Match Thread #ENGvIRE

#6Nations #Rugby

#Ireland hunting for back to back grand slams, #England looking for a way to stop that from happening.

Game on! @rugby

@rugby quick points for Ireland, but England respond with a very dominant line up of 4 on 2 from a very forceful carry and it's almost too easy, looks like a bit of up front physicality upended Ireland's focus for a minute.
@rugby England try to play it a bit too clever inside Ireland's 22 but green shirts all over it, turn over ball and Crowley to clear. #ENGvIRE #Rugby
@rugby #ENGvIRE England seem to have the fast ball from hand and line speed, very agile. Curious to see if they can maintain that or if it's a big show of force for the first 20 and then back to their bag of tricks to find something new.
@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE Some good set piece from England, good hands, carries are powerful, and good thinking ball from Jamie George to not try to go all by himself. Ireland need to continue soaking this energy and monitor if it has staying power, just play the long game and wipe up in the second period of this half.
@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE No bias, looks like white knock on to me
@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE ref called play on from Irish counter ruck, then called Ireland offside. What'd I miss?

@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE

"picks him up a like a man bag" is a phrase I'm going to very cautiously try to use three times next week.

@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE

And here we are. Some might say Ireland haven't attacked much. I'd say they didn't need to.

England threw every ounce of energy they had at a relatively solid green wall, and wasted an opportunity or two.

With a few minutes to go, we are 8-9 and I'd have to assume Ireland have spent half as much sweat and oxygen.

England have owned the physicality, the dominance in contact, but down by a point.

@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE unlucky for Furbank, nice try.

@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE quick visit to the English half, quick three points.

England dominant on the field, Ireland ahead on the board.

#SomethingToThinkAbout

@rugby 4 minutes into the half and Ireland put a very reasonable try on the board. It's not the prettiest most exciting stuff to watch, but it's getting the job done.
@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE and, it almost pains me to say, England's response is far more entertaining phases, ball from hand, flowing across the field, good score.

@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE England a man up with O'Mahony off for hands in the ruck. Try scored, crowd in solid form swinging low etc.

20 minutes to go, I'm not convinced either side has this game figured out yet.

Easily could go either way IMO.

@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE good grief Itoje, what a player

@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE the see-saw continues.

Ireland score via James Lowe, conversion is missed so only two points in it.

6 and a half minutes to go.

@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE

woof, Daly elects to shoot at goal from just past the half way.

@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE

nope.

4 and a half minutes remaining, Irish drop out ball.

@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE

Time off with 65 seconds on the clock.

England are 2 points down, and they have a lineout inside the Irish half.

Oh boy.

@rugby #Rugby #6Nations #ENGvIRE

Wow.

Marcus Smith doinks a last gasp drop goal and England win by one point.

Call it however you want, England delivered.

back to back Grand Slam dream over, and some lessons learned I reckon.

#WALvFRA tomorrow so we can all sit back and watch in a slightly less frenetic fashion.

@jaz @rugby I almost didn't make an effort to watch it as I had some vague other plans and feared how painful it might be... I'm glad I did watch!
@jaz @rugby which isn't a position I expected to be in!