England's Alex Goode (C) holds off Ireland's Brian
O'Driscoll during their Six Nations match at Aviva stadium
in Dublin. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton
England have won a Six Nations match in Dublin for the
first time in ten years after Owen Farrell kicked them to a
12-6 victory to become the only team capable of winning a Grand
Slam after just two rounds of matches.
Ireland, who lost flyhalf Jonathan Sexton and wing Simon Zebo
to injury in a first half in which the host's handling was
simply abysmal, trailed 6-0 at the break thanks to the
ever-reliable boot of flyhalf Farrell.
England, whose last championship victory in Ireland also
coincided with their last Grand Slam win, were pegged back
thanks to two penalties from replacement flyhalf Ronan
O'Gara, but Farrell restored their six-point lead just after
the hour.
Both flyhalves missed a further shot each at goal in the
closing minutes as England, who next host a French team
already virtually out of the championship following two
opening losses, comfortably saw the victory out.
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