By Gary Watton
April 26 2013
Fast becoming one of the most consistent teams in the Six Nations, Ireland put their triple crown near-miss of 2005 behind them and promptly collected another such prize courtesy of the most dramatic finale imaginable in their St Patrick's weekend in London when big Shane Horgan stole the show with two tries that narrowly avoided contact with the touchline. Regrettably, the championship itself remained out of reach because the French proved a little too hot to handle in Paris, though their cuase was assisted by the fact that the visitors sportingly allowed the hosts to construct a huge lead. Still, this was another Six Nations for the men in green to savour, and there was more success on the horizon for this talented bunch.
IRELAND 26 ITALY 16; 4th February; at Lansdowne Road
15 Murphy
14 Horgan
13 O'Driscoll (c)
12 D'Arcy
11 Bowe [TRY]
10 O'Gara [4 penalties, 2 conversions]
9 Stringer
8 Leamy
7 Wallace
6 Easterby
5 O'Connell
4 O'Kelly
3 Hayes
2 Flannery [TRY]
1 Horan
Three second-half penalties from O'Gara were decisive after both teams had been deadlocked at 10-10 at the interval.
FRANCE 43 IRELAND 31; 11th February; at the Stade de France
15 Murphy
14 Horgan
13 O'Driscoll (c)
12 D'Arcy [TRY]
11 Bowe
10 O'Gara [TRY, penalty, 4 conversions]
9 Stringer
8 Leamy
7 Wallace
6 Easterby
5 O'Connell
4 O'Kelly
3 Hayes
2 Flannery
1 Corrigan
The replacements Donncha O'Callaghan and Andrew Trimble scored two of Ireland's four second-half tries.
IRELAND 31 WALES 5; 26th February; at Lansdowne Road
15 Murphy
14 Horgan [TRY]
13 O'Driscoll (c)
12 D'Arcy
11 Trimble
10 O'Gara [4 penalties, 2 conversions]
9 Stringer [TRY]
8 Leamy
7 Wallace [TRY]
6 Easterby
5 O'Kelly
4 O'Callaghan
3 Hayes
2 Flannery
1 Horan
Ireland pulled away in the second half, thanks to two converted tries and two penalties. They had led 11-5 at half time.
IRELAND 15 SCOTLAND 9; 11th March; at Lansdowne Road
15 Murphy
14 Horgan
13 O'Driscoll (c)
12 D'Arcy
11 Trimble
10 O'Gara [5 penalties]
9 Stringer
8 Leamy
7 Wallace
6 Easterby
5 O'Connell
4 O'Kelly
3 Hayes
2 Flannery
1 Horan
This dour contest was decided by penalties. Ronan O'Gara kicked four while Chris Paterson kicked three in the first half.
ENGLAND 24 IRELAND 28; 18th March; at Twickenham
15 Murphy
14 Horgan [2 TRIES]
13 O'Driscoll (c)
12 D'Arcy
11 Trimble
10 O'Gara [3 penalties, 2 conversions]
9 Stringer
8 Leamy [TRY]
7 Wallace
6 Easterby
5 O'Connell
4 O'Kelly
3 Hayes
2 Flannery
1 Horan
England recorded a very early try, but Ireland had the last laugh with a last-ditch try, having led 11-8 at half time.
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