IRELAND CLAIMED THEIR second consecutive Six Nations title today after a thrilling final day in the Championship when four teams began with hope of winning the trophy.
Joe Schmidt’s side defeated Scotland 10 – 40 in Murrayfield, a scoreline that was enough to push Wales off top spot after they had routed Italy 20 – 61 in Rome.
The 30-point margin of victory, in what may prove to be captain Paul O’Connell’s final appearance in the tournament, meant England kicked off against France knowing that they would need to beat Les Bleus by 26 clear points.
However, as Irish crowds gathered at home and in Edinburgh to watch a dramatic contest in Twickenham, the World Cup hosts fell just short of that target, instead forced to settle for a brilliant 55 – 35 victory, six points shy of the margin needed.
The Championship win is the second in Schmidt’s two years in charge, and the victories over Italy, England and France before today have paved the way for Ireland’s back-to-back titles since 1948-49.
We’ll never see another day’s rugby like that. Immense.
The most intense 7 hours of rugby ever…such a thrill…and the best result. I am so proud to be Irish right now, our sports people are so brilliant
Such a misleading headline.did you not see the last 2mins of that game!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jaysus Alan…not on the ball today are ya?
Everyone is think we deserve a drink after that,well done Ireland
Na misleading would be “Ireland win Grand Slam”, this headline is more tongue and cheek.
Will this make up for the Henry handball
Alan cop on and be happy you clown
Who the hell is redthumbing this statement of fact?! Find them and force them to tackle Paul O’Connell!
Tongue IN* cheek
a game still riddled with elitism.in this country-and a horlix of a game– rather watch a revolving door
It’s ok @bally, simple people prefer simple things
Unbelievable Jim. A credit to all teams but by god am I proud to be irish tonight
All 3 games were great to watch…. go on i said!
Dead right…what a fabulous day of rugby…nailbighting …bring on the World Cup…thats going to be exciting stuff. If all the teams played like they did today..every team went in and threw it at their opponent…great day
One up for Paul …he’s a great captain…and should be applauded, if this is his retirement year…I hope not, he’s an amazing captain.
Lovley Hurling
Now let’s get behind the Irish women’s team playing tomorrow
Tackle Paul O Connell Ugh!
I stayed up all night in Australia to watch it. Got a heart atack when France scored a try and the BBC score board gave the points to England.
No nothing will ever make up for the Henry handball..
Alan,
Agreed and did the author not hear O’Connol say that he had a couple of worrying moments. Still brilliant gamevFrench surprised me.
Its freaking sarcasm man.
Never in doubt?? Tell that to my heart!!!
I know. Nearly puked when the French tapped and went at the end!
I screamed some choice words at the french “you stupid f***ing c***’s kick it f***ing out !!!!! Lol i went balistic haha.
What were they thinking? We’ve all seen them do some mad things before but this really beat all???!!!
Well they had nothing to gain except giving the competition to Ireland instead of England. Any other match and of course you would play on.
Ya the damn fools! Could have cost us everything in a split second considering it was 5 metres or even less from the try line. Ohh my temper flared up big time lol
And fair play to the lads at murryfield for letting the irish supporters back into the stadium to watch the england game and the presentation.
Amazing nail biting matches! Well done Ireland. Thank you France.
I am in a supermarket in Canada following this, trying to keep it together. You have no idea what this is doing to me. Damn it, Ireland, I’m so proud of you you beautiful grisly b******s. *weeps*
Jaysus, the French trying to run it at the end, my heart ffs
They were toying with us there, phew. Well done Ireland!
Trying to haul in a 20 point deficit with time up, how very Gallic!
I started screaming at the Telly, “WHAT THE F____ FRANCE …. WHAT ARE YEE DOING” … Scared my poor little kids. Just sheer sheer LUNACY throughout those final few minutes!
Same here!! My little fella got some fright! What a result/ day of rugby! Delighted for Paul o Connell aswell..!
The dogs ran out the back with the roar. Very sad to think that is the last time we will see Paul O’Connell play in a Six Nations but boy what a send off :)
I think my heart stopped when the french tried to run the ball up the pitch at the end
SUPER IRISH
I screamed also and the dog jumped and couldn’t understand and just looked and seemed to say “whose that God x called Paulie
My nerves are shot! Great day
COYBIG. Bring on the World Cup!
Was the only Irish person in the pub here in France and I was cheering France on the loudest. When the ref blew his whistle an auld fella turned to me and said where’s your flag Madame. If my tricolour in my bag from the Irish match. When I pulled it back out the French went crazy and full of congratulations, I almost forgave them for Theirry Henry! What a day for rugby in general!
Wat a day of rugby
So proud to be Irish today! Well done boys!!!
Proud to be Irish everyday!
Was in doubt up the whistle, what a game by England, brilliant stuff, fair play France, good effort! Some game!
C’mon Ireland, Champions!
Back to back!! Yesssssss!
Actually couldnt watch the last 5 minutes. Nail biting stuff!!! Come on ireland ☺
Get in!
Brilliant. Well done to the Ireland team! Joe Schmidt, what a genius!! Is there nothing he cannot do, no tournament he cannot win?
What a day for Irish rugby…me nerves is shot!
I think da whole of ireland had their nerves shot yesterday! 2 great games of Rugby lets hope the ladies can do it today!
Best day in the history of the sport and one of the best in Irish sporting history.
3 great games of flowing attacking rugby. I’ve never seen anything like that drama and I’ve been watching rugby since the 70s. Fantastic day!
