By Gary Watton
April 23 2013
2001 was an extraordinary Six Nations for the men in green. An impressive win against France in Dublin bode well, but the team's apparent progress was rudely interrupted by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease which necessitated a re-shuffling of Ireland's three remaining fixtures against the other home unions in the autumn. The grand slam dream was wrecked after a characteristically below par performance at Murrayfield, but the Oirish rallied to ruin England's own beckoning grand slam with a memorable triumph in Dublin against a hitherto rampant England. Ironically, it was England who suffered the most from the postponement of this fixture as they had been in red-hot form earlier in the year.
ITALY 22 IRELAND 41; 3rd February; in Rome
15 Dempsey
14 Horgan [TRY]
13 Mullins
12 Henderson [3 TRIES]
11 Howe
10 O'Gara [TRY, 4 penalties, 2 conversions]
9 Stringer
8 Foley
7 Wallace
6 Quinlan
5 O'Kelly
4 Galwey
3 Hayes
2 Wood (c)
1 Clohessy
Rob Henderson emulated Brian O'Driscoll by recording an away-day tries' hat trick. Ireland had led 16-8 at half time.
IRELAND 22 FRANCE 15; 17th February; at Lansdowne Road
15 Dempsey
14 Hickie
13 O'Driscoll [TRY]
12 Henderson
11 Howe
10 O'Gara [5 penalties, conversion]
9 Stringer
8 Foley
7 Wallace
6 Quinlan
5 O'Kelly
4 Galwey
3 Hayes
2 Wood (c)
1 Clohessy
France plundered two second-half tries, but their 2000 tormentor O'Driscoll grabbed another one to secure a famous win.
SCOTLAND 32 IRELAND 10; 22nd September; at Murrayfield
15 Dempsey [TRY]
14 Murphy
13 O'Driscoll
12 Horgan
11 Hickie
10 O'Gara [penalty]
9 Easterby
8 Foley
7 Dawson
6 Easterby
5 O'Kelly
4 Davidson
3 Hayes
2 Wood (c)
1 Clohessy
Replacement David Humphreys converted Girvan Dempsey's late try but rampant Scotland were already out of sight.
WALES 6 IRELAND 36; 13th October; at the Millennium Stadium
15 Dempsey
14 Horgan [TRY]
13 O'Driscoll [TRY]
12 Maggs
11 Hickie [TRY]
10 Humphreys [5 penalties, 2 conversions]
9 Stringer
8 Foley
7 Wallace
6 Miller
5 O'Kelly
4 Galwey
3 Hayes
2 Wood (c)
1 Clohessy
Replacement Ronan O'Gara converted one of the tries, but his efforts were eclipsed by a Humphreys total of 19 points.
IRELAND 20 ENGLAND 14; 20th October: at Lansdowne Road
15 Dempsey
14 Horgan
13 O'Driscoll
12 Maggs
11 Hickie
10 Humphreys [3 penalties]
9 Stringer
8 Foley
7 Wallace
6 Miller
5 O'Kelly
4 Galwey
3 Hayes
2 Wood (c) [TRY]
1 Clohessy
Replacement Ronan O'Gara added two crucial penalties after Keith Wood had barged over for a famous first-half try.
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