Ireland attempt to stop England Grand Slam

England stood on the brink of completing their first Grand Slam since 2003, with Ireland the final obstacle between themselves and European rugby’s most treasured prize.

The RBS 6 Nations title was all but assured whatever unfolded at Lansdowne Road, the setting of their last clean sweep eight years ago, thanks to a commanding points difference.

Manager Martin Johnson, captain in 2003, selected Matt Banahan at outside centre in the injury-enforced absence of Mike Tindall, with number eight Nick Easter leading the side.

Seething from the perceived injustice of their defeat by Wales, Ireland were fired by the knowledge that a third loss of the championship would equal their worst Six Nations performance.

Brian O’Driscoll drew level with South African John Smit’s 76-Test captaincy record, Jonathan Sexton started at fly-half in preference to Ronan O’Gara and Keith Earls switched to full-back in place of the dropped Luke Fitzgerald.

Ireland: Earls, Bowe, B. O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, Trimble, Sexton, Reddan, Healy, Best, Ross, O’Callaghan, O’Connell, O’Brien, D. Wallace, Heaslip.

Replacements: Cronin, Court, Cullen, Leamy, Stringer, O’Gara, P. Wallace.

England: Foden, Ashton, Banahan, Hape, Cueto, Flood, Youngs, Corbisiero, Hartley, Cole, Deacon, Palmer, Wood, Haskell, Easter.

Replacements: Thompson, Doran-Jones, Shaw, Croft, Care, Wilkinson, Strettle.

Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)