22 Mar 2015

Ireland win close Six Nations contest

11:45 am on 22 March 2015

The Six Nations rugby competition went down to the very last minute before Ireland successfully defended their title.

The Irish only won it on a very narrow points difference from Wales, then England, with all three nations in with a chance before the dramatic last round kicked off on Sunday.

The Ireland team celebrate back-to-back Six Nations Championships

The Ireland team celebrate back-to-back Six Nations Championships Photo: Photosport

In all, 27 tries were scored across the three games, but England needed one more converted touchdown to overtake Ireland, and the English fell six points short of the winning margin they needed over France in London to take the trophy.

That came after the Irish thrashed Scotland 40-10 at Murrayfield, following Wales' 61-20 thumping of Italy in Rome.

Welshman Scott Williams runs in a try in Rome, but in the end the Welsh finished runners-up to Ireland

Welshman Scott Williams runs in a try in Rome, but in the end the Welsh finished runners-up to Ireland Photo: Photosport

That meant England then needed to beat France by 26 points at Twickenham to pip the Irish, but the English could only manage a 55-35 win over the French, despite pushing for a converted try right at the death.

But France grimly defended their line, so Ireland hold onto the silverware.