British & Irish Lions
• British & Irish Lions tour Australia in 2013
Ireland Rugby
Wheels fall off the Sweet Chariot!
Tries from Dempsey, Wallace, Horgan, Boss sealed a demolishment of England that was quite simply superb to watch – there probably isn’t a better city to be in tonight!!
Emotions ran high as English were allowed into the home of the GAA for the first time, at least one Ireland player in tears during the anthems…. England went on to concede some 40 points for the first time in their history. Allowing Ireland to run up their record win against Ireland since the 40′s!
O’Gara kicked three penalties, after Wilkinson’s second minute penalty lead – leaving the score 9-3 after just 26 minutes.
As the rain came down on this monumental occasion the Irish pack began to push the line-out. Grewcock ended up offisde at the ruck and was yellow carded.
A 14 men England would always struggle against Ireland, as Stringer spun the ball down the line, sending passes through D’Arcy and O’Driscoll to send Dempsey over the line and allowing O’Gara to convert.
Horgan and O’Connell made valiant efforts, one denied by Tait, before Ireland push Wallace through after 38 minutes, again O’Gara converted.
Ireland 23-3 going into the half time break!
If the pub we were in was anything to go by – it was only going to get better and an expactant crowd gathered pints of Guinness for the second half.
O’Gara picked up another penalty 3 points early in the second half before debutant for England David Strettle scored an excellent try. England seemed to have come out firing.
Wilkinson converted, then missed and scored a penalty again shortly after. The momentum seemed to be on for the World Champions Chariot again, all cylinders firing.
Those cylinders were well and truly broken as O’Gara scored a penalty and restored a 16 point lead. England managed to repel just one attack before a long cross-kick was collected by 6ft 4in of Shane Horgan towering above Lewset to claim an outstanding try. O’Gara’s conversion making it eight out of eight to take Ireand to 36-13.
We all headed to the bar again assured of a win.
Only to look up and find last minute replacement scrum-half Isacc Boss grab an interception and race over the line in a wave of emotion as Croke Park went wild…….