Second-half salvo steers Ireland past England | Post-match reaction | Ireland 27-22 England 🏉

Sinead Kissane is joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor & Cian Tracey at the Aviva Stadium after Ireland turned the tide to topple England in their Six Nations opener.
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[@redmondo42]

That fourth try was the best moment in Irish rugby I can remember in a good while. The fact that it was Sheehan, just back from an ACL, both starting and finishing the move, sealing the victory and bonus, and the roar from the crowd. Great stuff

[@Camcolito]

Sheehan two half games back from a serious injury and three tries. Guy is unbelievable.

[@ciarancarroll7245]

Can we not jjust leave this Jack/Sam debate aside for a few minutes and have a moment of appreciation for Gary Ringose absolutely ending fellas is defense for the past 18 months. When that guy hits you, you are still feeling it into the back end of the following week! Nasty. & i am all for it

[@geoffnelson6756]

Gary looks so boyish and innocent, but he is so brave at just stopping big guys running at him, but yes often overlooked when the pats on the back are going round.

[@inkandtoner1]

From a Leinster fan, Crowley is much better at the moment.

[@baruchhashem49]

Bollix 😂😂😂

[@rossoconnor1769]

Conan was immense

[@annger8163]

What a biased mouthpiece ROC is he almost got angry when Cain suggested Crowley will start next week! Crowley deserves to start next week!

[@geoffnelson6756]

The old 'if it ain't broke' nugget, Sam may be better coming off the bench, Crowly is more methodical and physical, able to absorb the energy from Scotland in the first half, Sam could really shine at picking off tiring defences, old be the way to go.

[@eddieroche8176]

ROC got very touchy when Cian suggested Crowley might start next week LOL

[@deirdreryan5674]

He also suggested during the week that Tadgh Beirne shouldn’t start!

[@bullish7352]

Losing whatever credibility he has left, not a serious rugby journalist

[@DamianDelaney-k9z]

R O’Connor has been slowly losing credibility as an impartial journalist over the last few years. He is clearly so so biased towards Leinster. However, to say that Sam Prendergast was excellent is the final straw for me. He is out of his mind. Prendergast is a fine player and will be even better but the hyperbole is just mental. It’s like he’s not allowed to say Prendergast was less than excellent, ever.

[@paulennis2996]

😂😂😂

[@dermot_desmond_69]

@@paulennis2996Nobody said he was JC biased. Are you drunk or just dumb ?

[@michaelodonnell824]

Crowley came on against a tiring, inexperienced, England second team - and still gifted England two tries....

[@Conish74]

Jesus, it doesn’t take much to rile you does it? Touchy much? 🙄

[@DamianDelaney-k9z]

@ good 1

[@lawLess-fs1qx]

much improved since Autumn. no idea if the lineout is fixed. Scotland will target it. sp was ok in his 3rd cap. hope they reverse the order next week& Crowley starts. Love the bokkie bench. hope frawley & Osbourne make the bench next week.

[@cateym]

ROC front row seat on the SP hype-train. So, so slow to give any credit to JC.CT, so much more measured in his analysis.

[@bengormley2517]

Who picked MOTM?.....Lowe had a hand in every try......great confidence for Murrayfield!

[@christopherodonovan]

Prendergast while i thought he should maybe start, Crowley showed hes the better 10 at this stage

[@atoms-to-atoms]

I agree Crowley was a smooth humming engine...Ireland looked like the dangerous attacking side that we all know...Prendeg makes me nervous and I'm fm Capetown.

[@DAGATHire]

this kinda crap is the "toxicity" mentioned regarding the two 10 options. People need to shut up making comparisons and accept this is a good time for us REGARDLESS who starts. Arguing about it is base and the mentality of soccer supporters.

[@burncarlow]

I think we should leave it up to easterby. I'd say he's forgotten more than I know about rugby. I literally couldn't care less who starts if we're winning. 2 class 10s.

[@otuamab]

Ruaidhri O'Connor is clearly biased against Mr Crowley and I am an Irish supporter.

[@paulennis2996]

😂😂😂

[@johnmurphy6241]

ROC needs to get his head out of Leinster. SP was not very good - he was ok but didn't light any fire. JC came on and was very good - changed the game. JC has much more to offer Ireland.

[@leanjimcollins]

Maybe Crowley made a significant impact (again!) because he is a better Outhalf. Rather than have an impact in the last 15-20 mins; shouldn't he be allowed to do that from the start?

[@ShaadHamid]

Team Crowley!

[@Dooley6340]

Are these guys watching the same game!! Crowley & Sheehan have to start

[@PWGC]

Prendergast and Crowley are not being judged on the same scale. Prendergast’s mistakes are overlooked, Crowley’s aren’t.

