ENGLAND suffered a shocking second-half collapse against Ireland as their Six Nations opener fell apart in a 27-22 defeat.

The Red Roses dominated the first 40 minutes before the Boys in Green showed them what’s what in the next.

AP

England got off to a blistering start with an early try[/caption]

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Cadan Murley made crucial mistakes after his debut try[/caption]

Reuters

Maro Itoje made good on his promise to lead by example[/caption]

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Ireland scored three tries in a rampant second-half display as they launched their bid for a third successive Six Nations title.

While two late tries from Tom Curry, who made history after starting alongside brother Ben, and Tommy Freeman offered some sort of consolation in the way of a losing bonus point.

It is, however, a sixth defeat in seven matches for under-fire coach Steve Borthwick.

Here’s how SunSport’s Martin Lipton rated every England player from Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

Freddie Steward – 6

Secure and so solid under the high ball but made to look silly by Gibson-Park when he left the full-back on his backside for Ireland’s first points.

Tommy Freeman – 5

Few chances to really explode down the wing and among those outfoxed by Aki for Ireland’s second try.

Not sure the Northampton man is a game-breaker.

Henry Slade – 7

Superb grubber to set up Murley for the early England try and made a stream of big hits as he defended with relish and passion.

Ollie Lawrence – 7

Carried the ball with power and his tackling was as exceptional as those of Slade alongside him. 

Cadan Murley – 7

Dream debut for the Harlequins winger as he scored a beauty inside the first 10 minutes.

Spent much of the remainder of the game defending for his life.

Marcus Smith – 7

Showed imagination and great footwork from the outset to give England hope and inspiration.

Alex Mitchell – 5

Returning scrum half brought calmness but the missed tackle on Lowe, just as Smith was getting ready to return, was critical.

Ellis Genge – 6

Old fashioned grunt and grind in the front row rarely gets the plaudits but it meant England were never going backwards at the set-piece.

Luke Cowan-Dickie – 6

Missed his first line out but other than that got the radar working, a vital factor with England a jumper short because of the back row mix.

Will Stuart – 6

Another whose best work goes unrecognised by most but he showed the same application as his team-mates.

Maro Itoje – 8

The new captain promised he would lead by example. He did not disappoint in an all-action demonstration of his prowess.

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George Martin – 7

Worked well in tandem with his captain to ensure England were able to compete and at times silence the home crowd.

Tom Curry – 7

Like his twin, the Sale flanker seemed to be popping up everywhere within a remorseless determination.

Got himself a consolation try at the death – to the delight of his proud parents watching on from the crowd.

Ben Curry – 7

Ireland really must have wondered how many Currys were on the pitch as he gave total commitment to the cause.

Ben Earl – 6

The Saracens man might not be a traditional No 8 but his willingness to bust his guts from first to last minute is a sign of his mentality and quality.

Replacements:

Dan (for Cowan Dickie) – 6

Did his job in a difficult cause

Willis (for Earl) – 6

Came on just as the tide really started to turn against England. Could not stem it. 6 

Cunningham-South (for Ben Curry) – 6

Sent on to give England more bulk and energy in the last quarter 6

Chessum (for Martin) – 6

Back after injury and giving England extra line-out capacity in the final stages.

Fin Smith (for Steward) – 6

All or nothing move with namesake Marcus moving to full-back but the die was cast 6

Randall (for Mitchell) – 6

Another who came on when the game was gone 6 

Baxter (for Genge) – 5

Run out in the last 10 as England were left increasingly ragged 5

Heyes (for Stuart) – 5

Also a late introduction as the Red Rose wilted 5

BETTER for England. Much better. 

Signs that there is something to move on with under new skipper Maro Itoje.

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Sportsfile

But still nowhere near good enough as Irish eyes were smiling all over the Aviva.

Late tries by Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman ensured Steve Borthwick’s men will head back home with a losing bonus point and something tangible to grasp.

Yet those scores could not hide the fact England were blown away in the second half, unable to repeat the exertions of the first 40 minutes that had brought them an unlikely interval lead.

And while the final margin was only five points, for much of that second half it felt significantly more than that.

Once again, England found a way to lead, Cadan Murley in dreamland when he scored a terrific try with his first attacking touch of the ball in international rugby.

They found a heart and soul, too, defending with a passion and desire that could not be faulted.

But once again, just as so often over the past year, they could not quite get over the line – and ended up well beaten.

When it really mattered, their two key tackling errors were brutally punished as Jamison Gibson-Park and Bundee Aki scored either side of the interval to wipe out their advantage.

