Irish win denies England grand slam
Source: Agencies |
March 21, 2011, Monday
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ENGLAND was crowned the Six Nations champion for the first time since 2003 despite having its grand slam hopes destroyed by Ireland on Saturday.
The English were thrashed 4-24 in Dublin, denying them a clean sweep of five victories and leaving the door ajar for Wales to steal the title from its fiercest rival on points difference.
Wales had to beat ousted champion France by 27 points or more in Paris but lost 9-28, allowing England to celebrate its 26th northern hemisphere championship and fourth since the competition expanded to six teams in 2000.
"It's a reward for the steps we've made but the squad is very disappointed," said England No. 8 Nick Easter, who was the stand-in captain at Lansdowne Road. "I don't want to sound ungracious but we missed out on the big one today."
France, Wales and Ireland all finished on six points but the French claimed second place on points difference, with the Irish coming third.
Italy came last for the ninth time in 12 years by losing 8-21 to Scotland at Murrayfield.
It was a bittersweet final day of the championship for England and its coach Martin Johnson, who was captain eight years ago when the team smashed Ireland 42-6 away to clinch its 12th grand slam.
The English went on to win the World Cup that year but the William Webb Ellis Trophy looks a long way off on this display, even though they will go into this year's tournament in New Zealand as the leading side in the northern hemisphere.
"This is a scar and we'll have to wear that scar. I told the players we'll take this on the chin. We were beaten by a good team, an experienced team," said Johnson, whose side celebrated the title from the confines of its team hotel in the Irish capital.
Ireland was irrepressible in front of a fired-up crowd, producing easily its best display of the competition.
No one typified the team's passion more than captain Brian O'Driscoll, who scored one of Ireland's two tries to take his overall championship tally to 25 - a new record.
That score, converted by flyhalf Jonathan Sexton, came in the 47th minute and put the hosts 24-3 up. A 55th-minute interception try by replacement hooker Steve Thompson was a mere consolation for England.
Winger Tommy Bowe grabbed Ireland's other try, in the 28th, as the team went into halftime 17-3 up. Sexton kicked 14 points in an impressive all-around display.
Wales was unable to capitalize on England's slip-up as it was soundly beaten by France, which bounced back well from its embarrassing 21-22 defeat to Italy last weekend.
"We just didn't turn up mentally," said Wales coach Warren Gatland. "France didn't have to work for their points."
Lock Lionel Nallet's 38th-minute try put Les Bleus 11-3 up at the break and the former captain got his second in the 44th to push the lead to 18-6.
Winger Vincent Clerc wrapped up the victory for France with a well-taken try in the 59th. Scrumhalf Morgan Parra kicked the rest of France's points, while Wales had three penalties by flyhalf James Hook.
Despite Italy's largely encouraging campaign, which included that historic win over France and narrow defeats to Wales and Ireland, Nick Mallett's side again claimed the wooden spoon for finishing bottom of the pile - this year on points difference.
"It was a very disappointed changing room afterwards," said Mallett, who may have coached Italy for the last time in a Six Nations match as his contract expires after the World Cup.
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