Ireland destroy England with record Twickenham score in Six Nations Championship clash

PACE and power on the pitch. Shock and awe in the stands. 

Ireland recorded their biggest ever margin of victory in Twickenham as they taught England a rugby lesson. 

The 42-21 victory eclipsed the 17-point winning margin Ireland racked up against 14-man England in London four years ago. 

But Ireland did not just dominate on the scoreboard. They dominated every part of the game, and they dominated in the stands too. 

Just past the half hour mark, Twickenham reverberated with the sound of ‘The Fields of Athenry’ rather than the usual ‘Swing Low.’ 

It was 22-0 to Ireland and England had just had Frreddie Steward sinbinned. 

No one could quite believe it and the Irish fans sang to recognise the best performance in years. 

After all, this was the team that were trailing 29-0 to France just over two weeks ago before two late tries made it respectable, and were hanging on against Italy seven days ago.

But today, everything worked. 

The much maligned scrum was solid, the lineout hummed, and Joe McCarthy put two indifferent displays behind him to help the pack get the upperhand. 

Behind them Jamison Gibson-Park – dropped last week against Italy – responded with a brilliant display and try while Jack Crowley pulled the strings. 

But it was on the wings where Ireland really lit up Twickenham as the pace of Rob Baloucoune and replacement Tommy O’Brien made the difference.

They had a try each by the half-hour and had other big moments as England were made look pedestrian by Ireland’s two flyers.

O’Brien’s try that made it 22-0 summed it up.

Baloucone drifted to the left flank, accelerated and skipped over a tackle before feeding O’Brien outside him whose acceleration was even quicker as he touched the ball down.

And by then, England knew what to expect as the Ireland wing show had been on full display following O’Brien’s arrival for the injured James Lowe after 19 minutes. 

Ireland were already 10-0 up by then thanks to an early close range Jack Crowley penalty and opportunistic Gibson-Park try when he took a quick tap and go penalty.

But Leinster flyer O’Brien instantly let everyone know he was in the game when he chased a high ball and challenged Steward who spilled it to Gibson-Park to run over. 

The referee ruled it out saying O’Brien had challenged Steward unfairly – it was debatable – but it did not impact Ireland’s confidence. 

Moments later, Baloucoune showed a clean pair of heels to Henry Arundell on the right to get Ireland into the 22 with O’Brien also heavily involved. 

And the Ulster man got the try he deserved after a great line break by Stuart McCloskey before Gibson-Park fed Baloucoune to walk the ball over the line. 

Steward was also yellow carded for a failed cynical attempt to stop Gibson-Park getting the ball out to the Ulster winger as Ireland were in the dreamland. 

But while Ireland were exceptional, they were also more than helped by some horrendous England play too. 

Twice George Ford had penalties to kick for touch and missed on both occasions when Ireland were really under the cosh.

England’s attack seemed too based around brute force getting them over the line with a lot of expected of bright young thing Henry Pollock. 

And when they did have half-chances, there were poor handling errors. 

The hosts dominated possession and territory in the first half but their only score came right on half-time when Fraser Dingwall went over with Ford adding the conversion.

But if England hoped that would spark a fightback, they were put back in their place quickly in the second half. 

Dan Sheehan got a try from close range after Ireland went through the phases following an initial linebreak from captain Caelan Doris, with Pollock sinbinned for indiscipline in the build-up.

England were a beaten docket but still kept going as Ollie Lawrence scored a try on the hour mark as Jamie Osborne was yellow carded. 

But Crowley kept the scoreboard ticking over for Ireland before Osborne, back on, finished a brilliant team try as they worked the phases inside the England 22 to add their fifth score.

That was the signal for Twickenham to start emptying out with thousands already queuing at the train station when Sam Underhill went over for England’s try. 

But it was Ireland’s day. No late England consolation scores could take that away from them. 

England 21

Ireland 42

Scorers

England

Tries: F Dingwall, O Lawrence, S Underhill 

Cons: G Ford 2, A Mitchell 

Pens:

Ireland

Tries: J Gibson-Park, R Baloucoune, T O’Brien, D Sheehan, J Osborne 

Cons: J Crowley 4

Pens:J Crowley 3