England produced a magnificent performance to claim a 23-22 victory over Ireland and end the visitors’ hopes of back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams.
Marcus Smith scored a perfect drop goal in the dying moments of the thrilling clash at Twickenham to send the home fans wild.
Steve Borthwick’s side had stressed the importance of recovering from their last game defeat against Scotland at Murrayfield.
The victory will be a welcome relief for the England manager, who faced criticism following that defeat two weeks ago.
Mail Sport’s CHRIS FOY was at Twickenham and breaks down some things you may have missed from Saturday’s game.
A last-gasp Marcus Smith drop gave England a 23-22 victory over Ireland at Twickenham.
The fly-half’s effort capped a thrilling Six Nations clash on Saturday night.
Ireland’s hopes of a second successive Grand Slam triumph were surprisingly dashed.
Handshakes for Care’s magical milestone
When Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony walked into the Twickenham tunnel ready for kick-off, he looked very serious and serious.
But even the tough, focused Munster wing took a moment to shake Danny Care’s hand. The scrum-half was about to emerge with his three children to acclaim before becoming just the sixth England player to make 100 Test appearances for his country.
Care is a popular figure in the game and more than deserved the special occasion. He was smiling and bumping fists with fans as he entered the west car park with his England teammates and was soon hugging people and stopping to take selfies inside the stadium. Television cameras captured Care sitting next to Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, before his first England start, in the dressing room, where they were leafing through the matchday programme. A proud day for the couple, at different ends of the spectrum of experiences.
Danny Care marked 100 caps for England in the victory over Ireland at Twickenham.
A tale of two head coaches
It was fascinating to watch the two head coaches during the build-up to this matchup, as there was a clear contrast as the team’s warm-ups took place. Andy Farrell was a keen observer as his Irish team prepared: he watched, often with his hands in his pockets, as his assistants went through practice drills.
It all seemed very skilled and well trained, allowing the man in charge to keep his distance. Meanwhile, Steve Borthwick was busy and directly involved in the middle of England’s warm-up; he would often grab a ball and run near his players, shouting instructions. He had much closer personal control over the proceedings than his counterpart.
Steve Borthwick was busy and directly involved amid England’s warm-up ahead of the clash.
Owen on the edge of his seat
There was no family conflict for the Farrells this time, as Owen was not playing for England, having opted to step away from Test rugby after the recent World Cup. However, amid a prolonged break in the club’s season, the veteran Saracen fly-half was present here.
He appeared on the big screen during the anthems, sitting on a stand next to his clubmate Mako Vunipola. Not long ago, both men would have been at the center of the hosts’ resistance, but now they stood by, powerless to have an impact on the proceedings. It must have been a strange experience.
Former England captain Owen Farrell was spotted in the crowd on Saturday night, having decided to step away from Test rugby last year.
Halftime entertainment with a twist
There has been a concerted attempt to improve the Twickenham matchday experience this year and no doubt a considerable sum was invested in recruiting the huge figure of Rag’n’Bone Man for a half-time performance on the pitch.
The singer certainly added a splash of sartorial color to a stage known for the Barbours and the Chinese, and it’s unlikely anyone with more facial tattoos has ever graced the hallowed turf. Meanwhile, Netflix crews continue to follow the teams and also their nearest and dearest, as cameramen followed Joe Marler’s family in the parking lot before this game.
There were the usual access difficulties for those entering and leaving Twickenham on Saturday.
Access almost denied: a persistent reality for bettors
Unfortunately, there were the usual access difficulties for those entering and leaving Twickenham on Saturday. As always, there were traffic jams on local roads and problems with overflowing car parks, even two or three hours before kick-off, in addition to the typical long queues to get to the train station after the game.
If the RFU were starting from scratch now, let’s face it, it would never occur to them to locate their national stadium in a busy residential area of south-west London. It just doesn’t work.