earlier than substitute Irish hooker Herring prolonged the lead once more.

The defeat consigned England to fourth place within the desk and a 3rd successive Six Nations with extra defeats than victories after profitable the championship in 2020.

France completed in second place with Scotland in third. Wales had been fifth and Italy completed final.