England 23 Ireland 22: Red Rose seal heroic last-minute win as rivals made to wait for Six Nations title
MARCUS SMITH’S last touch drop goal stunned Ireland as Twickenham exploded in utter delight.
Smith, off the bench for his first appearance of the tournament, slotted the stoppage time effort which gave Steve Borthwick’s men a deserved and brilliant victory.
Smith set off in a dance of sheer joy, as England finally produced the performance Borthwick has promised they are capable of delivering.
There could be no arguments as England outscored the “world’s best side” by three tries to two with a display of non-stop commitment, determination and desire.
It was too much even for Andy Farrell’s green machine, who are still likely to win the Six Nations next week but saw their Grand Slam expectations torn into tiny bits.
But with Ollie Lawrence, George Furbank and the outstanding Ben Earl all scoring scintillating tries that proved England DO have an attacking game worth talking about, it was Smith, on for George Ford, who had the emphatic final word.
Nobody, certainly not Farrell, could deny England were worthy of a victory they looked to have squandered with FOUR misses off the tee.
Smith, though, did come up with the kick that counted, although he had the back-up of a simple penalty advantage even had his effort not gone over.
England’s emotional response was echoed by the crowd who roared them on from the start of a match the defied all predictions.
When Ireland’s first possession ended with a simple Jack Crowley penalty, it felt ominous.
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Instead, England went at it hammer and tongs, responding with a brilliant counter-attacking try after Furbank’s crossfield run from half-way.
Quick ball and penetration saw Henry Slade timing the pass perfectly and allowing Lawrence to power over in the corner, Crowley swatted aside along the way.
Twickenham erupted with delight – and a degree of shocked surprise.
England were running it at speed, punching holes, asking questions that Ireland have not been used to answering for some time, new boy Immanuel Feyi-Waboso bringing the fans to their feet whenever he had ball in hand.
Ford missed the tricky conversion but extended England’s unlikely advantage with a penalty after pressure through the middle saw Ireland transgress 30 yards out.
Lawrence, desperately scrambling for the ball, conceded another simple penalty that Crowley plonked over but England were ready and willing to trade blow for blow, pushing for the line only for Tadgh Beirne to snaffle the ball on the deck.
England kept coming and the home fans thought Lawrence had got another after somehow ending up with the ball in his hands after his own grubber kick was contested by Furbank and Ireland replacement Ciaran Frawley.
The TMO decided Furlong had knocked on before Lawrence – who had not celebrated – regathered. The Twickenham boos were not going to change that call.
Ford then squandered the chance of another three after Bundee Aki was pinged for offside, frustrating given England’s endeavour and direct running.
Five points gone begging, felt even more brutally when Ollie Chessum was penalised for failing to release in the tackle and Crowley kicked Ireland into an undeserved lead from just inside the England half.
Against Ireland, mistakes are costly.
Furbank misjudged James Lowe’s towering spiral, planting his right foot on the touchline, with the line-out resulting in Crowley landing another straightforward penalty – the last kick of the half – after Chessum was penalised.
Trailing at the interval was harsh.
And when England were punished for another error at the start of the second period, it felt like the key moment.
Left winger Tommy Freeman spilled a high kick and Ireland pounced, Robbie Henshaw and Frawley getting the ball out to Lowe, who stuck out his tongue before touching down in the opposite corner under pressure from Ford.
But once again England hit back, super handling creating the opening and Maro Itoje spinning before finding Furbank, who pinned back his ears and hared for the line, Ford missing a third kick.
This was some effort and when Peter O’Mahony was sent to the bin for cynically preventing quick ball after a barnstorming run by Ben Earl, the chance was there.
Taken by the brilliant Earl, who forced his way over after four charges had been held short, Smith, putting England three clear with 20 to go.
Now it was about courage and calmness, Danny Care on for his 100th cap to try to see England over the line.
Ireland do not usually fold – except under the pressure of a World Cup quarter-final that is.
When Lowe, found by Jamison Gibson-Park’s long lateral, ploughed through Smith’s attempted tackle to nudge them back in front, you suspected that would be that, especially when Daly’s penalty from half-way drifted wide.
But England, for once, were not to be denied. They banged on the door, so hard that even Ireland could not resist them.
And when the chance came, with the very last kick, Smith took it. Sensational. Superb. Thrilling.