Les Bleus’ hopes were dashed the instant Jaco Peyper released the red. Just before half-time, the referee sent off England full-back Freddie Stewart. The XV de la Rose was already in the rearview mirror of Ireland, launched on the Grand Slam highway. Challenged by the resistant English, the Irish did not reign over the second period but were not threatened to the point of fearing a defeat without a bonus, which would have been synonymous with the title for the French.
The latter did not even have to regret this test cashed in the money-time against Wales. A victory by 20 points would have put more pressure on the XV of Clover. Instead, the Blues won against the Welsh (41-28) and Ireland flew away in the 62nd minute, transported by a try from Robbie Henshaw, following a long phase of domination (15-9 , 63rd).
Fourth Irish Grand Slam
Jonathan Sexton ensured the transformation, as he will also do in the 68th, after Dan Sheehan ended the suspense by offering himself a double. A last try and an English yellow card later, Rob Herring even added the offensive bonus in the bag of the Greens (29-16). This last victory, obtained on a Saint-Patrick weekend, rewards the consistency of the Irish, who had already taken a giant step towards the title by stopping the invincibility of the French a month earlier (32-19).
On the way to the fourth Grand Slam in Irish history, after 1948, 2009 and 2018, the last step was still more difficult to climb than expected. A week after being crushed by the XV of France (53-10) at Twickenham, Steve Borthwick’s men showed a much better face. They were the first to lead, thanks to two penalties from Owen Farrell, well motivated to play a bad trick on his father Andy, coach of Ireland. Opposite, Sexton became the best scorer in the history of the Tournament by passing the first Irish penalty in the 20th. But this record was not totally enough to launch Ireland.
Aggressive in defense, enterprising in attack, like this action punctuated by three chisteras (23rd), the English were dominant until the 25th minute. Moment chosen by Mack Hansen, alone in front of his poles after receiving a clearance, to hook a first opponent before piercing the English curtain, just to wake up his partners and all of Dublin.
Thirteen minutes later, Josh Van der Flier managed a superb inside pass to Dan Sheehan. The hooker only has to shoot straight, towards the in-goal area and Irish substitutes already ready to explode. A meager glimpse of the green madness that gripped Aviva Stadium the moment the final whistle sounded.