Hon the lads in green!!
Christ almighty. What just happened?
What a team, what a coach. My ticker nearly went
New Zealand beware….
With two Six Nations Championship titles in less than two years in charge, Joe Schmidt has sealed his place as Ireland’s greatest-ever head coach. Please give him a long-term contract extension now!
If Carlsberg did rugby………..
Ah lads, what a day of rugby! Ireland back to back championships. A special day for Irish rugby!
Never in doubt, are you having a laugh!! Amazing day of rugby, fair play to the boys, but hats off to England and Wales as well.
A testament to why Ireland are the Champions is the fact that on the last day of try-fests, Ireland conceded the fewest. We scored enough tries to hammer Scotland, but unlike England and Wales we did not also concede so much as to lose the race for the vital points race.
We were playing the worst team. Amazing day and what a way to win championship !
That’s been massively in doubt for tue last 80 minutes
Yahoo soooo exciting !!!!!
Happy26th Birthday Ian Madigan hsve a great night.
Back to back! Yyyyyeeeessssssss
C’monnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn ta fcuk!!!! Up for the double!!!! COYBIG!!! What a bloody roller coaster of a day!!!! Whooooooooooo
I think…I think I need a new heart. That was intense. Fantastic day of rugby.
Not a big fan of rugby but watched 2nd half of Welsh match and both of the other 2 today.That tackle the English guy made on the French number 10 was something I can’t get out of my head. I thought his neck was broke. I never thought I’d say this but I can’t wait for the world cup now.
G’wan Pauline and the lads. Legends all
Unreal day here in Edinburgh, never seen so many nationalities cheer on France!
Yes boi!!!!!!
Always proud to be irish & glad to have another reason to celebrate it
Delighted for ireland POC JOE AND THE NATION.
YYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!
With a capital Y!
The first time I’ve ever thought I was getting old because I genuinely thought about stopping watching in the last 5 mins for fear for my heart.
Living in Spain and couldn’t watch the match but kept up to date online. So exciting and nerve wracking right to the end. So delighted for Ireland. Great day for rugby. SLÁINTE!
Jesus christ thankyou France. I forgive you Thierry
Must mention how good the French referee was in murrayfield …….fair to both teams ,left his ego in the dressing room and let the teams play ball
So did Nigel as well in fairness
Yaaaaaaaaaaaa
I let out the loudest yell of “Huget don’t FUC* this up for us”. Couldn’t stop the little fella crying for a good 10 mins. ‘Twas well worth it though! Delighted.
Well done Ireland, a great achievement to be proud of.
Hon the lads!
Incredible day of rugby! So happy!
Yeeeeeeehaaaaa
Wow what a day of rugby back to back yessss
One in 6 chance. What an achievement……..
Arsehoe
With spelling like that you must be a rugby player.
Who gives a s-hit what some lonely troll thinks about anything? Get lost loser.
Good stuff ballyshannygrad. Apparently disagreeing to the hype around this elitist sport makes you a troll.
U said it-HYPE is the word.
Elitist? Please explain to me how Lidl are selling sets of Nike golf clubs, club memberships to Portmarnock and Pringle jumpers.
And with your punctuation, you must be a halfwit.
Who’s McElroy?
Sad pathetic angry little boys.
sorry,havent a breeze wot ur on about..4 likes so someone gets it,but then I’m not an RB
world indoor surfing champion-don’t tell me u haven’t heard of him??
very sharp witty response–u hav to b an RB roysh?
put him in touch with Jake!!
Thank you lads.♧
Éire Abú
Magic!!!
Never a doubt… what matches were you watching today?!
Words can’t describe what went on today in the Six Nations. The closest word I can think of is unbelievable. What a day! Definitely up there with the Grand Slam in ’09. Roll on the World Cup!
Never in doubt…..but I think I need new pants!
6 nations rugby is alive and well and Thx to – Ireland, England, Wales and France to a lesser degree –
To show we can play attacking , speed no quit rugby
Roll on the World Cup – with high hopes and not unfounded high hopes Joe Schmidt will see to that
Never in doubt apart from the steadily falling points difference what a totally stupid comment.
Never in doubt Steve!!!
It’s called relief. Read behind the headline and recognise it for what it is
The stupid is strong in this one…
Coybig
Thanks the Journal. I was watching the England v France match a hour behind on sky+ enjoying it and then my phone lights up with you telling me Ireland win it.
might wanna sort that in your settings. its not a big job. any organised person would have that sorted out.
Rules of not watching sport live, talk to no one, turn off every device, unplug the phone, and keep your eyes closed on the drive home from work, otherwise you’ll know the result and spoil the surprise
obviously not an RB coz they are soooooooo organised roysh
“Never in doubt” – I doubt that… skin of their teeth thankfully
That’s a serious stutter
“Never in doubt” – I doubt that… skin of their teeth thankfully
In fairness only a few countries play rugby. Scotland & Italy are useless so we’re better than England, France & Wales. You got to be realistic! People saying we’re the best team in northern hemisphere is a joke. It’s not as if the Germans were going to beat us!
you total tosser
jaysus,just thinking,will we have another back of a lorry job in Dame St!!?? FFS
“Never in doubt” – I doubt that… skin of their teeth thankfully
Surprise,suprise,only 1 day of 5 weekends of rugby worth watching and only because everything went out the window with the teams chasing a points target
What a lot of whoha..what about the fundemental glaring potential scoring errors against the welsh!-when push comes to shove we, l be nowhere to be seen come the world cup