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And once Sam Prendergast finally found his kicking boots to nudge the home side in front, there was an inevitability about what followed.

James Lowe tore through the disintegrating England defence to allow Tadgh Beirne to canter home with the winger fending off Marcus Smith to set up Dan Sheehan to clinch the bonus point, although Curry and Freeman then cut the gap in the final minutes.

In the end, despite that late double, Ireland looked more like themselves, England a level – or more – below.

Yet what will hurt so much is how well Borthwick’s side, with Marcus Smith at his elusive best, started, reducing the home crowd to near silence.

Smith who was in at the beginning as England – and Murley – made the first statement.

He fielded a steepler from opposite number Prendergast and fed Ollie Lawrence, who made a key incision to put the Irish midfield on the back foot.

England moved the ball quickly to the left, with Henry Slade’s delicate kick allowing Murley to make the perfect opening to his international career, Smith kicking a beauty from the touchline.

It sparked the expected Irish response, England defending with desperation – and earning a warning from Kiwi ref Ben O’Keefe.

All Six Nations 2024 fixtures – Dates, kick-off times and TV channels for huge tournament

They had one escape when a try from hooker Rohan Kelleher was ruled out after the TMO spotted Beirne illegally grabbing hold of Itoje’s leg to prevent him from making a tackle.

England, too, had a try chalked off, although the whistle had gone for a knock-on as Itoje dislodged the ball before Mitchell scampered over.

That tackle by the new skipper summed up England’s approach, that mobile back row popping up all over the pitch to smother and deny.

The question was long long they could sustain the effort for – a task made even tougher when Smith was sent to the bin for a blatant offside after winger Mack Hansen had surged to within a few steps of the line.

Even so, the try they conceded just as Smith was getting set to return was disappointing – for Mitchell and Freddie Steward in particular.

Mitchell had a firm grasp on Lowe just inside the England half but allowed the winger to elude his grasp and power forward before flipping inside to Gibson-Park, who made Steward look silly as he misread the side-step.

Somehow, Prendergast pulled the conversion wide of the uprights, with England still, narrowly, in front.

Smith, back on the field, stretched the advantage from in front of the posts with the last play of the half.

But from the start of the second period, the England tank looked drained.

Pressure after Murley misjudged a high ball eventually told as Aki bulldozed through Smith, shrugged off Mitchell and then carried Freeman with him over the line.

Prendergast missed again but was on the money four minutes later when Itoje was adjudged – somewhat harshly – to have pushed Jack Conan in the line-out.

Once they were ahead, Ireland put down the hammer, England’s tiredness showing as the green tide kept on surging.

Beirne and then Sheehan were the beneficiaries to stretch the lead and ensure a fifth point for the holders.

Curry, who never gave up,  did force his way over the Irish line to cut the arrears with four minutes to go with Freeman scoring another with the clock in the red zone.

But they were just consolation tries. For all the effort, another defeat. And it’s France next week.

BRITAIN can only escape Donald Trump’s trade tariffs if Labour ditches its plan to cosy up to the EU, Keir Starmer has been warned.

The PM will meet with German leader Olaf Scholz in the UK on Sunday for talks about closer trade ties with the country as Britain marks the fifth anniversary of Brexit.

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UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer[/caption]

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PM is heading to Brussels[/caption]

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US President Donald Trump[/caption]

And on Monday he will go to Brussels to hold talks with the EU on a defence pact – where he will set out the case for greater integration.

But it comes just days after the new US President warned he will “absolutely” slap tariffs on EU goods.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Friday, Mr Trump said: “The European Union has treated us so terribly.”

Mr Trump has already announced 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico and 10 per cent levies on imports from China.

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US President Donald Trump holds an executive order he just signed[/caption]

AFP

Brexit supporters wave Union flags[/caption]

Andrew Griffith, Tory Shadow Business Secretary, warned Sir Keir not to jeopardise a US trade deal by cosying up to Brussels.

He told the Sun on Sunday: “Keir Starmer must not sell us short by throwing Britain under the bus with his Brussels chums next week.

“It’s time to show some backbone, get off the fence and secure a deal that keeps tariffs off the table.”

Nigel Farage said: “If you get too close to the EU on trade we won’t do a deal with America. The ball is in the PM’s court.”

Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Centre for Freedom at The Heritage Foundation in the US, said: “Brexit should allow the UK to avoid US tariffs that would hit the EU hard.

“Starmer would be extremely foolish to align himself with sinking Brussels instead of Washington, the world’s superpower.

“Keir Starmer must not betray the British people by surrendering to the EU. This would be an act of monumental folly.”

