These are the moments where legends are made.
Martin Johnson causing Mary McAleese to get her shoes dirty, Neil Back’s wandering hands against Munster and that bloody song…
There have been many moments for England to celebrate against the Irish, but it’s far from a one-way street; we’ve taken the wheels off their sweet chariot many, many times.
Ahead of Saturday’s crunch game between the sides, we’ve picked out our five favourite moments against the old enemy.
Goosebumps at the ready…
5 – Simon Geoghegan’s try in Twickeham
A win at Twickenham is always special, particularly when it’s done with expansive back play.
In a game we won by a single point (12-13), this was the key moment.
4 – Girvan Dempsey’s try against the World Champions
Speaking of special days at Twickenham, how about this one where we defeated the English 13-19?
Did we mention England were the newly crowned world champions?
No?
Well, they were, and Girvan Dempsey and his Irish team mates didn’t care one little bit.
3 – Gerry ‘Ginger’ McLoughlin drags half of England and the Triple Crown over the line
Ginger McLoughlin’s 1982 Triple Crown-winning try is a defining moment in Irish sporting history.
The skill in the lead-up, the determination in the drive and the elation during the aftermath represent what sport is all about.
“There’s no stopping Gerry McLoughlin.”
2 – Robbie Henshaw’s first try for Ireland
Brian O’Driscoll is probably the greatest Irish rugby player of all time so when he retired, we, as a nation were uneasy.
Step up the pretender to the great man’s throne in Robbie Henshaw. At 22, he is only getting started, but he showed the world what he is capable of with this try against England at the Aviva last year in a 19-9 win for Ireland.
It followed immense pressure from Ireland going through the phases as they penned England back.
Conor Murray receives the ball, dinks it up and Henshaw goes all Shane Horgan to gleefully catch the ball and touch it down for the match-winning score.
1 – Horgan’s leap in Croke Park
By the time this game came around, the English must have already hated the sight of Shane Horgan.
He tormented them the previous year in Twickenham and there was more to come.
This day is remembered for so many things; the emotions during the National Anthems as the English rugby team visited the home of the GAA for the first time, Ireland romping home by 30 points and this, Ireland’s greatest ever rugby moment against England.
Horgan, who played minor Gaelic Football for Meath, pulled the ball out of the sky in a Croke Park which was filled with Irish fans and history.
It wasn’t just a special moment for the man they call ‘Shaggy’; it was a special moment for the whole country.
Let’s hope for a few more great memories from the boys in green on Saturday.
