article_snippet: England travelled across the Irish Sea with high hopes of making England three wins from three but were persistently penalised at the breakdown by referee Craig Joubert as they struggled to gain a foothold in the match.
article_snippet: Penalties: Ireland's Sexton in the clash
article_snippet: Ireland went into the game on the back of a nine-match winning run, including autumn victories over Australia and South Africa, while England were buoyed by a four-game unbeaten run against todayIreland’s hosts.
article_snippet: Jonny Sexton kicked the penalty from 40 metres, with barely two minutes on the clock, before England conceded another penalty from the kick off and Ireland roared back into their opponents half.
article_snippet: With the capacity crowd behind Ireland, Jonny Sexton hoisted an awkward cross kick which Nowell was unable to gather and the Irish forwards thundered at England with wave after wave of attacks.
article_snippet: Another penalty was conceded under the posts, which Jonny Sexton converted, as England found themselves 6-0 down having barely drawn breath.
article_snippet: Sexton kicked Sexton third penalty as Ireland went 9-3 in front with 30 minutes gone but the fly half could not stretch Ireland’s lead further when Sexton missed a difficult penalty attempt after Anthony Watson was penalised for off-side.
article_snippet: Ireland took a six-point lead in at half time as England clung on after 40 minutes that saw that repeatedly penalised by South African referee Craig Joubert.
article_snippet: referee Craig Joubert again penalised England at the breakdown on 47 minutes and Sexton extended Sexton Ireland’s lead to nine points with referee Craig Joubert fourth penalty and Ireland struck the killer blow when Conor Murray (second right) chiped deep into England’s dead-ball area and Robbie Henshaw (left) out-jumped Alex Goode to touch down.
article_snippet: Sexton’s conversion made it 19-3 after 53 minutes and it was impossible to see a way back for England.