By Gary Watton
April 26 2013
Regrettably the Irish went back into a temporary shell after the highs of the previous four seasons. It was Wales who once again stepped forward and swept all before them as they proceeded to their second grand slam of the decade. Ireland's season was so bad that they even lost to England! Eddie O'Sullivan did not survive this disappointing campaign which itself had come in the wake of an equally mediocre effort at the 2007 World Cup finals in France.
IRELAND 16 ITALY 11; 2nd February; at Croke Park
15 Dempsey [TRY]
14 Trimble
13 O'Driscoll (c)
12 D'Arcy
11 Murphy
10 O'Gara [3 penalties, conversion]
9 Reddan
8 Leamy
7 Wallace
6 Easterby
5 O'Kelly
4 O'Callaghan
3 Hayes
2 Best
1 Horan
Ronan O'Gara kicked two second-half penalties as the hosts squeezed home, having only led 10-3 at the halfway point.
FRANCE 26 IRELAND 21; 9th February; at the Stade de France
15 Dempsey
14 Murphy
13 O'Driscoll (c)
12 Trimble
11 Kearney
10 O'Gara [3 penalties, conversion]
9 Reddan
8 Heaslip
7 Wallace [TRY]
6 Leamy
5 O'Kelly
4 O'Callaghan
3 Hayes
2 Jackman
1 Horan
Vincent Clerc recorded a hat-trick of tries as Ireland again conceded a huge lead before rallying with two tries.
IRELAND 34 SCOTLAND 13; 23rd February; at Croke Park
15 Murphy
14 Bowe [2 TRIES]
13 O'Driscoll.B (c)
12 Trimble
11 Kearney [TRY]
10 O'Gara [penalty, 3 conversions]
9 Reddan
8 Heaslip
7 Wallace [TRY]
6 Leamy
5 O'Driscoll.M
4 O'Callaghan
3 Hayes
2 Jackman
1 Horan [TRY]
Ireland comfortably won the try count 2-0 in the first half and then 3-1 after the interval for an emphatic home win.
IRELAND 12 WALES 16; 8th March; at Croke Park
15 Kearney
14 Horgan
13 O'Driscoll (c)
12 Trimble
11 Bowe
10 O'Gara [4 penalties]
9 Reddan
8 Heaslip
7 Wallace
6 Leamy
5 O'Connell
4 O'Callaghan
3 Hayes
2 Best
1 Horan
Shane Williams slipped over the try-line to secure the triple crown in spite of Ireland having led 6-3 at half time.
ENGLAND 33 IRELAND 10; 15th March; at Twickenham
15 Murphy
14 Bowe
13 Trimble
12 Horgan
11 Kearney [TRY]
10 O'Gara (c) [penalty, conversion]
9 Reddan
8 Heaslip
7 Wallace
6 Leamy
5 O'Connell
4 O'Callaghan
3 Hayes
2 Best
1 Horan
Having led 13-10 at the interval, England added two more tries, while Danny Cipriani kicked eighteen points.
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