And so it was that night fell at Twickenham on St Patrick's Day with the stadium emptied of Englishmen but awash with cavorting Irish men and women: green shirts amid the swirl of white snow, fireworks against the darkening sky, ole after ole
John Brown Womens Jersey rolling round the three tiers and selfies and hugs and 'we were theres'.
Even the deserted seats were the same colour as the Irish jerseys. It felt fitting on a day that Ireland came to the home of English rugby and gave them a lesson in the virtues that once defined its own triumphs.
In their last Grand Slam, amid the mayhem of Cardiff nine years ago, Ireland's victory was secured only on the very last kick of the match. The finale had swung every which way and fed both sets of spectators through the wringer. Brian O'Driscoll scored a pair of critical tries from a combined distance of about six inches.
This time it was almost comfortable, England's late charge coming with the game already gone. This time it came at a canter: three first-half tries, Ireland never behind and 16 points up at the break. No desperate late drama, no fears, precious few doubts.
It was a Ronan O'Gara drop-goal at the
http://www.officialducksshoponline.com/authentic-25-ondrej-kase-jersey.html death which won it in 2009. It was a drop-goal from his successor Johnny Sexton at the start which we may look back on this time as the pivotal moment: clock red in Paris with France ahead, 41 phases gone, 45 metres out, a miracle conjured up when a miracle was needed.
There are those making the argument that Ireland deserve now to be called the best team in the world. If they are not then they are mighty close. Twelve wins in a row for the first time in their history, only a third ever Slam sealed in a stadium where they hadn't won for eight years. And
Jabaal Sheard Jersey they are doing it all in a way that the All Blacks, the only team above them in the world, would find familiar.
There is an unnatural composure when all around are losing heads: when Wales chopped a 14-point lead to three, when Scotland were threatening to cut through and cut loose a week ago, when injuries against England saw a 20-year-old novice in Jordan Larmour operating at outside centre and scrum-half Kieran Marmion pressed into service on the wing.
There is a cold-blooded execution where others rush and spill: making exactly the same number of entries into the opposition 22 against France, Wales and Scotland as England but coming away with
http://www.officialoriolestore.com/Jonathan_Schoop_Jersey almost three times as many points; a total of 31
Harrison Barnes Authentic Jersey points scored in this championship when the clock has been red.
There is a bravery, not just of the physical type when putting bodies in the defensive line but in taking risks in attack when the safe option and a lack of censure beckons. Sexton cross-kicking to Keith Earls as the seconds bled away against France; Tadgh Furlong - a tight-head prop - flicking an offload away to Bundee Aki for the break that ended with CJ Stander's try on Saturday, when taking the ball into contact would have been the stay-safe call.
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