Ireland early contenders to dent All Black hopes

CARDIFF (United Kingdom): Ireland emerged deserved Grand Slam champions but New Zealand will likely not be quaking in their boots at thought of competition from other Six Nations teams come next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan where the All Blacks will be bidding for a third successive title.

Ireland, expertly guided by Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt, saw off England on Saturday to secure a third Grand Slam.

Eddie Jones saw his record as England coach go from 24 wins from 25 Tests to 24 from 28 after successive losses to Scotland, France and Ireland that left the English with their worst Championship finish since 1983, above only winless Italy in the standings.

“If you think you’re in a good place, that’s probably the time to start worrying,” Jones had predicted before the tournament.

Wales snatched second place after an unconvincing victory over France while Scotland’s win in Italy secured third place ahead of the French.

“It’s hard for it not to be the high point, because right here, right now it’s a little bit of history for us,” Schmidt said of his team’s achievement, capping a 12match winning streak.

“It’s a really neat story of a year that has managed to see us win every game that we played which is incredibly special.”

Schmidt, who led his team to a first-ever victory over New Zealand in November 2016, has cleverly blended veterans like leading halfback pairing Jonny Sexton and Connor Murray, fullback Rob Kearney and skipper Rory Best with the youth of James Ryan, Garry Ringrose, Dan Leavy and Jacob Stockdale.

The tournament as a whole was generally a tight, competitive one, and Sexton’s last-gasp 42-metre drop-goal after 41 phases to win in Paris was the pivotal moment.

That slice of brilliance was not repeated by England, whose lack of a mobile openside flanker and the absence of powerful ballcarrying No 8 Billy Vunipola meant for a chronic time at the breakdown.