Ireland on Saturday came from behind as they launched their bid for an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title with a hard-fought 27-22 win over England in Dublin, while a hat-trick of tries by Huw Jones inspired Scotland to a 31-19 victory over Italy in Edinburgh.
The reigning champions trailed 10-5 at halftime at Lansdowne Road, but tries from Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne and Dan Sheehan put a seasoned Ireland side into a seemingly commanding 27-10 lead before Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman went over for England late in the game.
The bonus-point win was an ideal way for Ireland to mark interim coach Simon Easterby’s first game in charge, with Andy Farrell now seconded to the British and Irish Lions.
Photo: Reuters
Defeat added to the pressure on England boss Steve Borthwick following a poor run of results last year.
“It was a little patchy to begin with but we produced some nice stuff in the end,” Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, the player of the match, told ITV. “We improved our accuracy and things stuck better in the second half.”
Defeat meant England — who have not finished higher than third since they last won the Six Nations in 2020 — lost in their first Test under new captain Maro Itoje.
Photo: Reuters
“I thought the first half was fantastic and we did everything we wanted to do,” Itoje said. “The second half we lost the territory a little bit and we struggled to get out.”
England lost seven out of 12 Tests last year, but were the only side to beat Ireland in the 2024 Six Nations.
Ireland endured a stuttering opening 40 minutes, with 21-year-old fly-half Sam Prendergast struggling to impose himself as England led 10-5 at halftime after a try by debutant wing Cadan Murley.
However, an Ireland team full of seasoned campaigners hit back to score 22 unanswered points to give the hosts a four-try, bonus-point win.
“It is definitely satisfying” getting the win, Ireland captain Caelan Doris told reporters. “It’s huge in this competition, you can’t win it in the first round, but you can lose it or dampen it essentially.”
Meanwhile, at Murrayfield Stadium, two of Jones’s tries in the second-half secured the hosts victory — with a bonus point to boot — after Italy had battled back from 14-0 down to level at 19-19.
The Scots are at home to two-time defending champions Ireland next weekend, while Italy host a Wales side nursing their wounds after a 43-0 thrashing by France.
“I’m pretty happy,” Jones said. “It’s not every day you manage to get on the end of three so thanks to the boys for setting me up. I don’t want to say that our confidence is sky high, we’re happy with the win today, but our focus is on taking it week by week.”
Manchester City have reached do-or-die territory in the UEFA Champions League earlier than expected ahead of what Pep Guardiola has described as a “final” against Club Brugge today. City have disproved the suggestion a new format to Europe’s top club competition would remove any jeopardy for the top clubs as Guardiola stares down the barrel of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in his career. The English champions have endured a torrid season both in their English Premier League title defense and on the continent. A run of one win in 13 games, which included Champions League
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about ￡2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
Less than a week after splashing out a world-record fee for Naomi Girma, Chelsea has spent big again to bring England midfielder Keira Walsh back to the English Women’s Super League. Walsh left European champions Barcelona after more than two years to join Chelsea for a reported ￡400,000 (US$496,000) on Friday. Walsh was the world’s most expensive player for two years after moving to Barcelona from Manchester City for a reported ￡400,000 in 2022. That status now belongs to Girma, the US defender who cost Chelsea a reported ￡900,000 to sign from the San Diego Wave. Still, it means 27-year-old Walsh — a technically
Ousmane Dembele on Wednesday scored a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain romped to a 4-1 win at VfB Stuttgart and qualified for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. PSG were at risk of elimination after a disappointing league stage, with three losses and a draw, but were utterly dominant against an outclassed Stuttgart side as they confirmed their place in the playoffs. With six minutes gone, Bradley Barcola headed PSG in front after Desire Doue stood a cross up at the back post following a corner. Stuttgart probed for an equalizer, but PSG hit on the counterattack, Dembele tapping a Barcola pass into an
RSS