England let a half-time lead slip as they failed to last the pace with Ireland in Dublin. Despite scoring in the opening minutes, the Irish eventually crossed four times for an entertaining 27-22 win.
In a dramatic start, England debutant Cadan Murley pounced on Henry Slade’s grubber kick through to score before the away side had to withstand heavy pressure. After Ellis Genge and Marcus Smith were yellow carded, Ireland No.9 Jamison Gibson-Park crossed but five points from the boot of Smith saw England lead 10-5 at the break.
Bundee Aki levelled matters with a five-pointer just after the interval, before Sam Prendergast kicked Ireland ahead for the first time. And from there the hosts dominated, sealing a bonus point with further scores from Tadgh Berne and Dan Sheehan.
But Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman crossed at the death as the Red Roses took a losing bonus point.
Express Sport brings you the England player ratings…
Full back: Freddie Steward 7 Superb under the high ball as always. Will have been disappointed to let Gibson-Park step inside him for the first Ireland try.
Winger: Tommy Freeman 7 Worked hard but didn’t get much opportunity to threaten with ball in hand before his crucial late score earned his side a bonus point.
Centre: Ollie Lawrence 8 His midfield break led to the attack for Murley’s try and gave the Ireland defence problems. Marshalled Bundee Aki well for most of the night and flattened Sam Prendergast with one burst forward. But not the same impact after half-time.
Centre: Henry Slade 8 Superbly judged kick set-up a dramatic start and looked to create throughout the first half. Faded in the second.
Winger: Cadan Murley 7 A mixed night. What a start to his test career with the early try and a notable burst straight after too. But twice in the second half he fumbled badly when dealing with deep kicks. Did help create Curry’s late consolation try though.
Outside half: Marcus Smith 9 Superb with ball in hand, asking constant questions of the Ireland defence and happy to run from deep. Place kicking right on point too. Couldn’t stop Aki for Ireland’s second try though – the only blemish on his display.
Scrum-half: Alex Mitchell 6 Gave Smith decent service and box kicked well, but a poor missed tackle on James Lowe led to Ireland’s first try. That moment will haunt him.
Prop: Ellis Genge 5 Carried well but sin-binned after giving away a close range penalty and also penalised at one crucial scrum. Stepped by Lowe after finding himself in midfield for Ireland’s third try and not his best afternoon.
Hooker: Luke Cowan-Dickie 7 Solid defensively and reliable with his throwing in.
Prop: Will Stuart 7 Impressive for 37 minutes but his match was then disrupted by a HIA.
Second row: Maro Itoje 8 Immense defensive display from the new captain. Colossal as England defended their own line for large periods but did concede the second half penalty that saw Prendergast put Ireland 13-10 up.
Second row: George Martin 6 A workmanlike performance.
Flanker: Tom Curry 8 One superb steal in the second half and slowed down the Ireland ball at the breakdown. Deserved his late try.
Flanker Ben Curry 7 Like his twin brother, put his body on the line as Ireland pounded away at the England line.
No 8: Ben Earl 6 Dropped one kick-off but carried well and it was his burst at the end of the first half that set-up a three pointer for Smith.
Replacements:
Dan 5 The hooker had 25 minutes but the set-piece didn’t fire after his introduction.
Jie Heyes 5 On before half-time for Stuart and went back off when the former passed a head assessment, but scrum creaked while he was on.
Ollie Chessum 6 Came on for Martin but put himself about.
Chandler Cunningham-South 5 Replaced Ben Curry before the hour mark and badly mistimed a tackle in the air on Lowe. Was lucky not to get 10 minutes.
Tom Willis 6 Replaced Earl but not the impact England would have wanted.
Harry Randall 6 On at scrum-half for the last 15 minutes with his team on the back foot. One decent defensive clearance.
Fin Smith 6 Thrown on at full back but had little chance to change the direction of the contest.
Fin Baxter N/A On for mere minutes before the final whistle.