Holders Ireland seal bonus-point win over England

Men’s Six Nations

Ireland (5) 27

Tries: Gibson-Park, Aki, Beirne, Sheehan Cons: Crowley 2 Pen: Prendergast

England (10) 22

With a bonus-point victory over England in Dublin, Ireland won the Six Nations tournament for the third time in a row with three tries in a dominant second half.

A late score from England debutant Cadan Murley earned the visitors a deserved lead at the break as the hosts struggled out of the blocks.

The champions’ only score in the opening 40 minutes came from a well-worked Jamison Gibson-Park try, but second-half tries from Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne, and returning hooker Dan Sheehan secured the victory in Simon Easterby’s debut as Ireland interim head coach.

Steve Borthwick’s England manager has lost six of his Test matches, and Maro Itoje has lost both of his matches since replacing Jamie George as captain.

England, like at Twickenham last year, started strongly, bloodied Ireland’s nose and deserved their half-time lead.

It was hardly surprising when Murley made his debut in style by pouncing on Henry Slade’s perfectly weighted grubber kick to give England a nine-minute lead after Ireland was prevented from finding an early groove.

Ireland needed England’s help to awaken.

The hosts slammed on the door and broke through when Ronan Kelleher dived over the line while facing an English defensive unit that was ruthless and fiercely determined.

Irish celebrations were cut short, however, when the try was ruled out after Beirne was spotted holding on to Itoje’s boot at the ruck.

By placing Ben and Tom and Ben Earl in the back row, Borthwick added speed and mobility. In the opening period, all three impressed, making a speedy and inventive debutante debut for England.

But Ireland were thrown a much-needed lifeline when Marcus Smith was yellow-carded for an offside.

Ireland’s cause received a positive boost when James Lowe shook off Alex Mitchell and passed to Gibson-Park, who round Freddie Steward and finished in the holders’ favor. England largely coped admirably without their fly-half.

Ireland regained its dominance after the break when Aki blasted his way over the line to equalize.

After a second-half penalty misses Prendergast, who was given the nod at fly-half ahead of Jack Crowley, rallied to score a long-range penalty to give Ireland a 15-minute lead.

After conceding his earlier error, Beirne made amends for the Irish’s ascendancy, finishing in a move that involved ardent winger Lowe and Gibson-Park, who both had to be industrious.

Eight minutes from time, Ireland won the bonus point with the assistance of head coach Andy Farrell, who is currently playing for the British and Irish Lions.

Replacement hooker Sheehan completed a flowing move to put the outcome beyond doubt and mark his stylish return from a serious knee injury, which also drew the loudest roar of the day.

Ireland won their 26th home Six Nations game thanks to Tom Curry and Freeman, but England eventually cut the gap thanks to the impressive Tom Curry and Freeman.

Replacements: Sheehan, Healy, Clarkson, Henderson, Conan, Murray, Crowley, Henshaw.

England: Steward, Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Murley, M Smith, Mitchell, Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Martin, T Curry, B Curry, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Baxter, Heyes, Chessum, Cunningham-South, Willis, Randall, F Smith.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)

Touch judges: James Doleman (New Zealand) &amp, Hollie Davidson (Scotland)