Ireland vs England

Ireland player ratings: A deathly hush around the Aviva Stadium set the tone for an eerily nervous opening for Andy Farrell's Ireland...

[Rob Herring](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/rob-herring/) chipped in with a well-taken 5-pointer. [Jimmy O’Brien](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jimmy-obrien/) made a big impact as did Jack Conan. Unlucky to get pinged for wheeling the scrum in the 29th minute. Fluffed his lines with a dud lineout throw but all was forgotten when he bulldozed his way over for a try that few hookers in world rugby would have finished. One to forget for the tighthead superstar. Like many off his teammates, the occasion got to Baird early doors, but he soon hit his straps. A return to form for England’s [James Ryan](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/james-ryan/) – 6 Another player who was trying to make things happen. Hardly vintage Sexton but he managed Peyper well and won the flyhalf ego battle with Owen Farrell. [James Lowe](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/james-lowe/) – 7 This did not look like the best rugby team in the world.

Andy Farrell's Ireland cemented their place as the world's number-one side with a bonus-point victory over England, sealing the Six Nations, Grand Slam, ...

45 mins to kick-off: A first Grand Slam since 2018, in a World Cup year no less, would cap off a brilliant few months for Andy Farrell and his side ahead of the tournament in France at 2023's end. The visitors have had a bright spell in the last few minutes and win a ruck penalty. Farrell comes back to kick the points, and notches three more over to extend the visitors' lead. 43 mins: Lowe takes a high ball and spits it out the back to Gibson-Park. 57 mins: Ireland pinch the ball from an England maul and Gibson-Park scampers into space. Sexton converts to add the two, and the hosts hold an eight-point lead inside the last quarter of the game! The ball is moved inside, before a fantastic Conan offload puts Sheehan over in the corner for his second of the game! It spins closer to the posts, and one final shove from the back sees George ground the ball! 79 mins: The stadium is roaring the chorus to Ireland's Call as full-time nears, and with their side confirming a Grand Slam at home for the first time in Six Nations history, this St. 80 mins: England do their best to keep the ball alive through Ludlam, and carries from Tuilagi and Slade. England closed the gap early in the second half before Ireland pulled away in the last quarter, with Henshaw, Sheehan and Herring all crossing in the same corner. From the maul, Josh van der Flier found a rampaging Dan Sheehan on his inside, and the hooker powered over to send Ireland into a 10-6 lead.