Ireland devour rub of the green after Steward’s slip settles the nerves | Luke McLaughlin

England were on top early in Dublin but Andy Farrell’s world No 1 side comfortably and deservedly sealed a grand slam

The rain rolled across Dublin in mid-morning. A timely cooling blanket, perhaps, to regulate the collective temperature on this unique weekend in the Irish capital. It felt as if you could sink your teeth into the sheer excitement, anticipation and nervous energy of the occasion; Ireland’s opportunity to clinch a grand slam in this city for the first time.

With St Patrick’s Day falling on Friday, a dominant display by the Irish contingent at the Cheltenham Festival and a clean sweep simply waiting to be sealed and delivered, the mood had been, shall we say, buoyant. As one distinguished Irish writer put it on Saturday morning, the manner in which it was set up for Andy Farrell’s world No 1 team was “unnervingly perfect”.