Ireland win Six Nations and first Grand Slam in Dublin

The 29-16 win against England is Ireland’s first Six Nations title since 2018 and fourth Grand Slam.

Ireland completed its fourth ever Six Nations Grand Slam with a 29-16 victory over England at the Aviva Stadium, emphasizing its status as the world’s top-ranked Rugby Union team heading into the World Cup in September.

The Irish entered the Championship as favorites and came through to make a huge statement six months into the Rugby World Cup, where they have never won a knockout match.

A month after Ireland defeated the defending champions and second-placed France at home, Ireland played a match but inadequately defeated England and took the maximum points from a win and a minimum of four tries on a packed Lansdowne Road.

Worthy of their clean sweep, Andy Farrell’s side won all their games by 13 points or more and ended France’s 14-game unbeaten run in one of the best championship games in recent memory.

Two tries from Dan Sheehan and one from Robbie Henshaw and Rob Herring saw Ireland finish ahead of France in second place and Scotland in third, while a third defeat for England left them in fourth place.

Captain Jonathan Sexton got the perfect farewell in his last Six Nations match with a second Grand Slam and the championship’s point-scoring record. He stumbled off with six minutes left until a standing ovation.

The 37-year-old moved to 560 points to surpass Ronan O’Gara, his predecessor as fly-half, in what is his 60th and final Six Nations Test. O’Gara played 63.

O’Gara remains Ireland’s overall record points scorer at 1,083 with Sexton on 1,050 before the match against England got underway.

Best of all for home fans during the weekend celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day, it was Ireland’s first time to seal the Grand Slam in Dublin after doing it in Twickenham (2018), Cardiff (2009) and Belfast (1948).