Ireland edge nearer to Six Nations grand slam after beating England

Ireland took a major step towards retaining their Six Nations title with a pulsating 19-9 victory over England on Sunday to become the only side to win their opening three games.

With both sides unbeaten going into a game billed as a potential title decider, Johnny Sexton kicked the hosts into a first-half lead before an acrobatic Robbie Henshaw try sent Ireland travelling to Cardiff dreaming of a grand slam.

Ireland, who equalled their longest winning stretch with a 10th successive victory, play Wales in Cardiff on March 14 before facing Scotland at Murrayfield a week later.

“After seeing them against Wales, we knew they were going to come back at us in the second half, but we dug deep and managed to keep them off our line,” Ireland coach Joe Schmidt told the BBC.

“We do rely on our half-backs a lot. They move us around in the right manner and find space.”

Ireland bossed the game from the start and a turnover on George Ford within 30 seconds of kick off set the tone. Sexton kicked two early penalties and Ireland were unlucky not to come away with more when Rory Best was held up on the line.

England settled and Ford, who as a youngster watched former Ireland fly half Ronan O’Gara practise when his father, Mike, was part of the Irish coaching team, cut the deficit with a drop goal, but missed a chance to level with his first penalty.

Ford opted to find the corner with his attempt but Devon Toner robbed the lineout and it was Ireland who struck next with a third Sexton penalty.