Coach Simon Easterby praised Ireland for their determination as they began their quest for an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title with a comeback win over England in Dublin on Saturday.
With 21-year-old Sam Prendergast at flyhalf, the reigning champions struggled to assert themselves in the first half of the contest and England led 10-5 at half time after a try by debutant wing Cadan Murley.
But an Ireland team full of seasoned campaigners hit back to score 22 points in the second half as Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne and Dan Sheehan all crossed England’s line to give the hosts a four-try, 27-22 win.
Victory gave interim Ireland coach Simon Easterby a win in his first game in charge as he deputises for Andy Farrell, on secondment to the British and Irish Lions for the tour of Australia.
“We had to find a way,” said Easterby, whose side travel to Edinburgh next week to face a Scotland team fresh from a 31-19 win over Italy. “We felt if we did a few things better then we would get the rewards. England defended well and made it tough for us.”
Turning to his two flyhalves, former Ireland back-row Easterby added: “I thought Sam Prendergast was excellent at times and created some really nice opportunities. And like the autumn, Jack Crowley came on, impacted the game and finished it well.”
Saturday’s loss at Lansdowne Road was England’s seventh defeat in nine games, with coach Steve Borthwick, not for the first time, lamenting a lack of experience.
“Ireland are such an experienced team and have been world-class for so long,” said former England captain Borthwick. “It was a tough Test match and that experience showed in the third quarter. We gave them field position and scoreboard pressure in a critical period.”
“We started the second half with a lot of energy and effort but against one of the best attacking teams in the world, the team improved defensively. But ultimately we came up short and that is disappointing.”
England, second-best in a prolonged tactical kicking duel with Ireland, now return to Twickenham to face in-form France, who thrashed Wales 43-0 on Friday. Defeat meant lock Maro Itoje lost his first match since succeeding Saracens teammate Jamie George as England skipper.
“I thought the first half was fantastic,” said Itoje. “We did pretty much everything we wanted to. We lost territory though in the second half and struggled to exit.”
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Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
