A late drop goal from Marcus Smith gave England a 23-22 victory against Ireland in the Six Nations, a result that ended the visitors’ grand slam hopes
In the great scheme of things one result does not completely reshape the rugby landscape. Ireland, barring a spectacular stumble at the final hurdle, will still be crowned as this season’schampions and remain a high-class side. This was the day, though, when England finally displayed their oft-discussed potential and gave their longsuffering supporters a glimpse of something more uplifting.
Smith will be the first to salute the hard work of those in front of him, with Ben Earl, George Martin and Ollie Chessum all outstanding, but the previously injured Harlequins fly-half has had to sit out England’s past three games and must have feared fate had other plans for him. Finally, though, England have broken free of their mental shackles and can look to the future with renewed optimism, starting against France in Lyon on Saturday.
For those more familiar with a diet of English stodge it was like spotting the first hopeful crocus of a brighter spring. And, to their credit, England kept on coming. Ireland, initially calm and assured, found themselves being thumped backwards and hustled in possession by opponents clearly determined to give them a proper rattle.With Ford adding another penalty and Nash failing his head injury assessment, the English defence was also several notches up on their previous tournament efforts.