Ruthless Ireland hit record away win over England

Men's Six Nations

England (7) 21

Tries: Dingwall, Lawrence, Underhill Cons: Ford 3

Ireland (22) 42

Tries: Gibson-Park, Baloucoune, O'Brien, Sheehan, Osborne Cons: Crowley 4 Pens: Crowley 3

A ruthless Ireland reignited their Six Nations title bid with a record 42-21 away win over England at Allianz Stadium.

The visitors, whose previous record-winning margin was a 17-point victory in 2022, ran in five tries to embarrass Steve Borthwick's side.

England's defeat - their third heaviest at home - leaves their championship hopes in tatters after two defeats and one win, with away games against Italy and France to come.

Andy Farrell's Ireland proved too quick and slick for the hosts, scoring three tries inside the opening 30 minutes.

England's home form under Borthwick had become formidable, but the run ended at nine consecutive victories after a miserable afternoon that was meant to be a celebration of captain Maro Itoje's 100th cap.

Lack of discipline, missed tackles and simple errors were consistently punished, with 22 points the fourth-most first-half points conceded by England at home.

Jamison Gibson-Park's quick thinking caught England napping, before tries by wingers Robert Baloucoune and Tommy O'Brien.

Borthwick's side, who were looking to bounce back from last week's defeat by Scotland, finally crossed at the end of a frantic first half through Fraser Dingwall.

Ireland could still claim the Triple Crown, which they won last year, with Dan Sheehan's try clinching the bonus point early in the second half.

The visitors are still in the running for the championship but may rue not picking up a late bonus point in last week's win over Italy.

Centre Ollie Lawrence and Sam Underhill scored second-half tries for England, but Ireland were always too far clear because of the boot of Jack Crowley and a try by Jamie Osborne.

In the opening two rounds, Ireland were a long way off the side that claimed back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.

With key personnel injured and players lacking form, Farrell's team has a new look this championship.

And against England, Ireland's multi-phase attack looked back at its best.

One player to benefit is Ulster wing Baloucoune, who was a standout performer against Italy last week - his acceleration and offload creating the initial break for Gibson-Park's try.

His club team-mate Stuart McCloskey then burst up the middle of the pitch for Baloucoune to eventually dot down in the corner.

Full of confidence, Baloucoune - who was also excellent in defence - broke clear and found replacement O'Brien, on for injured James Lowe, for a third unanswered try.

Much of the build-up to the game at Allianz Stadium once again was dominated by the Ireland number 10 debate.

Crowley's performance could well end it - for a while, at least - as he guided his side around the pitch brilliantly.

But his poor missed touch-finder against Italy, with the clock in the red and a bonus point a real possibility, may prove costly if France slip up.

Yet the game could mirror the 2021 win over England, which sparked Ireland's first rejuvenation under Farrell before they reached world number one in 2023.

This was their sixth win over England in their past seven meetings.

England lacked energy and dynamism in the early exchanges against Scotland, trailing 17-0 after 15 minutes.

The inclusion of Henry Pollock and Tom Curry from the off against Ireland was meant to be the fix, but the same problems were evident.

Borthwick's side, who lost their 12-game winning run in Edinburgh, were unable to deal with the speed and intensity of Ireland's attack, and they once again came off second best in the air.

The hosts did have opportunities to score in the first half but lacked any sort of clinical edge.

Jamie George coming on for a misfiring Luke Cowan-Dickie and Marcus Smith replacing full-back Freddie Steward, who spent time in the sin-bin, before half-time summed up Borthwick's frustration.

Losing scrum-half Alex Mitchell early in the game also did not help in dealing with the first-half chaos.

Smith showed some sharp touches and was the player to send over Dingwall right on half-time.

Caelan Doris' break at the start of the second half and subsequent yellow card for Pollock, which was followed by Sheehan's try, quickly ended any chances of a dramatic comeback.

Hopes of a Grand Slam or a first title since 2020 could not be further away and given tricky trips to Rome and Paris are to come, Borthwick's side are now under increasing pressure.

England: Steward; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Pollock

Replacements: George, Rodd, Davison, Coles, Pepper, Underhill, Van Poortvliet, M Smith

Ireland: Osborne; Baloucoune, Ringrose, McCloskey, Lowe; Crowley, Gibson-Park; Loughman, Sheehan, Furlong, Ryan, McCarthy, Beirne, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Kelleher, O'Toole, Bealham, C Prendergast, Timoney, Casey, Frawley, O'Brien

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Fra)

Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (Fra) and Gianluca Gnecchi (Fra)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (Fra)