Ireland in the Five Nations of 1975

Ireland and Wales were the only teams who were unbeaten at home in this campaign. However, the Oirish bid for championship glory was emphatically repelled at the final hurdle by a strong Welsh dragon. As a matter of courtesy, I am informing y'all that full team line-ups are available via www.espnscrum.com even though this website does not have the same courtesy to reply to my recent emails - a plague on their house, I say!

IRELAND 12 ENGLAND 9; 18th January; at Lansdowne Road

15 Ensor

14 Grace

13 Milliken

12 Gibson [TRY]

11 Dennison

10 McCombe [TRY, 2 conversions]

9 Moloney

8 Duggan

7 Slattery

6 McKinney

5 Keane

4 McBride (c)

3 Clegg

2 Whelan

1 McLoughlin

A try in the last 10 minutes rescued Ireland, after they trailed 9-6 at the interval. Bill Beaumont won his first cap.

SCOTLAND 20 IRELAND 13; 1st February; at Murrayfield

15 Ensor

14 Grace

13 Milliken  [TRY]

12 Gibson

11 Dennison [TRY]

10 McCombe [penalty, conversion]

9 Moloney

8 Duggan

7 Slattery

6 McKinney

5 Keane

4 McBride (c)

3 Clegg

2 Whelan

1 McLoughlin

First-half tries from Jim Renwick and Billy Steele helped the hosts to a comfortable 14-6 interval lead.

IRELAND 25 FRANCE 6; 1st March; at Lansdowne Road

15 Ensor [TRY]

14 Grace [TRY]

13 Milliken

12 Gibson

11 McMaster

10 McCombe [penalty, 2 drop goals, 2 conversions]

9 Moloney

8 Duggan

7 Slattery

6 Sherry

5 Keane

4 McBride (c) [TRY]

3 Clegg

2 Kennedy

1 McLoughlin

Willie-John McBride recorded his only try in his penultimate match. His team had only led 10-6 at the interval.

WALES 32 IRELAND 4; 15th March; at Cardiff Arms Park

15 Ensor

14 Grace

13 Milliken

12 Gibson

11 McMaster

10 McCombe

9 Moloney

8 Duggan [TRY]

7 Slattery

6 Sherry

5 Keane

4 McBride (c)

3 Clegg

2 Kennedy

1 McLoughlin

Although the inimitable Willie Duggan scored a second-half try, the Welsh ran in four of their own after the 7-0 interval.