Ireland stuns England at Twickenham in a 42-21 rout and revives Six Nations hopes

The script was expected to go the other way. England had not lost at home since autumn 2024, and a fiery retort after losing to Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend was expected to celebrate captain Maro Itoje's 100th England cap.

But England was flat and sloppy while Ireland harked back to the No. 1-ranked team from 2023; energetic, efficient and fearless. Having slipped to No. 5, the Irish beat a team ranked higher than themselves for the first time since July 2024.

And it was historic: Ireland's greatest win by score and margin at Twickenham with a bonus point from scoring five tries to three. All-time, England conceded its second most points at home.

“It was a very enjoyable game to be a part of,” Ireland captain Caelan Doris told ITV. "The fast start definitely helped but there was a ferociousness about us, there was some mistakes but we were always on the forward. It came together for us.

“Internally, there has always been belief at the core of what we are doing. We feel we have the right coaches and right group of players.”

Ireland shot to 22-0, led 22-7 at halftime, scored straight after the break and piled on. Jack Crowley booted seven from 10 for a personal 17 points in his second Six Nations start in two tournaments.

The clash of British and Irish Lions — 13 on Ireland's side and nine on England's — was a reminder of why Ireland dominated the successful squad in Australia last year.

Two consecutive losses have knocked out England from contending for the title. England finishes at Italy and, on the final weekend, defending champion France. Ireland goes home to welcome Wales and Scotland and hoping unbeaten France has an off-day somewhere.

“It's brutal professional sport because if you get 5% wrong it's gone,” England prop Ellis Genge told the BBC. “We probably believed the hype from the first week too much. We can't let the noise in now. I am gutted (about missing the title). It’s tough but that is what professional sport is and she’s a nasty mistress sometimes.”

‘Nice to be Irish today’

An opening night hammering from France followed by an unconvincing win over Italy plunged Ireland into despair that a generational team was on the wane. But coach Andy Farrell's decision to give starts to Jamison Gibson-Park, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Josh van der Flier and Crowley came up trumps.

“It must be nice to be Irish today,” Farrell told ITV. “I didn’t really care if we won or lost, I just wanted us to learn and get better from what we have shown in the first games. We geared ourselves up and gained more respect for each other. I am unbelievably proud of the lads."

Ireland was relieved early by England errors, highlighted by George Ford twice missing touch-finders into the left corner.

Injured winger James Lowe was replaced by Tommy O'Brien, whose first touch was to support a long break by fellow wing Robert Baloucoune. Gibson-Park quick-tapped, caught England sleeping and dashed over for the opening try that Crowley converted from the touchline.

England was suddenly full of holes. Ireland center Stuart McCloskey slipped off opposite Ollie Lawrence and Baloucoune was scoring. In a double blow for England, fullback Freddie Steward was yellow-carded for illegally trying to slow Gibson-Park.

Referee Andrea Piardi hurt his left leg and had to be replaced by Pierre Brousset, then Baloucoune was scoring off an O’Brien break for 22-0 after 30 minutes.

England coach Steve Borthwick pulled off Luke Cowan-Dickie and Steward for a spark from Jamie George and Marcus Smith and they finally pierced Ireland's magnificent scrambling defense a minute into injury time through Fraser Dingwall.

But the boost was short-lived.

Ireland used a yellow card to Henry Pollock in his first England start to get hooker Dan Sheehan over and Farrell was all smiles.

Pollock returned from the sin-bin to help Lawrence score a try and Ireland fullback Jamie Osborne was yellow-carded.

Itoje usually goes 80 minutes but in his milestone match he was replaced in the 55th.

Crowley added two penalties and a conversion to a try by Osborne straight out of the sin-bin. Ireland's hunger was relentless: McCloskey chased down Marcus Smith from behind to save a try in the 73rd. That earned a fist-pump by Farrell in the coaches' box.

Sam Underhill claimed England's third converted try but moments later Ireland was doing a lap of honor at Twickenham, celebrating a sixth win at England's home in the Six Nations era. No other Six Nations team since 2000 has more than two wins.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby