England outlast Ireland's resistance and stay on course for grand slam

The Guardian

12-04-2025

As the saying goes, it is the hope that kills you and that was definitely the case for the home fans here in Cork. Ireland's classy first-half performance displayed the team's remarkable uptick after having lost 88-10 to England in 2024. The hosts kept England from scoring until the 34th minute and they frustrated every area of their game.
Ireland's defence absolutely sparkled in the first 40 minutes and a try from their captain, Amee-Leigh Costigan, had fans, who created an absolutely electric atmosphere, daring to dream of the team's first win over their rivals since 2015. But this is the Red Roses and they are the No 1 team in the world for a reason.
England needed players to step up and the need for leadership was made clear by five of their leadership group having a huddle before entering the tunnel at half-time. It paid off with devastating attack rendering a dominant scoreboard come full time. At the heart of it was the vice-captain, Meg Jones, who finished off a try herself, and the player of the match, Maud Muir.
Abby Dow did not cross the line, but she had a good performance on her 50th cap. She has scored 43 tries and in the buildup to the game was described by the England prop Hannah Botterman as 'the best winger in the world, probably the best player in the world'. Dow was a thorn in Ireland's side and she is undoubtedly in the discussion for best player.
Ireland's early attacking sets were promising, with England doing just enough to keep them out, but it was their defence that was the most eye-catching element to their game. Their supporters let them know what they thought of it with rapturous cheers coming at every turnover and penalty won.
The defence was ferocious and Eve Higgins was just one player outmuscling the visitors at the breakdown. With 19 minutes gone, Ireland had missed two of 47 tackles, evidence of their class work.
The hosts were undeniably on top, but they had not managed to render a difference where it mattered on the scoreboard. That was until Costigan raced after a grubber kick to dot down. It was the first time an Ireland player had scored a try against England since Claire Molloy in 2018 as their tries in 2019 and 2024 were penalty tries.
The scrambling to find the last time England went into half-time trailing was quickly abandoned with Morwenna Talling finishing off a deadly driving maul. The successful conversion by Zoe Harrison pushed them into a 7-5 lead.
There is no doubt this was the most England had been pushed in the Six Nations for a long time and it showed with the gathering of the leadership group. That included the captain, Zoe Aldcroft, Jones, Harrison, Abbie Ward and the scrum-half, Natasha Hunt, as they tried to find solutions for the second 40.
The wing Jess Breach thought she had England off to the perfect second-half start with a try but a TMO check showed her foot was in touch thanks to a cracking tackle by Costigan.
The Red Roses were throwing everything at Ireland to get their usually devastating attack into gear but a knock-on by Lark Atkin-Davies rendered more cheers from the crowd, the loudest coming from the Ireland replacement hooker, Cliodhna Moloney, who was still on the bench.
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The first major error from Ireland came when Niamh O'Dowd was shown a yellow card for repeated infringements.
The England full-back, Ellie Kildunne, also dropped the ball in the in-goal area but as they say, all good things come to those who wait and England were over through Harrison.
A slick team try came next, which was finished off by Jones, and the replacement prop Sarah Bern added two more.
Kildunne then found her score and another replacement prop, Kelsey Clifford, rounded off the tries.
Despite the one-sided final score England were given a shock to the system in this match and there is definitely more to come from Ireland.
England extended their winning run in this competition to 32 games. They are seeking a seventh Six Nations title in a row and host Scotland in Leicester next Saturday and France the week after at Twickenham. Ireland face Wales at Rodney Parade next Sunday.