GREEN-EYED MONSTERED
Sexton: We got lucky they helped us... as red-faced England can only envy Ireland’s Grand Slam heroes
BY NERVY Ireland got over their finish line fever to make history at the Aviva Stadium. Record-breaker Johnny Sexton came off to a standing ovation six minutes from time – though not in the way he would have wanted, with the job not quite done and with a worrying looking leg injury. With the home fans’ emotions torn and frayed, their worries were allayed three minutes from time as Rob Herring, on for two-try man of the match Dan Sheehan, crashed over for the insurance score. It was a tight and tense, hard-earned victory over an England team reduced to 14 men for just over 40 minutes – and then 13 for the last four – as the hosts secured the Grand Slam for only the fourth time.
And, at the whistle, emotions surged on the pitch and all around Lansdowne Road, just as they had done for the rousing anthems before kick-off – and through a first half hour that had the expectant home support fearing the worst.
There was relief mixed with euphoria – Ireland had to battle the performance anxiety thought to have been banished from Andy Farrell’s set-up over the past year.
“We got lucky that they helped us. We made it hard for ourselves but this is what you dream of as a kid. I’m pinching myself,” said Sexton.
“We had a Triple Crown last year and we wanted to build on that. We talked about this day eight weeks ago. We got to the final. We didn’t quite nail it but we did enough.
“This is the best tournament you can play in and the best country you can play for. I’m so proud to be Irish.”
There was the inevitable kick in the Red Rose as they reacted to last week’s humiliation against France.
Add to that Ireland’s hugely uncharacteristic, error-strewn performance and it really was game on as the home side struggled to deal with England’s kicking game.
Even skipper Sexton, playing in his 60th and final Six Nations fixture, was off his game early on and the malaise spread across the team.
The 37-year-old delivered when it counted – not only by moving clear of Ronan O’gara at the top of the all-time Six Nations points list with a penalty and two conversions but also with a booming kick that led to Robbie Henshaw’s match-clinching 62nd minute try.
Sexton and Mack Hansen were turned over in quick succession and a lineout lost before Owen Farrell kicked England ahead after eight minutes.
Then glory was in Sexton’s sights when he took a quick tap penalty close to the visitors’ line, only for Alex Dombrandt to hold him up over the line. It was Farrell who
struck next when Andrew Porter was pinged for not rolling away for a 6-0 lead.
Sexton’s historic moment came in the 19th minute. Hugo Keenan tackled Henry Arundell in midfield and Porter won a turnover penalty. Sexton took aim and split the posts for the points record and received a standing ovation.
The tide finally turned when Ellis Genge was pinged for an off-the-ball foul in the 32nd minute and Josh van der Flier sent the rampaging Sheehan (above) into a huge gap and over for the try, putting his side ahead for the first time. Then, with the clock in the red at the end of the half, Freddie Steward went careering into Keenan that earned the full-back a red card. Farrell made it a one-point game in the 51st minute after Ireland were penalised for collapsing the scrum and the tension ratcheted up another level. But Jamison Gibson-park soon found Bundee Aki and he sent over his centre partner Henshaw, with Sexton nailing the conversion for an eight-point lead. That small bit of breathing space became a big one 11 minutes from time when Jack Conan’s precisely-timed pass put Sheehan over for his second try of the game.
Veteran Sexton nailed the tough conversion and threw his hands in the air in triumph.
But there was still work to do and England hit back through Jamie George’s converted 73rd minute try.
With England’s Jack Willis sent to the sin bin for his tackle on Ross Byrne, Herring breached the 13-man defence to clinch victory. IRELAND: Tries: Sheehan (2), Henshaw, Herring; Cons: Sexton (3); Pen: Sexton ENGLAND: Try: George; Con: Farrell; Pens: Farrell (3)