[@ChaunceyGardner100]

I wanted crowley to start....an angry england in a 6N opener for me was way too much pressure for Sam to make his 6N debut. he weathered the english storm well and we conceded two soft tries after he came off.

[@DAGATHire]

another toxic munster fan. there guys care more about the red jersey than the GREEN! Disgusting

[@cateym]

​@DAGATHire what is toxic about stating the obvious??

[@JDrew-1905]

Cian Healy is an international legend who is now slowly but surely tarnishing his own amazing legacy. Irish fans still ask, what if Johnny Sexton had been prepared to retire just 15 minutes earlier than he actually did ?

[@bengormley2517]

agree...need to give new guys game time

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

nah in all seriousness Healy is good to have in the squad for the experience espicaly for the younger lads he's also the kind of man you want to be able to bring on 20 minutes to go

[@seangriffin8659]

i think healy is still around because he can cover all three front row positions well

[@seanlennon5986]

Murley had touched the ball and knew that's why he caught the ball and tried to run out. Surprised the pundits didn't catch that.

[@robbiecgraham]

Seema a bit unbalanced the view of Crowley. This is the 2nd international in succession where he's come on a noticeably outperformed Prendergast. I think Prendergast is a greay talent, but he's getting everything his own way at the moment and I dont think its fair on Crowley to be honest.

[@johnhearne2192]

Don't know what I am missing but what exactly did Crowley do they everyone is talking him up. He didn't have a hand in the tries and had a few loose kicks from hand. Kicking off the tee was good. He also didn't pass when possible try move was n and he got turned over?

[@ciankeith3999]

Before I start talking about the outhalves, i just wanna say that im delighted we got the win over a bruising and tenacious England. Massive performances from Lowe, Beirne, VDF and JGP in particular. Crowley has been put in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. If he plays well off the bench, he'll continue on the bench, if he doesn't, he'll get dropped. Prendergast can make as many mistakes as possible and still get picked ahead of him. Crowley and SP have been involved in the 23 three times (ARG, AUS, ENG), and in all three games, Crowley was the better overall player. Prendergast's rise has felt reverse engineered from hype, and more like a Divine Right of King's than a meritocratic claim. I even think Frawley is better; are we forgetting those drop goals?? I guarentee someone is going to call me toxic for picking on a young fella, but Prendergast is older than me. Crowley should start the big games.

[@robertmorgan000]

8 fresh players off the bench with 20 mins to go and we concede 12 points?! Glad we won...entertaining game...but come on lads! Very poor finish

[@criticaltheoryofsociety7476]

Letting that last try in was particularly bad. Gave away a losing bonus point as softly as they come.

[@Stephendenham]

Somehow... after two years... we finally have a lineout

[@ChaunceyGardner100]

the english didn't really go after our lineout. that was noted when they made their selection early in the week. that said, I thought Kelleher played really well and Sheehan was incredibly good when he came on.

[@cateym]

Agreed. The Scottish will have a crack.

[@Camcolito]

@@cateym Ah stop it's only Scotland.

[@aaronkelly33]

Id rather have Crowley come on with 30-35 mins to go in a match than have prendergast coming on. Prendergast still learning and didn't have a great game but gained some confidence playing in that match...but I genuinely fear him going up against the French. Crowley definitely the better 10 at the moment, but sometimes you need your best players to finish a match instead of starting.

[@siriusb22]

The fella in the check shirt is bias. Prendergast is still too slow. Huw Jones will make hay off Prendergast

[@jaqmart]

The 3 Kiwis are all over 30 years - Bundee Aki (32), Jamison Gibson-Park (32) and James Lowe (32). Mack Hansen, born in Australia, is 26 years. Glad we have them as they've given us so much joy.

[@LeMerch]

Born in Australia to an Irish mammy

[@johnmarshall6629]

Prendegast threw a few passes to no one missed kicks couldnt tackle ,but yet the media will talk him up and say he had a good game ,at least the times call it as they see it .

[@bybdy]

Prendergast opened up a fresh (disciplined) English blitz a couple times. Variety of passing and his body shape pre pass was excellent. Ireland need to be able to get outside of NZ and England's blitz. Invest in prendergast at a starter, Crowley does much better as a running threat to keep tired defences honest in last twenty minutes.

[@arunasvenckus2145]

😊

[@neilmontgomery3470]

Both of them are excellent. We are so lucky to have both. That was Prendergast's first start in a Six Nations game and it wasn't perfect but he had a part in two tries when England were on top. He was also on the field when Ireland started to turn the game.

