England come charging out of the blocks with three 7's in their pack and create chaos all over the pitch. The Ireland defence is slow to number up and cover behind and England score out wide. Smith converts 7-0. Should Prendergast have covered across faster?

Smith finally ships a card for multiple team offenses, but Ireland can't take advantage.

A Kelleher "score" for Ireland but the try is disallowed for holding in the ruck - as if this doesn't happen in most rucks! England defend extreme well and thwart a number of Ireland attacks. Lowe eventual breaks a Mitchell tackle and sets up Gibson Park who sidesteps Stewart to score. Unfortunately Prendergast's conversion hits the wrong side of the post. 5-7

Smiths slots an easy penalty for Van Der Flier caught the wrong side of a ruck. 5-10. Ireland have been getting slightly on top in a very fast and physical game, but the final pass isn't sticking. This is a different level to what Prendergast is used to. It's still anyone's game, but the next score could be crucial. There won't be much in it at the end...

h/t

Bealham is perhaps lucky to win a penalty off Genge but then the ref awards a scrum against Ireland on the five metre line despite Stuart being held up. Aki runs through Smith and scores in the corner. Itoje pushes Conan in the line-out and Prendergast nails the penalty 13-10. This is a game of tiny margins.

Small mistakes by Ireland allow England into the game, but neither side can make much headway. Chandler-Cunningham South tackles Keenan in the air. James Lowe makes a line-break and Beirne runs 20 metres outsprinting Stweart to score - and Crowley nails the conversion. 20-10. Murley fails to touch the ball down, and Ireland nearly score, but England turn it over. But it's nearly all Ireland now.

Ireland have lost hardly a line-out or scrum. Conan makes a clean line break, Lowe breaks another tackle, and Dan Sheehan makes the line - with Crowley nailing the touch like conversion. 27-10. Curry finally scores a well deserve try - England have been competitive for most of the match. Smith rushes the conversion. 27 - 15. Freeman breaks through in extra time to make it 27 -22.

This was a match which could have gone either way. England defended excellently in the first half, but Ireland found some gaps as the game wore on. Ireland win with a bonus point, but England deserved their losing bonus point. Jack Conan, Dan Sheehan, Henshaw, and Crowley were excellent off the bench and I can see both starting against Scotland. Jamieson Gibson Park goes one better than Dupont and wins MOTM!


Index of Frank's Diaries