Full Match Throwback: When Ireland crushed England's Grand Slam Dreams The Day After Saint Patrick's Day

Full Match Throwback: When Ireland crushed England's Grand Slam Dreams The Day After Saint Patrick's Day

With the Coronavirus ravaging through the sporting fixtures worldwide, the Ultimate Rugby team have picked out a few classic encounters over the years to look back on.

We don't venture too far into the past with our first match to look back on as we head to the Six Nations Super Saturday of 2017 where Ireland famously ended England's hopes of successive Grand Slam titles. 

England were enjoying their most successful run of games in their history with Eddie Jones leading the side to a record 18 consecutive test victories needing just one more win to overtake New Zealand, who were also beaten by Ireland to bring to an end their record run back in November 2016.

 

Following the disappointing home Rugby World Cup in 2015 England were humming along under their new head coach who was yet to taste defeat as the Red Rose's boss. However, this would all change at the Aviva Stadium on a day that many Irishman were still recovering from their Saint Patrick's Day celebrations. 


Under the charge of Joe Schmidt, Ireland came into the Grand Slam decider having lost two of their four matches in the championship but Schmidt's men blew the men in white away. 

 


Ex-England scrum-half Matt Dawson applauded Ireland after the game saying: "I'm applauding Ireland, that was one of the finest Ireland displays I've seen in a long time, the opposition are world class and Ireland have stepped up yet again, a fantastic display.

Former Ireland winger Denis Hickie also praised the side saying: "This will definitely rank as one of Ireland's greatest wins, going in truly against the odds against what is a tremendous England team."

 
 
 
The teams

Ireland
15. J Payne, 14. K Earls, 13. G Ringrose, 12. R Henshaw, 11. S Zebo, 10. J Sexton, 9. K Marmion.

1. J McGrath, 2. R Best, 3. T Furlong, 4. D Ryan, 5. I Henderson, 6. P O’Mahony, 7. S O’Brien. 8. CJ Stander

Replacements

16. N Scannell, 17. C Healy, 18. J Ryan, 19. D Toner, 21. L McGrath, 22. P Jackson, 23. A Conway.
 

England
 

15. M Brown (vice captain), 14. A Watson, 13. J Joseph, 12. O Farrell, 11. E Daly, 10. G Ford, 9. B Youngs.

1. J Marler, 2. D Hartley (captain), 3. Dan Cole, 4. Joe Launchbury, 5. Courtney Lawes, 6. Maro Itoje, 7. James Haskell, 8. Billy Vunipola (vice captain).

Replacements
 

16. Jamie George, 17. Mako Vunipola, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Tom Wood, 20. Nathan Hughes, 21. Danny Care, 22. Ben Te’o, 23. Jack Nowell.

Referee: Jerome Garces (France)
 

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