Ireland deliver on momentous day

Ireland 43-13 England:Ireland delivered the performance the occasion demanded today when they hammered England by a record 43-13 in a momentous Six Nations encounter at Croke Park to reignite their championship ambitions.

Eddie O'Sullivan's men moved to within one win of completing a second successive Triple Crown triumph - victory over Scotland in Edinburgh next month will complete another notable hat-trick - while leaving England clutching at straws.

The world champions never recovered from a 23-3 interval deficit, although newcomer David Strettle capped an impressive Test debut by touching down early in the second period.

But Ireland were already home and dry, having capitalised ruthlessly on England lock Danny Grewcock's sin-binning to claim two first-half tries in his absence.

The 30-point margin smashed Ireland's all-time record winning margin of 22-0 against England in 1947.

England, meanwhile, conceded their highest points tally in Five or Six Nations Championship history, surpassing a 37-12 loss to France at Stade Colombes, Paris in 1972.

Full-back Girvan Dempsey, flanker David Wallace, wing Shane Horgan and substitute scrum-half Isaac Boss breached England's defence, while ice-cool Ronan O'Gara kicked majestically, booting 21 points through an immaculate display that saw him land five penalties and three conversions before replacement Paddy Wallace added the final conversion.

Opposite number Jonny Wilkinson kicked two penalties and converted Strettle's try, and while England are not out of the Six Nations title shake-up, they must beat France at Twickenham on March 11th and Wales in Cardiff six days later to maintain any realistic hope.

England have not won away since February last year, and they could have few complaints following largely ineffective displays from key personnel such as Wilkinson, centre Andy Farrell and Grewcock, whose indiscipline at the highest level again surfaced.

And it will now be a case of going back to the drawing board, as coach Brian Ashton finds himself with barely a fortnight to get things right before tournament favourites France arrive at Twickenham.

England's first Croke Park visit passed off incident-free before the kick-off, as God Save The Queen was impeccably observed by an 81,600 crowd, although pre-match formalities - and a delay while referee Joel Jutge's microphone was wired correctly - meant the game started nine minutes late.

England, lifted by Wilkinson's presence following his recovery from a hamstring problem, began confidently as the Newcastle fly-half slotted a second-minute penalty after Irish lock Donncha O'Callaghan drifted offside.

The world champions, without a win against Ireland since eight months before they lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy in 2003, were quickly pegged back though when O'Gara found his range from 35 metres.

Scrum-half Harry Ellis conceded the penalty, then Farrell failed to release possession under pressure, gifting O'Gara a simple three-pointer.

And things quickly degenerated for the visitors, as O'Gara completed his penalty hat-trick, then England imploded as Grewcock was yellow-carded for impeding Irish scrum-half Peter Stringer from an offside position.

Despite Grewcock's look of disbelief, it was a correct call by Jutge, and Ireland punished the Bath forward's indiscretion by scoring two converted tries in his absence.

England could not regroup quickly enough in defence, and a superb Gordon D'Arcy flick freed his midfield partner Brian O'Driscoll in space, who had the simple task of sending Dempsey sprinting over.

O'Gara converted, before adding extras again just before half-time when Munster forward Wallace smashed through England hooker George Chuter's attempted tackle to confirm the visitors' state of disarray.

Ireland, 20 points clear, trooped off to a standing ovation at half-time, while England effectively faced a damage-limitation exercise after offering little in attack and struggling to subdue an Irish side quicker in thought and deed.

Ashton made an interval switch, replacing flanker Magnus Lund with Wasps openside Tom Rees, but it was immediately a case of normal service from dismal England's perspective as Rees and Ellis messed up the restart, allowing Ireland an attacking scrum.

Captain Phil Vickery was then penalised, and O'Gara extended the lead to 26-3 with his fourth successful penalty.

England desperately needed inspiration, and it duly arrived from the impressive Strettle, who finished off superbly in the corner, touching down despite a despairing combined defensive lunge by D'Arcy and Dempsey.

Wilkinson effortlessly landed the touchline conversion, bringing England back to 16 points adrift, and despite Wilkinson booting his second penalty, O'Gara maintained his monotonous accuracy, giving the Irish a 29-13 advantage entering the final quarter.

England produced more positive passages of play during the second half, yet Ireland finished them off when a supreme O'Gara crosskick was caught by Horgan ahead of Lewsey.

O'Gara converted, before Boss intercepted Shaun Perry's pass, leaving embarrassed England with so much to ponder, having conceded four tries and appeared clueless for so much of the action.