How to win a scrap off scraps

THEY never pretended to be the best side in the world even when winning Grand Slams but they must surely rank as one of the bravest.

Ireland, battered and pounded to a pulp at times up front in the second half, simply refused to be beaten.

Living off a meagre ration of ball – the match stats provided by Opta after the game credited Ireland with just 29% territory and possession – they gave England a lesson in how to convert opportunities into points on the board.