Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
The 42 is the home of quality journalism for passionate Irish sports fans, bringing you closer to the stories that matter through insightful analysis and sharp sportswriting.
IRELAND’S HOPES OF back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slam glory have been dashed following a dramatic one-point defeat to England in Twickenham.
The championship is still within their grasp heading into the final round but Andy Farrell’s side were denied the chance of completing the clean sweep following a Marcus Smith drop goal at the death.
Ireland thought they might have snuck a win with James Lowe’s second try eight minutes from time but England came back at them again. Elliot Daly missed a long-range penalty but they worked their way into position for replacement out-half Smith to fire over the drop goal that ensured Irish misery. Cue wild scenes.
The 42′s award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Madness by Murray at the end.
@Setanta O’Toole: 78minutes????? Like WHY GO TO TOUCH????????????
@Setanta O’Toole: he blew the game. 2 attacking positions blundered aswell where he threw terrible passes for Ali and Henderson.
I fairness the 6-2 split kinda blew up in our faces when Nash got injured so early, England were like a tram possessed and nearly beat themselves through I’ll disapline. Aki and VDF were colossal and kept us in the game
@John Lonergan: 6-split did not work for this one
@Setanta O’Toole: In fairness the whole team were pants apart from Aki and VDF
@Setanta O’Toole: Murray does this often, he is not able to read the game ,done it also back a few years ago against the All Blacks in the last minute and they sscored a try to win the game…
@Setanta O’Toole: When he was moving towards the ball I just knew he was going to kick it? Why? It just gave them one last chance. Another 2 or 3 carries and it would have been all over. At 35 or whatever he is he will never learn.
Why in the name of JAZUS do you kick away possession with less than a minute and a half to go .
BRAINLESS.
@Brendan Healy: because he’s USELESS. That’s why.
Maybe now can the hype be turned down a notch or 2?
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: That comment is obviously meant for the referendum article?!
One team finished 3rd at the world cup the other couldn’t get by the second round again. Reality sets in again.
@James Rowan: The ridiculous draw with all the best teams on one side contributed to that.
Murray’s days are long over and he proved it again tonight. I got nervous as soon as he appeared. All he knows is boxkicking, and flapping his wings at referees. He had one job to do in the last 90 seconds and he fluffed his lines. He is solely responsible for the loss. All he had to do was help the team retain the ball
@Ian McDonald: another blue goggled fool
@Joe Kelly: Is that you Sexton.. you were another one that was kept on too long… relying on these old guys as always been our downfall.
Why are we still relying on O Mahony, Healy, Murray etc. They wont be around for next WC so let them go and blood in new guys. P oConnell needs to be let go too. Lineout still a joke.. 6 months later.
@barry fay: when did you ever play rugby. Go back to a sport you know about
@Joe Kelly: A blind man can see its a young mans game…JS was another one who hung on to long. Should be a cap on caps. Players been shown blind loyalty at 100 caps when they should be sent back to their clubs.
@barry fay: sad little man,knows as much about rugby as I do about snipe shooting.
Poor game management by Murray. Another one that needs to hang the boots up for Ireland
Can’t complain, it was the right result. It feels different than the world cup because we should have beaten the ABs and the ref had a shocker. But in this game we played poorly and they played their best game in years. Our 6/2 bench backfired with Nash getting injured. We’ll still win the championship but the right teams won to today’s two games.
@Gearoid MacEachaidh: Wasn’t the result we wanted but it was an excellent game to watch. Well done England, we’ve wrecked their grand slams in the past too.
@Gearoid MacEachaidh: Yeah, hate to agree but….
Conor Murray being Conor Murray.
@Don Johnson: couldn’t agree more
England the better team. Great to see for rugby.
What was Murray thinking. You bring on your senior players to not do that. To nurse the game watch the clock. Bring the ball into contact and see it out. That’s just brutal
England til I die
Rule Britannia
@Argus Romsworth: go home you starvation appeaser
@Argus Romsworth: well done England,wanted it more,played as well as ye have done in about 5 years,no complaints, better team won,even if it kills me to say that,England deserved it
@Argus Romsworth: Swing low…. How ye contributed to that trade in people.
@Argus Romsworth:another one of the awesome accounts
Gutted for the lads, but maybe now half the D4 ruggers/plastic fans, might do one next weekend and stop taking up seats in the aviva for home games that should go to actual fans who create the atmosphere and just don’t go for the pints and stupid social media posts and pics….
Beaten by a better team on the day who wanted it more and we couldn’t match their physicality in the forwards. Suck it up and move on.
Murray and O Mahoney are liabilities and Crowley is simply not a world class outhalf
@Tim Brennan: go back to bed
@Tim Brennan: Still to the round ball Tim
Yet again when asked to stand up and be counted like the world cups we Bottle it
Ireland are not a world class team.
Kor
I smell a sore mentality.
We’re singing for England. Ing Ga Land!
@Argus Romsworth: Who is this trolling b****x?
Lets face it not alot of talent in rugby, you can literally start training at 19 and play in a world cup
Hindsight is not applicable here. The entire country was thinking ah he’ll hold possession for the final 60+ seconds.. nah no way is he handing possession back to England, wtf he is he doing, he’s throwing away the game and the potential of back to back grand slams… the easiest grand slam Ireland had in sight. Shocking decision making from a senior squad member.
Mahony let them down, again and again! How can he be the captain.
@smatrix mantra: how wads Ryan ever a captain?
@Joe Kelly: was.
Come to Jesus, right now. Over me!
The D4 set are terrified to call out the same players who continue to bottle the big occasion and above all team manager picked the wrong team a fit Ringrose has to play and drop Crowley who will be never be a world class outhalf
@Tim Brennan: very true! There’s a trend forming, weak decision making, loyalty to over the hill players still dictating team selection. Half the squad won’t be/ shouldn’t be at the next World Cup however because of player contracts, the IRFU won’t permit blooding new players until just before the next World Cup, which will be too late.
@Tim Brennan: is that why you are a team manager? Sexton was rubbish in his first few seasons, just look how he turned out.
I literally cried. One point. Ah well, we should still win the tournament on points alone, but hopefully we’ll win next weekend. Just sick it had to be England lol
Teams are using the Six Nations years between World Cups to blood new talent
I was absolutely gutted afterwards, but in hindsight maybe not the worst thing to happen, as did we need to be brought down to earth? We played poorly, Crowley missed two difficult conversions which would have made it a two score game, Murray is finished possibly O’Mahony too, Lineout is a mess, so plenty to work on for Scotland and our trip to South Africa. Well done England in fairness as well, a fantastic game, England actually showed that they can play rugby, and Twickers was rocking.
Anna Carr come out of your burrow…
lol
@Argus Romsworth: I’m patriotic. I support my team win or lose. I’m also an Irish Mammy glad to still matter in the irish constitution lol. Éirinn go Brách
It’s typical Irish ” absolutely slate them for losing one match ” It’s the same people that don’t even understand the rules that stick the knife in everything time something goes wrong ….
@Quinny: could not have put it better.
Any sign of the review of RWC campaign 5 months on or are we supposed to believe everything is hunky-dory again? (Hint: It’s not)
@Patrick O’Leary: another so called expert
Bundee next captain.
Bundle next captain.
have your say