Six Nations: England 15 Ireland 24

Rory Best becomes the first Ulsterman to guide Ireland to a Grand Slam as Ireland overcame England 24-15 at a bitterly cold Twickenham.

Jacob Stockdale scored Ireland’s final try with Garry Ringrose and CJ Stander the other try scorers.

Nerves would have been expected but Ireland looked composed and without panic from the off – a major feature of this Joe Schmidt side. It took just six minutes for Ireland to open the score. Johnny Sexton launched a Garryowen deep into the English 22m and with Garry Ringrose and Rob Kearney bearing down on Anthony Watson, the English fullback made a mess of it, allowing the former Blackrock College player to score the first try. Admittedly, replays at half time did indicate that Kearney knocked the ball on.

In times gone by Ireland would have gone out with a whimper in matches such as these – who can forget the last day of the Championship when Ireland narrowly lost to France – but Joe Schmidt has instilled a confidence and swagger in tough games akin to England in the . . .

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