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Jonny May scored two attempts as England once again proved too strong for Ireland in a 18-7 Fall Nations Cup win at Twickenham on Saturday.
England’s fourth consecutive win over Ireland meant that the Six Nations champions had won their first two Group A matches.
England dominated the first 40 minutes, but only led 12-0 at halftime thanks to May’s double, with a try converted by captain Owen Farrell, son of Ireland coach Andy Farrell.
But two penalties by Owen Farrell early in the second half at Twickenham once again eerily quiet, with this match played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus, gave England some breathing space.
By the time Ireland substitute Jacob Stockdale scored a converted try in the 73rd minute, England had won the match after their defense had repeatedly denied the Irish a goal.
May is now among England’s best wings of all time with Saturday’s double that gave her an impressive record of 31 attempts in 59 events.
When asked if he felt strange being called a great English, Amazon Prime May said: “Yes, it sounds strange I just concentrate on the process, keep working hard on my game.”.
Both teams started with decisive victories at home, England thrashing Georgia 40-0 in a stark, forward-dominated display last week when Ireland edged Wales 32-9.
Ireland, however, were left without injured veteran high-half and captain Johnny Sexton, with Ross Byrne at No. 10, while Jamison Gibson-Park kept scrum-half Conor Murray on the bench.
It was the first time neither Murray nor Sexton had left for Ireland since 2011.
Meanwhile, England coach Eddie Jones opted to deploy a last row of the eighth Bully Vunipola and flanks Tom Curry and Sam Underhill for the second time since last year’s World Cup final loss to South Africa.
A difficult start saw England reject several penalties before their tactic of opting for attacking line-outs was rewarded in the 17th minute.
England blocking Maro Itoje, who had a good game, won a set piece near the Ireland line and a well-judged cross shot from Farrell saw May leap over Ireland side Hugo Keenan for a corner try right .
Farrell missed the conversion, but seven minutes later England had more than doubled their lead thanks to a brilliant solo touchdown in May.
Ireland surpassed a lineout on England’s 22nd and the ball went down the left to May.
Running from deep inside, May beat Chris Farrell on the outside and then left Bundee Aki, Ireland’s other center, behind him.
Then May threw the ball over Keenan and went forward.
His second kick of the move rebounded kindly for May, who rallied and held Gibson-Park at bay for a good try between the posts, with Farrell adding the easy conversion.
May then proved her mettle on defense, dropping wing Keith Earls to put out a rare Irish break, with England forwards, as they did throughout the game, earning significant turnover penalties at halftime.
England almost had a third attempt before the break, but Underhill, having removed the ball from Gibson-Park near the Ireland line, was ruled that he had played the ball from referee Pascal Gauzere’s input.
Farrell, however, extended England’s lead early in the second half with two penalties.
Ireland besieged England’s line, but it wasn’t until Stockdale mustered the ingenious chip of center Billy Burns ahead seven minutes from time that they had a score to show for their efforts.
England will look to complete an undefeated group campaign outside Wales next week, when Ireland are at home to Georgia.