Keir Starmer is hoping to visit Donald Trump in America at the end of the month where he will make the case for Britain to escape trade tariffs.

He is expected to say that Britain and America’s special relationship means we should not be clobbered by the levies.

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Reform UK Party Leader Nigel Farage[/caption]

There are fears that shop prices could soar if the world is plunged into a tit for tat trade war.

Mark Carney, frontrunner to be Canada’s next PM and the former governor of the Bank of England, suggested the G7 should club together to stand up to Mr Trump.

He said: “Canada shares many values with the United Kingdom, with the European Union, a number of countries in Asia, with the G7 with the exception of the United States as it’s currently acting.

“And that creates opportunity and looking at commercial relationships in any of those countries, Canada included, we have to look at the world as it is now, not as it used to be or as we would have wanted it to be so.”

NATHAN ASPINALL has sent a four-word message to his Premier League doubters.

The Asp has had a shaky start to the year after he was thrashed 6-1 by Kevin Doets in the opening round of the Dutch Darts Masters in January.

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Nathan Aspinall has vowed to prove his doubters wrong in the Premier League[/caption]

But Aspinall, ranked No.11 in the world, has vowed to hit back at the PDC World Masters despite suffering a “torrid week” in his personal life.

Aspinall beat Andrew Gilding 3-0 in the opening round of the PDC World Masters in Milton Keynes on Friday.

Speaking to reporters after the win, Aspinall was asked whether the win would provide some extra motivation ahead of the Premier League starting on February 6.

He replied: “What do you think?”

The reporter replied: “I think so,” to which Aspinall added: “There you go.”

Aspinall appeared in his fourth Premier League event in 2024.

But finished 5th in the overall standings after winning two nights, coming runner up three times and getting to the semi-finals on three more occasions, meaning he missed out on the play-offs at the end of May.

On the win itself, the 33-year-old said: “Yeah, I’m just dead happy.

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“Everyone knows I’m a good player, but I’ve been lacking so much confidence, and I think I’ve walked off that stage probably the happiest and most confident I’ve felt in maybe three years.

“I needed that big performance tonight for myself.

“Forget about anyone else, I don’t care anyone else but myself and I’ve had a pretty torrid week in my personal life and that was something I needed. I’m dead happy.”

Aspinall added: “Confidence is everything in this game.

“We’re all as good as each other.

“I think a lot of the time whoever’s more confident wins.”

Aspinall’s win lined up his next match against Cameron Menzies in the quarter-finals.

You can keep up with all the darts action with SunSport’s live blog here.

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

KING Charles is “profoundly shocked and saddened” by the Washington DC aviation disaster which left 67 people dead.

America is continuing to mourn the victims of the crash on Wednesday after an American Airlines plane collided with a military helicopter.

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King Charles is ‘profoundly shocked and saddened’ by the horror Washington DC plane crash[/caption]

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The wreckage of the passenger plane being pulled from the Potomac River after the deadly crash[/caption]

The King said in a statement released through Buckingham Palace: “Our hearts, and our special thoughts, are with the people of the United States and our deepest sympathy goes to the families and loved ones of all the victims.

“I would also like to pay a particular tribute to the emergency responders who acted so quickly to this horrendous event.”

Earlier this week, a packed American Airlines plane was struck by a Black Hawk helicopter that was flying in the middle of its descent path.

Three soldiers on board the Black Hawk, including a new dad from Atlanta, died when the helicopter smashed into the incoming jet.

All 60 travellers, including four crew members died on board the plane after it erupted into a fireball and shattered into three pieces due to the chilling impact.

Both aircraft then plunged into the Potomac River as emergency operations were launched.

Hopes for survivors quickly faded as rescue crews worked through the night in dark, cold conditions.

After just a few hours the mission changed from a rescue to a recover operation with all passengers feared dead.

Officials confirmed there are no survivors – marking it the deadliest US air crash since November 2001.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy admitted the crash was “absolutely” preventable as investigations were quickly launched into the cause of the disaster.

Black boxes that could hold crucial clues have been dredged up from the plane wreckage in the Potomac River.

Officials say a preliminary report is expected to be issued within 30 days as divers continue to recover pivotal debris.

But as the nation grieves, frustrated families of the victims are demanding answers over how what should have been a routine flight to Ronald Reagan Airport ended in disaster.

It later emerged at least two other pilots reported near-misses with helicopters while landing at the airport in the last three years.

A passenger flight even had to abort a landing at the airport just a day before the tragedy.

Republic Airways Flight 4514 was forced to back out of touching down and had to make a second approach after a helicopter appeared near its flight path, the Washington Post reported. 

