Winners of England in Dublin on Saturday (29-16), the Irish sign the fourth Grand Slam in their history.
St. Patrick’s Day 2023 will go down in history. On this weekend so special for Irish people around the world, the XV of Clover offered themselves the Six Nations Tournament by dominating (29-16) England, quickly reduced to 14, Saturday March 18, in the ultimate game of the edition. Better: Ireland achieves the Grand Slam for the fourth time in history after those of 1948, 2009 and 2018.
Better, it is the first time that the Irish people can celebrate such a performance at home, since the meeting took place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Enough to pour even more beer in honor of Saint-Patrick, but especially of the XV du Clover.
Sexton in history
Before exulting and going to sing their joy in the pubs of the island, the Irish however gritted their teeth for a long time. And for good reason: after the humiliation suffered against the French last week at Twickenham, the XV of the Rose had an honor to wash on the lawn of the Aviva Stadium. United, brave and very combative in defense, the English doubted the best team in the world for a big hour, although reduced to fourteen just before the break.
Until the hour mark, a small point separated the two teams (10-9), after the three English penalties signed Owen Farrell, who came to respond to Dan Sheehan’s Irish try, and Jonathan Sexton’s penalties. The legendary Irish opening half has also become the best scorer in the history of the Tournament with 560 points. But even while stammering their rugby, no doubt under the effect of pressure, the Irish ended up gaining the upper hand over the English reduced to 14, and logically exhausted.
It was first Henshaw who scored the relief try (62nd), following a scrum. A few minutes later, Sheehan completed the double and made Aviva Stadium roar. Despite the English try by Jamie George (73rd), the end of the match was one-sided. And even more after the yellow card received by the Englishman Jack Willis, which forced the XV of the Rose to end the meeting at 13. Enough to leave even more spaces, and allow Rob Herring to register a fourth try Irish, synonymous with offensive bonus.
It was then time for songs and emotion in the Aviva Stadium, which reveled in the 29-16 on the scoreboard, synonymous with the Grand Slam. Before going to revel in the hopped drinks dear to Ireland, in honor of Saint-Patrick, a little, but above all of this XV of Clover which confirms its status as world number one, a few months from the world in France.