Heroic Horgan the jewel in the Crown

England 24 Ireland 28

This was a rare day of drama as Ireland’s late try and conversion propelled them to a third successive victory over the world champions; one which left English rugby in a sorry state.

The respective runs to the finishing post of this RBS Six Nations Championship have been glaringly different; Ireland with three successive wins and England with three defeats.

Ireland’s biggest points total against England was not enough to secure the Championship, however - an undistinguished French display in Cardiff was enough to take the title on points difference.

But that was not to deny Ireland their moment of glory on a day the International Board finally recognised the importance of a championship within a championship - the Triple Crown - by presenting a trophy for the first time.

Ireland, quite rightly, milked the occasion. Captain Brian O’Driscoll, bedecked in an Irish scarf, accepted the “plate” on behalf of his colleagues; there were fireworks, dancing and singing as the team, coach and back room staff took off on a prolonged lap of honour.

In the build-up, coach Eddie O’Sullivan warned supporters to be prepared for a tight battle. “If we win, I reckon there will only be one score in it,” he prophetically predicted.

England’s out half Andy Goode struck twice with penalties in the 68th and 73rd minutes, scores that appeared to have knocked the wind out of the visitors.

But this is not an Ireland happy to be second best. With one last throw of the dice, captain O’Driscoll surged forward and Horgan latched on to his clever kick through. The winger was held out inches from the line, but Ireland had more stamina to launch another offensive. From a forward drive, the diminutive Peter Stringer ran at the English defence and launched a long pass back out to Horgan. The winger, displaying brute force as well as skill, squeezed in at the corner.

Even then, the drama wasn’t finished because referee Nigel Whitehouse went to the video referee.

“I figured I scored when Rog (Ronan O’Gara) jumped on top of me to congratulate me. Still, there were a few agonising moments before it was confirmed,” said Horgan.

O’Gara put the icing on the cake with a remarkable conversion from the right hand touchline, a successful effort that didn’t tally with a couple of easier penalty misses on a difficult day for goal kickers. The extra points meant that England had to go in search of a try.

Ireland struggled to cope with a beefy English scrum, but dominated out of touch and proved again that their line out capability is second to none.

There were fleeting glimpses of brilliance from the Irish back division outside Stringer and O’Gara who did just about everything right.

England were quickly out of the traps and took the lead with a Jamie Noon try after 90 seconds.

But six minutes later, O’Driscoll kicked through and Ben Cohen lost control of the ball. Horgan was first there, the touch judge didn’t intervene, when perhaps he should have, and Horgan controlled possession to get the touchdown.

O’Gara kicked penalties in the 12th and 31st minutes to bring his international scoring tally to 600 points, before Goode kicked a penalty to leave just three points between the teams at the break.

O’Gara stretched it back out to six with another penalty early in the second half before Ireland threatened to self-destruct. Straight from the kick off, O’Connell lost possession and Malcolm O’Kelly went offside. Goode kicked the penalty and then converted Steve Borthwick’s 52nd minute try.

For England, it was all to play for, but Denis Leamy stunned them with a 57th minute try awarded after consultation with the video referee. O’Gara converted to add to Ireland’s lead.

Goode struck with that brace of penalties and it appeared to be all over for Ireland. But not this time.

ENGLAND: T. Voyce, M. Cueto, J. Noon, S. Abbott, B. Cohen, A. Goode, H. Ellis; A. Sheridan, L. Mears, J. White, S. Borthwick, S. Shaw, J. Worseley, M. Corry, captain, L. Moody.

Replacements: M. Tindall for Noon (60), D. Grewcock for Shaw, S. Thompson for Mears (both 62), M. Dawson for Ellis (66), P. Freshwater for Sheridan (68).

IRELAND: G. Murphy, S. Horgan, B. O’Driscoll, G. D’Arcy, A. Trimble, R. O’Gara, P. Stringer; M. Horan, J. Flannery, J. Hayes, M. O’Kelly, P. O’Connell, S. Easterby, D. Leamy, D. Wallace.

Replacements: D. O’Callaghan for O’Kelly (55), G. Dempsey for Trimble (65, inj), J. O’Connor for Leamy (71, inj).

Temporary replacement: O’Connor for Wallace (13-21).

Referee: N. Whitehouse (Wales).