Irish raiders clean up
HAVING started six weeks ago with a last gasp drop-goal victory in the rain of Paris, Ireland’s journey to a third Grand Slam finished somewhat appropriately on St Patrick’s Day with a resounding win against the old enemy in snow flurries at Twickenham.
Hollywood scriptwriters would be hard pressed to put it together any better.
Joe Schmidt’s side dominated proceedings right from the off and gained just reward as early as the sixth minute when, following a terrific Johnny Sexton up-andunder, Rob Kearney forced an English fumble to allow Garry Ringrose pounce and score.
The Arctic-like conditions and swirling wind no doubt contributed to Sexton’s simple 35-yard penalty miss but Ireland were now starting to go through the gears and CJ Stander doubled our lead with a magnificent try straight out of Schmidt’s playbook.
Man of the Match Tadhg Furlong, arguably the best pound for pound tighthead in the world right now, defied rugby logic with his midfield wrap-around pass in the build up to Stander’s try.
The home side were thrown a lifeline on 32 minutes when Elliot Daly breached the Irish line following sustained England pressure and Peter O Mahony’s yellow card.
Reduced to 14 men I was hoping just to make it to the break without conceding again. But this was a special day and on special days, special things happen. Fortune favours the brave.
In the 42nd minute Jacob Stockdale breaks, chips and chases to the England line. A fortunate ricochet off his knee creates the opportunity and the big Lurgan winger bursts through two tackles to score our third try.
It’s worth noting that Stockdale’s score was only made possible by the Twickenham ground staff, for whatever reason (perhaps in anticipation of the snow), moving the dead ball line to extend the in-goal area. Amazingly 21-year-old Stockdale becomes the first player ever to score seven tries in a single Six Nations season.
England tried valiantly after the break to restore some pride but Ireland’s defence was resolute and only in the closing stages when the games was up did they cross for two consolation scores.
Long before then, the sizeable Irish crowd had already begun hugging and celebrating in the stands as The Fields of Athenry bounded around the bastion of English Rugby.
Captain Rory Best raised the trophy and Ireland’s third Grand Slam was complete.
Pre-Championship favourites England were condemned to fifth place in the table as we inflicted a third Six Nations defeat in a row. English coach Eddie Jones cut a forlorn figure afterwards as his ‘scummy Irish’ remark came back to bite him. SATURDAY’S result in Twickenham wasn’t the only success we enjoyed on English soil last week as the Irish raiders stormed the Cotswolds with 17 wins at the Cheltenham Festival.
Meath based Gordon Elliot retained the leading trainers title with eight winners over the four days edging out his great rival Willie Mullins who finished with seven.
Davy Russell took the leading rider’s crown with four winners including a spectacular day three treble. He finished level with teenager sensation Jack Kennedy who also rode four winners but had fewer placed finishes than Russell.
The highlight of the festival for me was Native River leading all the way to win the Gold Cup bravely holding off the challenge of Might Bite.
In an epic battle up the Prestbury Park hill it looked certain that Nicky Henderson’s charge would justify his favouritism but Native River with Richard Johnson onboard was not to be denied having finished third last year.
My few bob on the Colin Tizzard trained winner merely added to the excitement.