[@SmcdMcd-d2k]

@@bybdy OK we need to stop complaining that we finally have multiple replacements for Johnny Sexton not just one player they’re both brilliant in different ways and they’re both goal players let’s just stop trying to divide the country and be appreciative

[@bybdy]

@ 100%. Both are good players, this current starter-sub dynamic has worked. Crowley will get starter opportunities in the future, Prendergast has stuff to work on. Continues to be a great time to be an Ireland fan

[@brendanpayne115]

I'd imagine the Welsh would love to get Easterby as coach post Gatland!

[@burncarlow]

I heard something mentioned on a podcast that they were sniffing around. Easterby has a lot of Welsh connections so it would make sense. Hope it's not true though.

[@atoms-to-atoms]

You all look relaxed and slightly buoyant..🤣...what a game!

[@kjwavegypsy563]

Too much pressure being put on Prendergast by Media hype...The lad is only starting out..he's gonna need time to develop in 'Big Boy School'...he's not yet an O'Gara, or a Sexton, Crowley has more miles under him and as a result craftier and more battled hardened and has managed to dodge the purile Media hype....Ruaridh my myopic lad ....refrain from being a 'follower'....grow a pair🙄

[@rossoconnor1769]

Lowe was class picking soft shoulders

[@eddiecarbide]

I’m happy with Prendo or Crowley at this stage, a great combo but the fact is, Crowley got dropped for less in Autumn, doesn’t make sense to me and doesn’t make sense that people can’t see that…

[@geoffnelson6756]

Better to save Furlong for a run out against Wales in prep for the France game, we tend to come out of Scotland with multiple Injuries, but unlike the WC game where they had 7 days to field a team compromised with injuries v NZ, this time they have 2 weeks to prep for Wales, perfect run of games.

[@johncallaghan1787]

Great point by ROC again about micro picking after Cowley over carried for 5th Try failure but admired everything else as gold. Obviously coming on as sub when England weaker and tired, is completely different to Prendergast on at start of match having to manage/create.. He succeeded though but sadly Ire missed 4 good opportunities in that half to get another try.

[@deirdreryan5674]

What is it about tired players for England? They subbed their bench, so why would they be tired?

[@fredcarr7275]

Yes, Prendergast had a slow start, but let us be mindful that England were dominant in the first half. By the 65th minute Ireland and Prendergast had tired out England, established the lead, dominance and momentum. Crowley coming on at that stage showed up well and had impact. The game is a 23 squad/player game. And as Erasmus/South Africa have demonstrated that bringing on impact players from the bench is a good strategy. Ireland's timely introduction of impact players at key moments in this game like Conan, Crowley, Henderson and Sheehan paid dividends, and is a useful strategy going forward.

[@cateym]

SP on his own I suppose!

[@alanobrien3736]

Can we please change the Laws of Rugby to ban pre-match singers for the anthems? Just let the crowd sing accompanied by the band.

[@johnhearne2192]

Why is no one talking about Ireland not taking penalty kicks in first half? If we had kicked 2 or 3 pens we would have led at half time. So despite first half pressure by England we had more scoring opportunities which I think we were wrong to spurn. Also with a young 10 having his first 6Nations start why not give him a nice couple of easy kicks to settle him in. NZ would have taken kicks and built scoreboard momentum. I hope we think again in future tests and take points when they are on offer. A good win but a better team would punish us for not taking points.

[@BarryHawk]

Ahh Rud take off the Blue specs, Crowley was better, even Borthwick said so.

[@eamonlyons8069]

Ruaridh shut up. Crowley outclassed Prendergast yesterday

[@powerbite92]

These journos are almost impossible to relate to..

[@robcousins231]

No he didn't. We have two very promising outhalves. Be happy with that.

[@ChaunceyGardner100]

I wanted Crowley to start. that was too much of a pressure game to give sam his 6N starting debut. a few nervy kicks and a poor conversion miss aside, he marshalled the backline so well only a clever grubber kick breached us. we weathered the english storm with him on the pitch and we conceded 2 soft tries when he came off.

[@ChaunceyGardner100]

just watched the game back. conan & sheehan coming off the bench had more impact than crowley, who's poor defensive read and missed tackled gifted the english their final try and losing bonus point. I have seen Frawley being left out of the team for less.

[@cateym]

You're attributing way too much to either 10. ​@@ChaunceyGardner100

[@Natedawg38]

Prendergast had a disappointing game. Which is fine. Back the Jack.

[@shamey98]

Park the SP JC debate. Both need pressure games to develop. Bigger issue..need utilise players from all 4 provinces

[@garyoconnor8421]

As an leishmaniasis fan what a big mistake by.england not to contest the line out

[@BarryHawk]

Conceding those 2 tried in the last 5 was poor other than that, very composed.

