Ireland's second half surge seals bonus point win over England in Six Nations opener

By Ed Elliot, PA, Dublin

Ireland have beaten England 27-22 to kick off their Six Nations campaign at the Aviva Stadium.

Winger Cadam Murley marked his debut for the visitors with an early try, while Marcus Smith has kicked five-points.

Jamison Gibson Park went over for Ireland's try in the 35th minute, but Sam Prendergast missed the conversion.

It was 10-5 at half-time but a second half surge propelled Ireland into the lead which they never gave up.

Bundee Aki beat three defenders on the wing to put Ireland ahead before Tadgh Beirne went over to make it 20-10.

Dan Sheehan returned from injury to seal the bonus point win late on.

But England were unable to substantially build on Cadan Murley’s debut score and a penalty and conversion from Smith as their championship opener ended in defeat ahead of next weekend’s tricky clash at home to France.

Fly-half rivals Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley kicked three and four points respectively for the hosts in front of onlooking regular head coach Andy Farrell before late tries from Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman made the final score more respectable from an English perspective.

England lost seven of 12 Tests during a disappointing 2024, albeit they ultimately denied Ireland successive championship Grand Slams courtesy of a last-gasp 23-22 Twickenham win in March.

Head coach Borthwick sprung a selection surprise on the back of an unsuccessful autumn by naming twin brothers Tom and Ben Curry either side of Ben Earl in a mobile back row, while lock Maro Itoje began his captaincy after taking over from Jamie George.

The visitors struck first amid a chaotic opening in which Ireland temporarily lost wing Mack Hansen to injury.

A fine break from Ollie Lawrence culminated in Henry Slade’s perfectly weighted grubber kick releasing Test newcomer Murley to cross in the left corner, with Smith nailing the tricky conversion.

Ireland thought they had hit back in the 16th minute but Ronan Kelleher’s score, following sustained pressure, was disallowed due to Beirne holding on to Itoje at the ruck.

England’s line speed was causing plenty of problems, while their dogged defence frustrated a stuttering home side guilty of poor passing and frequent fumbles.

Visiting fly-half Smith was yellow carded for a cynical infringement in the 25th minute and, just before he returned, the high-tempo hosts finally broke through.

James Lowe wriggled clear of Alex Mitchell on the left wing and then teed up Gibson-Park to sidestep Freddie Steward and dive over.

Prendergast, who was preferred to Crowley from the start, squandered the straightforward conversion before a Smith penalty put England five points ahead at the end of a breathless opening period.

With Farrell watching from the stands in preparation for the British and Irish Lions’ summer tour of Australia, Ireland needed to turn territory into something more meaningful on the scoreboard.

The title holders eventually led for the first time in the 56th minute.

Aki bulldozed his way past Smith and then rolled Mitchell and Freeman to squeeze over on the left before Prendergast atoned for another failed conversion by landing a long-range penalty four minutes later.

Cheers from the capacity crowd greeted Farrell’s appearance on the big screens and they grew significantly louder as Ireland secured some breathing space.

Lowe was again the creator, bursting on to a Gibson-Park pass to tee up Beirne for an unchallenged charge for the try line, with replacement 10 Crowley adding the extras.

Victory – and the bonus point – was wrapped up eight minutes from time.

Replacement hooker Sheehan marked his first international appearance since suffering a serious knee injury during last summer’s tour of South Africa by stretching for the line to cap a superb team move following another Lowe offload.