Six Nations player ratings: Lowe and Gibson-Park the star men in Ireland win

Simon Easterby's side got their campaign off on the right foot at the Aviva Stadium.

UP AND RUNING: Ireland’s Dan Sheehan celebrates scoring their fourth try with James Lowe and Josh van der Flier. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

15 – Hugo Keenan 

The well-established back three were grateful for that experience as England tested them with a variety of kicks, wide as well as high but Keenan was equal to the task, the last line of defence putting in some crucial tackles. Steady and dependable, hassling and hustling. 8 

14 – Mack Hansen 

Hobbling from an early clash, Hansen returned to play his usual involved and punchy game down the right flank, and went looking for ball when it didn’t come his way. Rather quiet by his standards 7 

13 – Garry Ringrose 

Ringrose has served his time on the bench so knows that he needed to make an impression with Robbie Henshaw itching to get on. Good line-speed but occasionally caused a dog-leg in defence which England exploited in the first-half. 7 

12 – Bundee Aki 

Busy and alert for his try. There was plenty of trademark Aki action with his powerful thrusts towards the England defensive line, resilient too with one important tap tackle on Freeman. The rock in the middle, and a surprise that he was subbed earlyish. 8 

11 – James Lowe 

Back with a bang. There was absolutely no sign that Lowe had only just returned to action after injury with the Leinster wing involved in so much, leaping high in defence and clever and engaged in attack. Great strength to bust through to tee up first try and fabulous line for Beirne’s try. 9 

10 – Sam Prendergast 

Perceptive and creative if occasionally loose. No longer the apprentice, no longer the coming thing, Prendergast had to show that he was the man, trusted to deliver. The 21 year old was a target for the England back-row and dealt with it well, wrapping round in attack. Missed conversions a blot. 7 

9 – Jamison Gibson-Park 

Grew hugely in significance. Gibson-Park was patchy in the initial stages, that rushed feel spread through the team as they failed to execute within the England 22. Chances went begging but it was the scrum-half that showed the way with his brilliant support and step to score Ireland’s first try. Thereafter, a truly dominant figure. 9 

1 – Andrew Porter 

The key task was to stabilise the Ireland scrum with Porter’s old mucker, Tadhg Furlong, missing on the tighthead and the loosehead led the way with his steadfast performance. A grafter round the park as ever. 7 

2 – Ronan Kelleher 

Kelleher was well aware of the returning Dan Sheehan on the bench so accuracy at the set-piece and a high work-rate were the order of the day. The Leinster hooker almost had his moment of glory but his sharp-eyed score was chalked-off. Stuck to his task. 7 

3 – Finlay Bealham 

Bealham has proven himself plenty of times as an understudy but the pressure was well and truly on down the tighthead side of the scrum. There was no great differential between the scrums and Bealham put himself about to his usual effect. 7 

4 – James Ryan 

The Leinster lock may not have been that conspicuous by comparison with those around him but he ensured that the Irish set-piece did the basics well. There will be more to come from Ryan through the tournament. 6.5 

5 – Tadhg Beirne 

Forwards are having to learn to become nun-like in their behaviour as Beirne’s old-school sneaky hold on Itoje’s leg saw Kelleher’s try in the first-half disallowed on TMO intervention. Beirne has a big heart and was involved in so much, fully deserving his try when on hand to take Lowe’s inside pass. 8.5 

6 – Ryan Baird 

This was a golden opportunity to impress for Baird, so often a replacement and now trusted to use his athleticism from the start. That speed was evident in a couple of dashes down the flank stretching the England defence. 7.5 

7 – Josh van der Flier 

The distinctive red headcap of van der Flier was as visible as ever, forever on the ball and forever in the thick of the action, scrapping valiantly as Ireland tried to withstand England’s back-row assault at the breakdown. 8 

8 – Caelan Doris (capt) 

With a Lions captaincy to be decided at the end of the tournament, Doris impressed in his measured way, righting the ship as it listed in those stormy waters in the first half. It’s a measure of his leadership presence that Ireland came back so strongly. 8 

Coach and replacements: The spotlight was on Simon Easterby, particularly in his use of the replacements in such a tight game. The head coach didn’t hang back, sending on the powerful duo of hooker, Dan Sheehan, and back-rower, Jack Conan, in the 50th minute in a bid to add more zip and wallop to Ireland’s game. And they certainly did with the pair of them decisive in all that they did, at no time more than in the build-up to Sheehan’s bonus point try, the hooker having been involved three times in that sequence. There was also an encouraging display from Jack Crowley when he came on, the Munster out-half doing as he did in the autumn and making the most of his time on the field. Easterby used his bench well and obviously gave the right messages at half-time, Ireland scoring 22 unanswered points. The scoreboard didn’t reflect Ireland’s superiority. 8.5