Dan Cole and Ben Youngs picked up the RBS 6 Nations trophy for a second successive season - but could not prevent England going down to defeat to Ireland in their final game of the championship.
England went into the game with the title already sewn up after four wins out of four and hunting a first back-to-back Grand Slam of the Six Nations era.
But they had their Grand Slam dreams ended in the Aviva Stadium as Ireland recorded a 13-9 victory.
A first-half try from Iain Henderson and eight points from the boot of Johnny Sexton were enough to give Ireland victory, with England replying through three Owen Farrell penalties.
The Ireland victory halted England’s world record run of 18 Test wins leaving them level with New Zealand.
But Cole and Youngs can console themselves with a second successive Six Nations title, and a third championship success for the Tigers duo in seven years.
England went into the game with the title already sewn up after four wins out of four and hunting a first back-to-back Grand Slam of the Six Nations era.
But they had their Grand Slam dreams ended in the Aviva Stadium as Ireland recorded a 13-9 victory.
A first-half try from Iain Henderson and eight points from the boot of Johnny Sexton were enough to give Ireland victory, with England replying through three Owen Farrell penalties.
The Ireland victory halted England’s world record run of 18 Test wins leaving them level with New Zealand.
But Cole and Youngs can console themselves with a second successive Six Nations title, and a third championship success for the Tigers duo in seven years.
