Match Centre: Six Nations - Ireland 29-16 England

Ireland 29-16 England, Aviva Stadium

Ireland have claimed their fourth Six Nations Grand Slam as they defeated England 29-16 in the fifth and final round at Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

With France breathing down their neck following a bonus point win over Wales, Ireland needed to beat England and they were greatly aided by red card to fullback Freddie Steward.

The win also extended Ireland's winning streak at home to 14 while this was also their fifth Six Nations title after 2009, 2014, 2015 and 2018.

Owen Farrell started the proceedings for England with seventh minute penalty goal that he kicked in front of the posts. Ireland were kept quiet for most part of the first quarter with another infringement saw the England skipper kicking his second three-pointer of the day to give the visitors a 0-6 lead.

Ireland were desperate for a breakthrough which eventually came in the 18th minute when Hugo Keenan forced a breakdown error from England allowing skipper Johnny Sexton to land a three-pointer and in the process he went on to surpass Ronan O'Gara as the competition's record scorer.

Ireland went into the attack in England half but a knock on from James Ryan prevented them from scoring. Nevertheless, they went into the break with a lead as Josh van der Flier sent an inside pass for Dan Sheenan to crossover with Sexton's conversion making it 10-6.

With the break approaching, England lost Steward to red card for a collision with Keenan.

Despite being down on numbers, England refused to relent as another Farrell penalty goal helped them reduce the deficit to just one point. Ireland looked to make errors with another infringement as Peter O’Mahony knocked on at a lineout.

After Ireland had set a five-metre scrum Bundee Aki sent an inside pass allowing Robbie Henshaw to touchdown before Sheenan completed his second in the right corner and Sexton improved it to make it 24-9.

Even though Jamie George's try at the back of a maul in the 72nd minute with Farrell's conversion bring down the gap to eight points, their chances diminished as they finished with 13 players as Willis was sin-binned allowing Rob Herring to score his first Six Nations try and a Grand Slam success for Ireland.

Team line up:

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Henshaw, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; Baird, Ryan; O'Mahony, van der Flier, Doris.

Reserves: Herring, Healy, O'Toole, Treadwell, Conan, Murray, R Byrne, O'Brien.

England: Steward; Watson, Slade, Tuilagi, Arundell; Farrell (c), Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Ribbans, Ludlam, Willis, Dombrandt.

Reserves: Walker, M Vunipola, Cole, Isiekwe, B Curry, Mitchell, Smith, Marchant.