Ireland’s win over England

The 2025 Six Nations Championship kicked off with a bang last weekend as Ireland and England renewed their historic rivalry in a captivating encounter at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. In a match filled with momentum swings and dramatic finishes, Ireland emerged victorious with a hard-fought 27-22 win.

Early Exchanges and English Dominance

The game began with a tense and cagey opening, both teams testing each other’s defenses. It was England who struck first, with debutant Cadan Murley showcasing his speed and finishing prowess to score an early try. Marcus Smith, orchestrating England’s attack with his clever kicks and elusive running, converted the try to give the visitors an early lead.

England continued to apply pressure, frustrating Ireland with their blitz defense and forcing turnovers. Despite some promising phases of attack, Ireland couldn’t break through the resolute English defense. However, just before halftime, a moment of brilliance from James Lowe saw him break through the English line and set up Jamison Gibson-Park for Ireland’s first try. Although the conversion was missed, it gave Ireland some much-needed momentum going into the break.

Irish Resurgence and Second Half Dominance

The second half saw a completely different Ireland take the field. They came out with renewed intensity and purpose, dominating possession and territory. Their efforts were rewarded when Bundee Aki powered through several English defenders to score a crucial try, leveling the score.

Ireland continued to press, and their pressure eventually told as they took the lead with a successful penalty kick. They then extended their advantage with a well-worked try, finished off by Tadhg Beirne after some excellent play by Lowe. With their tails up, Ireland secured the bonus point try through replacement hooker Dan Sheehan, putting the game seemingly beyond reach.

Late England Fightback

Despite the scoreline, England refused to give up. They mounted a late fightback, scoring two tries in the final minutes through Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman. However, it was too little too late, as Ireland held on to secure a well-deserved victory.