Marcus Smith’s last-gasp drop goal broke Irish hearts and made good on England’s vows to defend Twickenham with all their might.
Super-sub Smith slotted a stunning winner as England stole a 23-22 victory from Ireland with the final play in a rocking west London.
Andy Farrell’s stunned visitors were left to stand and stare as Smith lined up then banged over the drop goal that thwarted their tilt towards successive Six Nations Grand Slams.
Jamie George invoked an Englishman’s right to defend his castle in ratcheting up the rhetoric before facing the history-chasing Ireland.
If the England captain had looked a little tentative in that sabre-rattling, it turned out there was no need.
The Red Rose men shocked a subdued Ireland, extinguishing the visitors’ bid for unprecedented back-to-back Six Nations clean sweeps – all the while rebuilding that Twickenham citadel.
England’s traditional home fort has in recent times resembled a crumbling keep, notably in last summer’s first-ever Twickenham defeat by Fiji.
But almost out of nowhere, England outscored Ireland three tries to two – toppling the team they installed in midweek as the world’s best Test outfit.
Danny Care came off the bench for his 100th cap, and what a way for the Harlequins veteran to mark what might prove his final Test appearance at Twickenham.
Ollie Lawrence, George Furbank and Ben Earl all crossed for special England tries, before Smith added the match-winning drop goal at the death.
James Lowe crashed over twice for Ireland, but the visitors were unable to find their usual rhythm.
Jack Crowley landed four penalties for Farrell’s men, but what had looked for all the world before kick-off as a potential cakewalk turned into a miserable day for the Irish.
England boss Steve Borthwick and Ireland chief Farrell traded cross words on the touchline at half-time, only serving to underscore just how fired up the hosts were for this vital clash.
Borthwick has promised for weeks that his new-look attack would deliver, and so it proved as England pulled off three fine scores.
England will now end a Six Nations with more than two wins for the first time since 2020 – a big step that represents real progress and will have Borthwick feeling fully vindicated for his raft of recent changes.
Ireland turned their first touch of the day into a penalty for Crowley, but then England one-upped the visitors by scoring a try on their opening attack.
Tommy Freeman crashed into Calvin Nash, who misjudged the tackle and copped a nasty-looking hit to the head.
England cut wide at pace and Lawrence raced down Nash’s channel on the wing, scoring in the corner.
The hosts were pumped up and desperate to prove a few points, but could only spurn two hugely promising visits to the Ireland 22.
George Ford at least slotted a penalty for an 8-3 lead after fine half-breaks from Ben Earl and full debutant Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, but any dominance quickly evaporated.
Crowley posted his second penalty to cut England’s lead to two points; Ireland could not settle but refused to let England keep control.
Ford saw a curious option of a snap drop-goal attempt charged down, only for England somehow to recover possession.
The Red Rose men punted a wide penalty to the corner, going for the jugular, but Furbank knocked on trying to gather a Lawrence grubber.
Lawrence scooped up the loose ball and ghosted home, but always knew the score would be chalked off despite going through the motions of dotting down.
England still led 8-6 on the half-hour mark – but then came the creeping error count. Ford missed a regulation shot at goal, then delivered two loose kicks out of hand to compound that first mistake.
The hosts then sent Ollie Chessum crashing up the middle with zero support, and somehow all looked nonplussed when Ireland won a turnover penalty. Crowley slotted the kick and Ireland had the lead for the first time.
Furbank then endured two minutes to forget, first knocking on cheaply in attack – then carrying Lowe’s howitzer clearance into touch in his own 22 when trying to be clever.
Furbank tried to field the ball and juggle it to himself and step in and out of touch, but only took the ball over the line.
Ireland turned the field position and possession into a fourth penalty for Crowley, and promptly took a 12-8 lead into half-time.
Ireland looked to have seized control when Lowe powered into the left corner straight after the break, as Henry Slade paid full price for a wretched defensive misread.
England hit back immediately however, with Furbank taking a scoring pass from Maro Itoje to race into the corner and atone for his sloppy end to the first half.
Ireland had to contend with two troublesome head injuries, losing Ciaran Frawley – who had replaced Nash just five minutes in.
That meant scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park had to move to the wing, with Conor Murray coming on at no9.
Ireland’s rejigging allowed England to grab a foothold, and Earl’s monster break led to a yellow card for Peter O’Mahony. The Ireland captain was sent packing for killing the ball cheaply, and England struck.
Earl finished what he had started by powering home for a fine try, and replacement fly-half Smith’s conversion wrestled a 20-17 lead for England on the hour.
Once Ireland were restored to 15 players though, they set fully about regaining control. Lowe crashed in at the left corner for his second score, stealing back a 22-20 advantage with seven minutes to play.
England refused to relent in a thrilling denouement, with replacement Elliot Daly dragging a long-range penalty shot wide of the post.
If the chance for victory appeared lost, England refused to give in. One last power-strike break put England in range – and Smith delivered.
