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England Rugby lost to Ireland 27-22 in their Six Nations opener, highlighting discipline issues and strong Irish performance.

England Rugby faced a tough start to their 2025 Guinness Six Nations campaign, suffering a narrow 27-22 defeat to Ireland in Dublin. The match showcased a promising first half for England, where they led 10-5 at halftime, thanks to tries from Cadan Murley, Tom Curry, and Tommy Freeman, alongside seven points from the boot of Marcus Smith.

However, the second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum as Ireland capitalized on England`s discipline issues, scoring 22 unanswered points. Key contributions from Ireland`s James Lowe, Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne, and Dan Sheehan propelled the home side to victory, with Jack Crowley and Ross Prendergast adding crucial conversions and penalties.

Coach Steve Borthwick acknowledged the strong performance of England`s attack and defense in the first half but pointed out the need for better discipline and game management in the latter stages. Maro Itoje, making his debut as captain, emphasized the importance of controlling territory and minimizing penalties to improve their chances in upcoming matches.

As the Six Nations standings currently show, France leads the pack following a dominant 43-0 victory over Wales, with Scotland and Ireland also ahead of England. The team will need to regroup and address their shortcomings as they prepare for their next challenge in the tournament. For more details on the match, visit England Rugby and check the latest standings at Six Nations Table.

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