Duffy yesterday said he agreed with Donald Trump that the crash “looks like it should have been prevented”.

He insisted, however, there was “not a breakdown” in communication between the helicopter’s pilots and the American Airlines flight.

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Emergency response units assess the airplane wreckage in the Potomac River[/caption]

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A makeshift memorial near the site where a passenger flight crashed into a Black Hawk helicopter in Washington DC[/caption]

UNFORGOTTEN star Sinead Keenan has revealed her surprise real-life family link to the show’s storyline.

Sinead, 47, who plays DCI James in the ITV crime drama, made the revelation during an appearance on The One Show this week.

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Unforgotten star Sinead Keenan has revealed her surprise real-life family link to the show’s storyline[/caption]

BBC

The One Show host Roman Kemp was left stunned[/caption]

The actress discussed the personal challenges her character faced in the previous series as she plugged its return for series six.

Viewers will recall the turmoil Jessie endured after discovering her husband had been unfaithful with someone close to home.

In a surprising twist, Sinead revealed that her on-screen sister, Debbie – the woman involved in the affair – is actually played by her real-life sister, Grainne Keenan.

Host Roman Kemp was left stunned, saying: “This is such a mind boggle moment but, in the last series, your character Jess finds out that her husband is having an affair with her sister but your sister in the show is played by your actual sister in real life.

“Safe to say, not real-life husband? That would be horrendous! But how fun is it to play this out with her?”

Sinead replied: “Oh it’s great, it’s great. Thankfully that has never happened in real life so it was lovely.

“We’ve been in the same shows through our careers but our characters never met, crossed paths, so yeah that was real good fun.”

Written by Chris Lang, critically acclaimed Unforgotten is coming back to the small screen in just a matter of days.

The show stars Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sinéad Keenan as DI Sunny Khan and DCI Jessie James respectively, as they solve cold cases concerning murder and disappearance.

Fans will be thrilled to know Unforgotten will be back on screens from Sunday, February 9.

Meanwhile, the duo are called in to investigate when suspected human remains are uncovered on Whitney Marsh.

Analysis from Dr. Balcombe reveals the remains to be relatively recent and point to a grim circumstance.

It would suggest the body had been placed there having already been dismembered.

Armed with this knowledge, Jess and Sunny ramp up their search, convinced other body parts may not be far away.

An eclectic cast of characters also populate the story – including Melinda Ricci (MyAnna Buring), an outspoken Ireland-based television commentator.

Marty Baines (Max Fairley) is an autistic man living with his mother Dot in Deal, Kent while Asif Syed (Elham Elas), is an Afghan training for his UK citizenship test.

Elsewhere, Juliet Cooper (Victoria Hamilton), is a history lecturer and faculty head at a London university.

Although these characters live seemingly separate lives, they share intricate connections through their pasts.

Jess, Sunny, and their dedicated team are tasked with uncovering these hidden links to expose the truth behind the cold case murder.

Other returning stars include Andrew Lancel – who formerly played Coronation Street villain Frank Foster – as Jess’ husband Steve.

Meanwhile, actress and singer Kate Robbins returns to play Jess’ mum Kate.

Additional newcomers to the cast include established actors Jan Francis and Damien Maloney.

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She plays DCI James in the ITV crime drama[/caption]

Virgin Media

Her sister is Grainne Keenan[/caption]

IRELAND earned a dominant win against England in their SIx Nations opener – but the Red Rose earned a crucial late bonus point.

England started the game in blockbuster fashion with Cadan Murley scoring an early try on debut.

Defending Six Nations champions Ireland hit back through Jamison Gibson-Park, but a late Marcus Smith penalty gave England a five-point half-time lead.

However, Ireland dominated after half-time – scoring 22 unanswered points – before two late tries earned England a bonus point.

• Kick off time: 4.45pm GMT
• TV channel: ITV1
• Live stream: ITVX
• Ireland XV: 15. Keenan, 14. Hansen, 13. Ringrose, 12. Aki, 11. Lowe, 10. Prendergast, 9. Gibson-Park; 1. Porter, 2. Kelleher, 3. Bealham, 4. Ryan, 5. Beirne, 6. Baird, 7. Van der Flier, 8. Doris (C)
• England XV: 15. Stewart, 14. Freeman, 13. Lawrence, 12. Slade, 11. Murley, 10. M Smith, 9. Mitchell; 1. Genge, 2. Cowan-Dickie, 3. Stuart, 4. Itoje (C), 5. Martin, 6. T Curry, 7. B Curry, 8. Earl.

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