We check out how Eire clinched the 2024 Six Nations title, and after back-to-back championship wins, ponder can they preserve such success going?
A Grand Slam slipped from their grasp late at Twickenham in Spherical 4, however Andy Farrell has now guided Eire to Six Nations titles in 2023 and 2024, to take a seat alongside a Triple Crown in 2022.
Additionally in that point, Eire received a Take a look at collection 2-1 away vs the All Blacks, beat the Springboks twice, held a world No 1 rating between July 2022 and October 2023, and went on a 17-Take a look at profitable run.
Under, we take a look at how Eire received the 2024 Six Nations title, and the components and storylines that emerged via the championship, which pose fascinating questions going ahead…
A shocking begin in Marseille, with a post-World Cup assertion made
Eire started life within the post-Johnny Sexton period in excellent style, as a terrific efficiency noticed them to a bonus-point 38-17 victory over France in Marseille on the opening evening.
Jamison Gibson-Park, Tadhg Beirne, Calvin Nash, Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher scored tries on the Stade Velodrome in opposition to a French aspect who noticed lock Paul Willemse proven a purple card through the first half for 2 yellows – each excessive tackles.
Jack Crowley began nervously however grew in confidence and into the competition, kicking one penalty and 5 beautiful conversions, whereas additionally producing a stunning attempt help for Beirne in a report factors complete and profitable margin for Eire in France.
Whereas Les Bleus have been clearly nonetheless hurting from a house World Cup quarter-final defeat to South Africa, Eire – who themselves had suffered a devastating quarter-final loss to New Zealand – appeared to barely skip a beat, in among the best performances beneath Farrell so far.
From then on, Eire have been huge Six Nations favourites, and for a lot of, Grand Slam favourites.
Very good type noticed Italy destroyed and nilled in Dublin
In Spherical 2, Eire stored up their very good type as they stormed to a 36-0 victory over Italy in Dublin in a wholly-dominant show.
Tries from Crowley, Sheehan (two), Jack Conan and wings James Lowe and Nash despatched Eire to the highest of the standings after two rounds, having picked up the utmost competitors factors on supply of two bonus-point wins.
Italy, who narrowly misplaced 27-24 to England in Rome every week earlier, and would go on to beat Scotland and Wales, and draw with France in a sport they need to have received, have been completely outclassed and struggled massively for possession and territory within the contest, with Eire wanting very good.
Crowley, whose strategy work and attacking touches verged on elegant at occasions, added two conversions with the boot in victory, with the one fear for Farrell a second-half leg harm to full-back Hugo Keenan.
Victory over Wales retains Grand Slam quest on, however assault visibly stunted with out Keenan
At dwelling to Wales in Spherical 3, Eire’s quest for back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams remained on, as they secured a 31-7 victory over Warren Gatland’s aspect in Dublin.
Sheehan, Lowe, Ciaran Frawley and Beirne scored tries within the bonus-point success, with Crowley ending 100 per cent with the boot, touchdown a penalty and all 4 conversions.
But, for all that the ultimate rating was snug, Eire’s assault with out Keenan suffered and was visibly stunted.
It was a good summation that Eire failed to succeed in the heights they displayed vs France and Italy within the opening two rounds.
Grand Slam goals die at Twickenham vs sensational England
In Spherical 4, Eire’s hopes of historic back-to-back Grand Slams have been ended by England with the ultimate kick at Twickenham, as Marcus Smith struck a last-gasp drop-goal to seal a 23-22 win.
England, who produced their finest efficiency of the championship by a substantial distance, scored tries via Ollie Lawrence, George Furbank and Ben Earl.
Eire scored their factors via 4 Crowley penalties and two Lowe tries, however fell behind from a place of 9 factors forward as England obtained the higher of their lineout, two accidents to backs pressured scrum-half Gibson-Park to the wing and skipper Peter O’Mahony was proven a pricey yellow card.
England have been sensational, and put of their finest show with the ball for the reason that 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand in Japan, however Eire have been effectively beneath their finest ranges on the day too.
A 6-2 bench cut up got here again to chunk them, however a possible blueprint to beat Eire was maybe laid out by England: play quick, extraordinarily precisely, and go after the breakdown and lineout as arduous as attainable.
Eire finally see off cussed Scotland to seal back-to-back titles for third time ever
And so to Saturday, the place Eire needed to choose themselves up from the frustration of Twickenham and exit to win a championship at dwelling to the Scots.
In the long run, Eire secured back-to-back titles for simply the third time of their historical past as Farrell’s aspect finally noticed off a cussed Scotland 17-13.
Tries from Sheehan and Andrew Porter, added to by seven factors by way of the boot of Crowley noticed Eire to victory, with Finn Russell notching two penalties in response for Scotland, and Huw Jones a late attempt.
Repeat outright championship victories in 1948 and 1949 and 2014 and 2015 have been added to after Eire received a Grand Slam in 2023, and although last-gasp defeat at Twickenham denied them the prospect of historic repeat Grand Slams, the title was duly wrapped up once more.
Removed from excellent, Eire spurned numerous second half possibilities in assault, with Jordan Larmour – a late call-up with Keenan dominated out through the warm-up – Tadhg Furlong, Nash and Robbie Henshaw both knocking on or being held up simply earlier than or over the try-line.
They have not ended the championship of their finest type, however finish it by lifting the trophy. There are query marks as as to if skipper O’Mahony will retire or not, with extra readability on that but to emerge, however with England and France to go to Dublin in subsequent yr’s Six Nations, Eire, on the face of it, have a superb likelihood to go on and make it three in a row – which they’ve by no means completed.
Earlier than that, there’s the matter of a two-Take a look at tour to world champions South Africa in July, and an autumn schedule in opposition to the likes of New Zealand, Argentina and Australia.