GRAND SHAM England dreams die as Ireland pump up the volume

Jones’ men take title but Grand Slam hopes die in the Dublin rain

ENGLAND’s Grand Slam and worldrecord dream died in the Dublin evening rain as battling Ireland spoiled Eddie Jones’ party at the Aviva Stadium.

The visitors, looking to record back-to-back Grand Slams and a world-record 19th successive Test win, could not live with the Irish intensity in difficult conditions.

Iain Henderson’s first-half try proved the difference between the sides as the men in green repeated last year’s world record ending win over the All Blacks.

England were still crowned Six Nations champions but that will provide little comfort to a team who had their sights on making history.

Ultimately, they fell at the final hurdle as the pressure of the occasion proved too much to handle and Ireland took advantage with nothing to lose after a mixed campaign of their own, when they were beaten by Scotland and Wales.

Just as in 2011, the Irish were deserved winners against an England team who arrived with high hopes of completing a Six Nations whitewash.

There was to be no great escape this time for Jones’ men after their last-gasp wins over France and Wales earlier in the tournament.

England began the game knowing victory would see them become only the sixth team in history to claim back-to-back Grand Slams while breaking New Zealand’s world record of 18 successive Test wins in the process.

The last time they visited the Aviva Stadium in search of a Grand Slam they suffered a humbling 24-8 defeat six years ago.

Jones, who made two changes to the side which thrashed Scotland at Twickenham a week ago, had called on his players to embrace the opportunity to be remembered as one of England’s great teams in the lead up to the game

With fit-again Billy Vunipola restored to No 8 in place of Nathan Hughes and Anthony Watson back in place of Jack Nowell on the right wing, the English named their strongest side of the tournament so far.

Ireland, by contrast, had talismanic scrum-half Conor Murray ruled out injured. Connacht’s inexperienced but highly-rated No 9 Kieran Marmion deputised. Full-back Rob Kearney was also missing because of a knee problem, with Jared Payne starting at full-back.

To make matters worse for the home side, experienced No 8 Jamie Heaslip called off injured shortly before kick-off, meaning CJ Stander had to shift across the back row and Peter O’Mahony moved from the bench to blindside flank.

In slippery conditions, both sides found handling tricky, with full-backs Payne and Mike Brown both spilling the ball early on.

Ireland lost captain Rory Best for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) on nine minutes but England were penalised for offside and Johnny Sexton put the home side 3-0 up with a penalty.

Owen Farrell responded with his first penalty on 18 minutes as Ireland were boosted by the sight of Best returning after apparently passing the HIA.

The Irish then threw wave after wave of attack towards the visitors’ try line and were eventually rewarded when lock Henderson stretched over.

Sexton converted to make it 10-3 after 24 minutes. Ireland now had the bit between their teeth and they whipped the ball wide to Keith Earls on the wing. Only a combination of Elliot Daly and Brown stopped him adding to Ireland’s lead.

England struggled to hold on to possession as the hosts forced the visitors into a string of errors.

The visitors trailed 10-3 at the break and faced an upward battle to save their Grand Slam dream.

They began the second half knowing that if they were to pull off yet another great escape act, it would be the biggest yet under Jones.

The head coach threw on Mako Vunipola in place of Joe Marler at the break and Farrell kicked his second penalty on 51 minutes to close the deficit to four points.

England replaced captain Dylan Hartley with Jamie George. Centre Ben Te’o was also thrown on in place of George Ford and Tom Wood replaced James Haskell with 20 minutes left — but it was Ireland who scored next through the boot of Sexton.

At 13-6 down with 16 minutes left, Jones’ team had a mountain to climb, although Farrell narrowed the deficit to four points.

But when O’Mahony stole a vital line-out after England had kicked a penalty to touch, Ireland cleared their lines.

It proved England’s last chance as their Grand Slam dream died.