Eire chosen Luke Fitzgerald on the left wing, marking the Leinster man’s first worldwide begin in virtually 4 years.
A career-threatening neck downside amongst different accidents stored the 2009 British and Irish Lion on the sidelines, however Schmidt backed him to “convey an actual freshness” on his return.
Fitzgerald remembers the sport “being performed a frantic tempo” however Eire embraced the weird state of affairs and moved past the magic 21-point goal simply after the hour-mark.
“I acquired a couple of good touches myself, which was nice. That settled me down early within the sport,” mentioned Fitzgerald.
“We had been taking part in rather well and doubtless left one or two on the market, we had another good alternatives.”
Sean O’Brien’s second strive of the sport boosted their factors distinction additional within the closing levels however, with 5 minutes remaining, it appeared their title aspirations had been dealt a severe blow.
Taking Finn Russell’s flung move on the precise wing, Stuart Hogg went over within the nook and bounced up in celebration.
Solely after a TMO evaluation did it turn out to be clear that Eire quantity eight Jamie Heaslip dislodged the ball within the grounding.
“It is the one factor I at all times bear in mind about Jamie, that sort out,” mentioned Fitzgerald.
“I feel it encapsulated his profession. He was such a particulars man, actually laborious working, actually match.
“It was one which we might have let go however he stayed concentrating proper to the tip.”
Eire had one final alternative to set England an much more imposing goal. Fly-half Ian Madigan, on as a substitute for Johnny Sexton, had already transformed O’Brien’s latter rating, however noticed a closing penalty try drift off beam.
“There was a call on whether or not to kick three or go to the nook and for factors distinction, it was determined to take three,” Madigan remembered.
“I knew it was an necessary kick, struck it properly [but] it drew broad.
“Instantly, I used to be praying.”
