Six Nations champions England’s record equalling run of 18 consecutive match wins came to a sad end on Saturday, and with it the chance to win the Grand Slam, after they were beaten 13-9 by Ireland in Dublin. Ireland were dominant throughout the game as the weight of expectation and achieving historic greatness clearly weighed heavily on the young England squads shoulders, and while the white shirts mounted a spirited second half comeback, it was not to be as the home side stood firm and held on for another famous Grand Slam denying victory against England.

The International Rugby focus now switches to the British and Ireland tour of New Zealand, which gets underway on the 3rd June with a series of warm up matches and the real action begins on the 24th June.