This was an ideal start to the Six Nations for Ireland — a tough match that showed they are back to something like the team they were last summer.
Despite winning the championship last year there were only two performance in 2024 that felt like Ireland met their own, now remarkably high, standards. The Six Nations opener in France and when beating South Africa in the second Test in the summer. The rugby public, commentators and players alike seemed unfulfilled by the autumn series, which included a defeat by New Zealand. But this was a return to form.
After that difficult autumn for Ireland, the expectation that they would immediately play their best rugby and England would allow them the freedom of the Aviva was simply not realistic. There was never any fear of England coming to Dublin and rolling over. England came with a game plan, which worked for long periods of the first half.
They clearly wanted to play in Ireland’s half, kicking a huge amount of ball both on the ground and in the air. Marcus Smith started the game by slipping a few balls behind the Irish defensive line, which left Ireland scrambling. This tactic ultimately led to the first try for Cadan Murley, albeit with Henry Slade providing the assist. However, it was Murley’s back-three partners, Freddie Steward and Tommy Freeman, and their domination of Ireland in the air that was even more impressive in that first period.
Prendergast’s variety of passing and timing looked good on his Six Nations debut for Ireland
GETTY
Before the game, Steward had talked about taking inspiration and technique from Aussie Rules. He wasn’t catching it on his chest in the traditional manner but going up very often with hands overhead. When combined but accurate box-kicking from Alex Mitchell and up-and-unders from Smith, the result was he either came down with the ball or knocked it back to a supporting Englishman. In contrast, Ireland’s kicking was a little loose, something that was exploited by the England back three, and Smith dropping back, all primed to counterattack hard.
During this period and while not playing at their best Ireland showed huge determination to stay in the fight; in the second 20 minutes Ireland were getting to grips with territory and were the ones playing more rugby. Sam Prendergast, in his first Six Nations match at fly half, demonstrating his passing ability. His trademark delayed pass and quick transfer caused the opposition major issues.
Ireland might have been better served by taking some of the penalties on offer, but their ambition was commendable and they clearly trusted their game plan. They went in at half time 10-5 down and did not yet look in control. The Aviva Stadium felt nervous, and so was I.
But there were clearly calm heads in the dressing room. In the second half the kicking game turned on its head. Ireland took a bit off their kicks and so competed better. Added to this Murley made two really quite disastrous errors in the backfield. That opening 15 minutes of the second half was very positive for Ireland and coincided with England becoming indisciplined.
Ireland’s passing game was starting to play dividends and the bench had a huge and immediate impact. Dan Sheehan had three touches of the ball in setting up his own try but all the subs played their part.
Prendergast had a pretty fine game — his variety and timing of pass looked good and his ability to move the ball across his body in a single movement while moving forward was particularly on show for Bundee Aki’s try, a truly amazing finish that changed the tone of the entire game.
Jack Crowley came on and dealt magnificently with the challenge and the pressure that had to come from not starting. He didn’t put a foot wrong. He was composed throughout and mixed up his game beautifully. We’ll watch with interest to see how those two careers continue in parallel in the weeks, months and years ahead.
England had been incredibly physically committed in the first half but they looked like they had shot their shot and in the second half appeared gassed out. And when Steve Borthwick made his changes, the England subs had nothing like the impact that Ireland’s did.
The calculated risk of a back row that are essentially all sevens worked to an extent in the first half. They were super physical and slowed Ireland’s ruck ball at times, but there was a huge cost — their selection meant England never really challenged Ireland at lineout time, an area that has been Ireland’s Achilles heel and the blueprint for how to beat them for really quite a while now. But England never pursued that strategy as they hadn’t picked the team to do it.
Crowley dealt well with the pressure on him after coming off the bench
BRENDAN MORAN/SPORTSFILE
Instead they went for a very physical ground game and aerial bombardment that ultimately wasn’t enough to beat an Ireland team that had a much better balance to their game, the more sophisticated play and the greater ambition.
This weekend has set up what looks to be an absolutely blockbuster in the next round of matches. The Italy game against Scotland was a threat for Scotland given how Italy have developed in the past couple of years. They didn’t deliver in Scotland but the Scots will have felt that it was maybe better for them to have suffered some adversity and come through it.At the outset of the championship, having watched Ireland’s autumn series, they will have identified this home game a very winnable. They’ll still think that, but perhaps more cautiously now.
It’ll be difficult for England to dust themselves off for the looming threat of France led by Antoine Dupont, who was borderline unplayable on Friday night against Wales. England scored a couple of soft tries towards the end but that masked what will have felt like a bit of a hiding for them.
And what an interesting game it will be in Rome. Wales were extremely disappointing against France but there was grit in it, and pride. They will be very aware that this is the big one for them.
This is why you love the Six Nations — just two days in and there is already so much drama.