[@kieranoconnor4334]

Prendergast was out his league from the begining. Passing, on-field kicking, place kicking and strategially he couldn't communicate clearly what he was doing with players around him. The guy is running before he can walk at this level. Only the Dublin/Leinster based media are saying he's doing well. This is a case of Leinster self-delusion in large neon letters! (Not a Munster fan by the way)

[@redmondo42]

And yet, Ireland were ahead when he went off (thanks to him setting up the 2nd try and slotting a tough penalty). If that's him out of his league, let's have more of it I say

[@robcousins231]

Yeah right!🤣

[@ChaunceyGardner100]

thought he did well. I wanted Crowley to start. I thought an angry english team in a 6N opener was too big a game to give Sam is debut 6N start. he marshalled the back line so well and we weathered the english storm with him on the pitch. we conceded two soft tries after he came off.

[@burncarlow]

Let's just leave it to Easterby.

[@seanlennon5986]

' laced with pitfalls ey ' 🤪

[@ChaunceyGardner100]

great review of the game guys.

[@markmolloy5680]

Has ROC gone so far down the SP rabbit hole that he cannot actually see objective reality? The narrative he and others are peddling is embarassing at this stage. Glad that Cian could show some impartiality in his review. Irish fans want the in-form 10 playing each week. Or even the 10 that is best suited to a particular opposition.

[@kiaoragin]

I don't think the 10 will change next week. I enjoyed watching Crowley when he came on and I think its their different styles really help Ireland at the right time. SamP made some mistakes and Crowley, got himself isolated even though he got close to the line near the end and the ball was turned over. I don't mind starting Crowley at all but would rather see them stick with Sam through the Scotland game.

[@annger8163]

At least Crowley was trying to score, Sam was like a chicken in the headlights. He had the ball close to the line should’ve scored but pass the ball and lost it. Crowley much tougher player he needs to start against Scotland. We need to win.

[@cateym]

SP looked like he was going to puke during the anthems. He grew into the game, no doubt.

[@brendanlaird4620]

Knee nabber...noice.

[@MarkDevitt-k3p]

England not worth 22 points that’s for sure

[@lesliestack44]

Lady needs a fidget spinner

[@johnredmond7085]

She is always obsessed with the audio balance. Look back at any of her videos, same thing.😅

[@bernieob9577]

😂

[@Camcolito]

Cocaine's a hell of a drug.

[@geoffbuckley8285]

Misogyny live and well

[@ChaunceyGardner100]

poor conversaion miss and a few kicks too long aside, I thought sam prendergast did well in his 6N debut. not perfect but he seemed to handle the english targetting him and the pressure well. Crowley did well when he came on but we concedded 2 relatively soft tries after he did. we really lneed to look at how we conceded the late tries.

[@bobbugle]

Ignorant. Great game in Murrayfield...this is not soccer son

[@ShaadHamid]

Itoje didn’t push anyone in that lineout. Ben O’Keeffe got that wrong

[@ChaunceyGardner100]

he didn't call it. assistant ref did. when a player is in the air you only need the softest of touches. rugby dark arts not unlilke beirne getting pinged for clinging onto itojes leg when kelleher scored.

[@Camcolito]

He clearly did and clearly a penalty. Might have been a stupid and soft penalty, but very clearly illegal.

[@joemoody7440]

Go watch it again you are clearly wrong.

[@AnnFennell]

Not ireland but vodaphone the 1916 leaders turning n their graves foringers and new Zealanders

[@rightkick_cemetery]

"Foringers" 😂 I think most Irish people would take those "foringers" over you any day, Ann

[@SmcdMcd-d2k]

Okay do you wanna give a brace down of all these foreigners You do realise that Jemison Gibson Park his mother’s family are from Armagh.. then out of the squad of 35 players there is James surname by the way is Scott irish.. and then Bondi who has been in Ireland I think maybe 12 years or so longer perhaps. So go through the team sheet again and stop being a miserable woman

[@harshbutfair8993]

@AnnFennell You really got much bigger things to worry about, there are 6 year olds in China who could write better English sentences than you. I'd really focus on sorting that out if I were you, before getting worried about what the 1916 Easter rising participants might make of it all!

[@powerbite92]

@@harshbutfair8993 Not really. The deal was done that IRE would be destroyed and the middle classes would be given their very own version of "middle class sportsball" in order to distract them and thus to help them feel okay about stabbing their fellow working class Irish in the back. So.. you lost your country.. but Google poured shedloads into your rugby programmes - Great. Enjoy the 'win" my smarmy supercilious bourgeois friends..

[@derkoenigvonbayern]

Hello Ann, are you single? You would be my dream partner. Someone so intelligent and intellectual as you are, is making you the perfect future bride ❤