SportSECT I ON 222 . 03 . 2015

RED CARD FIASCORef sends off wrongplayer at Man City p8

THIRTYminutes into England’s epic encounteragainst the French at Twickenham, Ireland’scoach Joe Schmidt sat in amarquee atMurrayfield. Hewas being quizzed aboutIreland’s victory over the Scots when someonegave him an update on the game that woulddecide the RBS Six Nations Championship.“France are 15-7 up, England need towin the

remaining 50minutes by 34 points. Is itpossible?”“I hope not,” said Schmidt as he laughed the

laugh of the deathly nervous. The thingwas thaton this wonderful afternoon in the Six Nations,perhaps the greatest day in the history of thetournament, anythingwas possible. Englandwill wonder how they didn’t turn things theirway because they had chances. But so, too, hadWales. Irelandwon by the skin of their teeth.It beganwithWales’s 61-20 victory over Italy,

yet despite winning by 41 points theWelsh leftRomewith a sense of whatmight have been.Fourminutes from the end their reserve scrum-half Gareth Davies had a chance to score anotherWelsh try but fumbled. Aminute later LeonardoSarto scored at the other end. It was a

14-point turnaround and costWales thechampionship. Ireland’s 40-10 victory over theScots equalled their best-ever win atMurrayfield and it seemed to set England anextremely tough task at Twickenham,wherethey had to beat the French by 26. Trailing 15-7after 30minutes, their assignment seemedimpossible. It was at that point they began to cutthe French defence to ribbons and 10minutesfrom the end they looked the likely champions.It came down to the last play, England leading

55-35 and needing sixmore points to take thetitle from Ireland. They drove from a lineoutclose to the French line and appeared likely to

score, but at the last moment they infringed at aruck andWelsh referee Nigel Owens gave Francethe penalty and Ireland had the title.After joking that he hoped England couldn’t

come back from 15-7 down andwin by 26points, Schmidt had a better understanding ofthe Six Nations championship an hour or solater. “England,” he said, “deserved a share ofthe championship.”Sixty-five years has passed since Ireland last

won back-to-back titles and theywill treasurethis latest triumph as every rugby fanwilltreasure thememories of an extraordinary day.Now bring on theWorld Cup.

Ireland pip England to title in thrilling finish

CHAMPIONSCHAMPIONSDavid WalshCHIEF SPORTS WRITER

RBS SIX NATIONSIreland win title on points difference

P W D L PD PTSIreland 5 4 0 1 +63 8England 5 4 0 1 +57 8Wales 5 4 0 1 +53 8France 5 2 0 3 +2 4Italy 5 1 0 4 -120 2Scotland 5 0 0 5 -55 0

MANCHESTER CITY are considering anotherhigh-profile raid on Arsenal by moving forEngland midfielder JackWilshere. With thePremier League champions’ campaign indanger of ending without silverware, City arepreparing an aggressive rebuild of their squadwith a particular focus on players developedby English clubs. In addition to increasingCity’s count of domestically trained players tomeet Premier and Champions League squadregulations, the 23-year-oldWilshere wouldimprove the age profile of a group that hasbecome weighted towards individuals in theirlate 20s or early 30s.Both the Premier and Champions League

limit competing clubs to a maximum of 17players over the age of 21 who have not spentat least 36 months of their development

training in a home association. The respectiveregulations have limited City’s squad size thisseason with the club currently listing just sixhomegrowns – Joe Hart, Gael Clichy, FrankLampard, James Milner, DedryckBoyata and third-choice goalkeeperRichardWright.Of that group, Lampard has a

commitment to join newMajor LeagueSoccer franchise New York City inthe summer, Milner is weighing hisoptions as a free agent, Boyata hasmade just one League appearancethis season, andWright is out ofcontract having yet to play a seniorfixture for City in three years at theclub. Two other English

employees, Scott Sinclair and MicahRichards, are on loan with neither keen toreturn to roles as permanent reserves.As a result City have targeted the

acquisition of at least two establishedhomegrowns as part of the director offootball’s strategy to restructure City’ssquad. A shortage of high-quality

Englishman in the Premier Leaguelimits City’s options, although it isunderstood that Everton wouldconsider offers for both RossBarkley and John Stones, whileJordan Henderson, RaheemSterling and Saido Berahino areall angling for improvedcontracts.Wilshere’s recruitment

would be both expensive andrisky. Despite breaking intoArsenal’s first team at the age of

16 in September 2008, the midfielder is stillto make his 100th Premier Leagueappearance for the club some seven seasonslater and is again sidelined after anklesurgery.City’s local rivals have identified Paul

Pogba as their priority signing. Executing a£60m deal for the midfielder is regarded asessential to Louis Van Gaal’s rebuild atManchester United. Van Gaal is set to bebacked heavily for a second successivesummer transfer window and viewsrecruiting a powerful central midfielder,capable in the ‘No 6” role at the base of athree-manmidfield, as crucial.United will also move for a centre-back

who is good in possession, and a rightwinger. Buying a new right-back and newstriker are also under consideration. Therecruitment plans underline the security ofVan Gaal’s position at Old Trafford.

Jonathan Northcroftand Duncan Castles

City want Wilshere as United eye £60m Pogba

Winning feeling: centre Jared Payne touches down to score Ireland’s third try in the 40-10 win over Scotland at Murrayfield, while, inset, Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton celebrate later by parading the Six Nations trophy Reports and analysis p2-7

Mask fitting for WaltersPaul Rowan

JONATHANWALTERS ispreparing to don a maskfor the internationalagainst Poland nextweek to protect abrokencheekbone afterStoke managerMark Hughesconfirmed thatthe striker wasavailable forinternational selection.Walters, who had anoperation last week torepair the fracture, cameon wearing facialprotection in Stoke’s 2-1

defeat by Crystal Palace atthe Britannia stadium andafterwards Hughes saidthat Walters would travelto Dublin. “Jon will be OK

for Ireland. He wasn’tfit to play a full 90here but feltpositive aboutcoming on,”Hughes said.There wasfurther good

news for MartinO’Neill as Hull City

manager Steve Bruce saidhe was hopeful of RobbieBrady being fit for today’sgame against Chelsea andthe Poland tie.

McILROY AT BAYRory falters as Stensontakes charge p15

WHENGIANTSCOLLIDEGraeme Souness onLiverpool v Man Utd p12

Gunner go?: Jack Wilshereis a target for City