Summary

  • Wales beat France 14-13 to claim second place in the Six Nations

  • Earlier Ireland beat England 24-15 to secure their third Grand Slam

  • And Scotland won a thriller against Italy 29-27 in Rome

  • Highlights & reports of all three matches on the BBC Sport website

  1. Ireland deadly in the redpublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    HT: England 5-21 Ireland

    Jacob StockdaleImage source, Getty Images

    By my rushed estimations, Ireland have now scored 31 points so far this Championship with the clock on red.

    Here's a run down of those points.

    • Against France, Sexton scored a drop-goal from another planet to win the game.
    • Against Wales, Bundee Aki's converted try on the stroke of half time and Jacob Stockdale's seven-point score on the whistle handed them a flattering victory.
    • Against Scotland, Stockdale bagged another seven-pointer in added time of the first half.
    • And now against England, Stockdale has made it a hat-trick in the red with another perfect score.

    Clinical.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    #bbcsixnations or text 81111

    Nick Hughes: So, we're blaming the groundsman for the third try?

    Anon: Knowing your opposition have a vastly superior kicking game, why would you extend the in-goal area? The stupidity of it sums up England's leadership.

    Don't forget to include your names on your texts.

  3. 'Shrewd'published at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    HT: England 5-21 Ireland

    Matt Dawson
    Former Lions and England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live

    Ireland have been very disciplined, especially when attacking. They’re a shrewd team. They have won huge games against the biggest teams in the world and they have rolled out their gameplan today. They’ve seen where the opposition are weak and have got the ammunition to attack them.

    I’m not sure how England are trying to play today... apart from like they played in Scotland and in France.

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    #bbcsixnations or text 81111

    Nick in Blackburn: England have zero discipline, zero composure, and zero chance turning this around,awful!

    Adam in Darlington: It's not normally the done thing in rugby to criticise the referee but some of his decisions have been interesting to say the least.

    Rick W: England game management very poor. Forwards so frustrating to watch. Bad decision after bad decision. Sort it out boys!

  5. 'Slick Ireland'published at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    HT: England 5-21 Ireland

    Paul Grayson
    Former Lions and England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

    Ireland ran off the field because they’re desperate to come out again and play the second half. England ran off the field because they felt they had to. They’ve not fired any shots at all in this first half. Ireland though have carried on being slick even with Sexton off the field and he was there to clap them off.

  6. A crucial couple of metrespublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    England 5-21 Ireland

    England mark the linesImage source, Rex Features

    England got special permission to add a couple of metres to depth of the in-goal area.

    That decision may have backfired.

    Jacob Stockdale needed every last centimetre of that extra room to get the ball down for Ireland's third try.

  7. Sorry stats for Englandpublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    HT: England 5-21 Ireland

    The half-time penalty count might surprise some out there. Ireland have conceded six penalties to England's five.

    But four of those penalties given away by the visitors came in a three-minute period as England hammered them at the maul. Peter O'Mahony was then sent from the field but Ireland STILL only conceded one try.

    England's infringements have been far, far more costly. They've also missed a whopping 10 tackles and only managed to beat three defenders in 40 plus minutes.

    England-Ireland

    Metres: 109-168

    Defenders beaten: 3-9

    Turnovers conceded: 6-2

    Tackles: 81-55

    Missed tackles: 10-3

    Penalties conceded: 5-6

  8. Ireland made own luckpublished at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    HT: England 5-21 Ireland

    Dennis Hickie
    Former Irish wing Dennis Hickie on BBC Radio 5 live

    Every call, every 50-50 Ireland have got. They’ve been in the right position every time Luck is 50% organisation and 50% preparation. Everything has clicked for Ireland at the right time. They play the same way every time they take to the field and execute it brilliantly.

  9. History callingpublished at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    HT: England 5-21 Ireland

    Tom Fordyce
    Chief sports writer at Twickenham

    Freezing afternoon but a half to warm the cockles - breathless, thrilling, angry, relentless. And a Grand Slam within Ireland's cold grasp.

  10. 'First class'published at 15:42 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    England 5-21 Ireland

    Dennis Hickie
    Former Irish wing Dennis Hickie on BBC Radio 5 live

    That looks like a first class try from Jacob Stockdale. He's had the presence of mind to chase the ball down and ground it. Stunning work from Stockdale when it looked like there was nothing on. Out of nowhere, another try for Ireland.

  11. Postpublished at 15:42 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    HT: England 5-21 Ireland

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union commentator at Twickenham

    Dreamland for Ireland. Calamity for England.

  12. Half-timepublished at 15:42 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    England 5-21 Ireland

    Ireland jog off though the snow flurries, but it is raining green rather than white points on the scoreboard.

  13. try

    Converted try - England 5-21 Irelandpublished at 40 mins

    Jacob Stockdale (con Carbery)

    TRY!

    And it all about Ireland's ambition and belief.

    Other teams would have kicked the ball dead and taken the half-time oranges with a nine-point lead.

    Not this Ireland team.

    Conor Murray thrusts blind, Jacob Stockdale chips ahead and just about controls and dots down as he out-paces the England cover.

    Joey Carbery with the extras and Ireland have a chasm of a lead.

  14. Try reviewpublished at 40 mins

    England 5-14 Ireland

    A massive moment coming up.

    Jacob Stockdale dives to get the touch in the in-goal area. But did he knock on and did he get it down before the dead-ball line?

    It could be a knockout blow for England...

    Stockdale scores for IrelandImage source, Getty Images
  15. Postpublished at 39 mins

    England 5-14 Ireland

    Maro Itoje with his tentacles all over rival jumper Iain Henderson at the line-out.

    Angus Gardner is deeply unimpressed.

    Another penalty for Ireland.

  16. Postpublished at 38 mins

    England 5-14 Ireland

    Ireland's forwards are too streetwise, too canny and are making England look naive by contrast.

    Iain Henderson ties up Maro Itoje off the England line-out, keeping the Saracens off the floor and securing the turnover. Superb work.

    And then, two set-pieces in a row, England are trigger happy at the engage.

    Ireland pass into the England half and collect Peter O'Mahony - sin-bin served - on the way. Just the usual £200 missing.

  17. 'World class Ireland'published at 15:33 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    England 5-14 Ireland

    Matt Dawson
    Former Lions and England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live

    Ireland are world class with their ball position and ball presentation. The way they keep the ball at arms length and get players rucking over creates so much time for them. There are so many options for them. It’s something Joe Schmidt has really worked on with them and they are masters of it.

  18. Postpublished at 37 mins

    England 5-14 Ireland

    The Ireland medical staff are earning their corn. They are on again, cleaning up Rory Best.

    Play to restart with an England line-out, just inside the Ireland half.

  19. Kruis-ing to the bench?published at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    England 5-14 Ireland

    George KruisImage source, Getty Images

    George Kruis, one of seven changes made by Eddie Jones for this match, hasn't had a good afternoon so far.

    He was brought in to steady the line-out, but England have lost two of their own throws.

    The lock has also missed a crucial tackle, conceded a penalty and only managed one carry.

    It can only get better?

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    #bbcsixnations or text 81111

    Ethan: What? England got a try? Don't worry. Just concede a ton of penalties to make up for that mistake.

    Jonathan Marshall: Daly!!! Good try! Points on the board!! Let's keep it going England :)

    George Coghlan: Eddie Jones Job centre tomorrow please. Boring rugby no Plan B, the Jose Mourinho equivalent of rugby.