Jonny Sexton produced a sublime display, not just with the boot, before departing with a hamstring injury
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Matches: Ireland 19 - 9 England

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: England | Ireland

A Robbie Henshaw try and a nerveless kicking performance from Jonny Sexton ensured Ireland kicked England's Grand Slam aspirations into touch in Dublin.

Sexton slotted three penalties in a tight first half then another at the start of the second half. A pivotal period after the break was settled firmly in Ireland's favour when a Conor Murray kick over the top was brilliantly dotted down for a try by Robbie Henshaw.

The result leaves Ireland as the only team with a perfect record in this Six Nations Championship, meaning wins against Wales and Scotland in the final two weeks of the campaign will deliver their first Grand Slam since 2009, and only their second since 1948.

Alex Goode and Jack Nowell offered England extra defences against Ireland's much-vaunted kicking game at a windswept Aviva Stadium.

Saracens full-back Goode replaced the concussed Mike Brown, while Exeter wing Nowell stepped in for the discarded Gloucester flyer Jonny May.

Barcelona-born back-rower Jordi Murphy replaced Jamie Heaslip at No.8 for Ireland, with the Leinster man suffering cracked vertebrae in his back.

Ireland's tactical kicking yielded immediate reward, George Ford turned over after the hosts flooded a ruck from a Conor Murray box-kick.

England gifted Ireland a kickable penalty and Johnny Sexton duly opened the scoring in the third minute.

A cheap penalty from Billy Vunipola allowed Ireland the chance to clear immediately after the restart and settle into some rhythm.

Jack Nowell flailed at a high bomb from Sexton, forcing Alex Goode to carry into touch behind his tryline, handing Ireland a five-metre scrum.

Rory Best drove for the try but was held up, handing Ireland another attacking scrum. Rob Kearney cut a neat inside line off Jordi Murphy's No.8 break before James Haskell killed the ball to hand Ireland another penalty. Sexton slotted the goal to put Ireland 6-0 to the good in the ninth minute.

England finally played off the front foot, forcing Zebo to run the ball into touch for an attacking lineout in Ireland's 22. Ireland's defence held firm, so Ford dropped into the pocket to slot a drop-goal and half the hosts' early lead.

George Ford gets England on the board with a drop-goal © Getty Images

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Murphy handed England the chance to level through conceding a loose penalty, but Ford dragged his effort wide.

Ireland botched their attempt to stand off an England maul, but the hosts then pilfered the resulting five-metre lineout.

The hosts dismantled England's lineout again straight away, with Sean O'Brien racing clear. The Leinster flanker was felled at full-tilt and in attempting to regain his feet clearly stumbled and immediately received medical treatment on the field.

The 28-year-old then left the action for a concussion assessment, replaced by Tommy O'Donnell.

Ireland pounded into England's 22, only for Billy Vunipola to force a ruck turnover penalty from Peter O'Mahony.

Joe Schmidt's gritty side harassed England at a lineout, then hounded Luther Burrell in midfield, forcing a turnover and penalty. Racing Metro fly-half Sexton stepped up and extended Ireland's lead to 9-3 just ahead of the half-hour mark.

Scrum-half Murray almost sneaked clean through from a typical Schmidt trick play for Ireland, before the home pack set an impressive maul.

A cheap knock-on ended the attack, but when England tried to break Sexton dumped Ford on his backside and forced the Bath fly-half to spill the ball.

Ireland won a penalty for England offside in the tumult but Sexton dragged the tricky effort wide. A sloppy ruck offside from England handed Ireland the immediate chance to pile on more pressure from another attacking lineout.

England stopped Ireland's maul dead before Sexton over-hit a high bomb, allowing Goode to mop up and clear under no pressure.

Murray raced through England's midfield after the restart, Robbie Henshaw fly-hacking on his offload. Goode collected behind his own tryline and eluded two Ireland raiders to break to the edge of his 22 in swashbuckling fashion.

Ireland quickly regained possession and Rob Kearney attempted a snap drop-goal from long-range, only for the reasonably well-struck effort to drift wide.

Anthony Watson produced a searing break for England as play continued in loose form, but the Bath winger's attempted offload was easily forward.

England gifted Ireland a penalty with a cheap offside at the ruck, allowing Sexton to stretch the hosts' lead to 12-3.

Ireland's shrewd coach Schmidt pulled off another smart ploy by sending Sexton into the back-field every time England shaped to punt. The plan squeezed Ford at fly-half, allowing Ireland to dictate still further the territory and possession.

Throw in the fact Ireland seized the upper hand at the scrum, and Schmidt's men wrestled increasing control as the third quarter unfolded.

Ireland attacked steadily again, Murray chipped in behind the defence - and Robbie Henshaw beat Goode to the high ball to steal his first Test try. Sexton's nerveless touchline conversion sent Ireland into a 16-point lead.

Sexton came off with a hamstring problem, replaced by Leinster's Ian Madigan. The introduction of Tom Youngs at hooker for Dylan Hartley seemed to swing the scrum in England's favour, and the visitors won a penalty that Ford converted.

Madigan was unable to maintain Sexton's kicking masterclass and England edged back slightly when Ford added his second penalty.

The hosts still held a 10-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes however, but as in the victory over France were forced into a desperate rearguard action.

England replacement Nick Easter drove for the line as Ireland started to crack, but the Harlequins No.8 was rebuffed at the last.

Ireland were then able to clear their lines after winning a free-kick at the scrum, before Cian Healy forced Easter into a knock-on.

England attacked again at the death, but Billy Twelvetrees botched a try for Jack Nowell with a forward pass.

Schmidt now has the best win of his Ireland career then, after the head coach admitted in midweek beating England would top the lot. Not only does victory over Stuart Lancaster's side tee up a tilt at the Grand Slam and retaining the Six Nations crown, this win will also raise hopes for the autumn's World Cup.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell labelled England's class of 2015 better even than Sir Clive Woodward's 2003 World Cup winners. Schmidt's men killed England with kindness and compliments in the build-up, then set about dismantling Lancaster's charges with sheer tactical mastery and obduracy.

Away clashes against Wales and Scotland now stand between Ireland and Grand Slam glory: Schmidt's side will no doubt play down any such talk, but few will bet against a clean sweep from the men in green.

Robbie Henshaw dots down expertly for a try after beating Alex Goode to a high ball © Getty Images

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