Ireland Defends Six Nations Title, Tops England 27-22

Ireland kicked off their pursuit of a historic third consecutive Guinness Six Nations title with a 27-22 victory over England in Dublin. After trailing 10-5 at halftime, the defending champions turned the tide in the second half with tries from Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne, and Dan Sheehan, securing a bonus point. England initially took control with a try from debutant Cadan Murley and a penalty by Marcus Smith, but their performance faltered after the break. Despite a late surge that earned them two tries from Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman, England could not overcome Ireland's dominance. Interim head coach Simon Easterby saw his team respond well in the second half, showcasing their attacking strength and resilience. The victory sets up a challenging next match for England against France, while Ireland looks forward to facing Scotland after this triumphant start.