Five Saracens players featured as England’s Six Nations hopes were dealt a blow with a 19-9 defeat by Ireland in Dublin.

Alex Goode, George Kruis and Billy Vunipola all started for the Red Rose as Ireland ended their 100 per cent record in this year’s championship, whilst Mako Vunipola and Richard Wigglesworth featured as replacements.

Four penalties from Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton and a second-half try from centre Robbie Henshaw did the damage for Stuart Lancaster’s men, who now trail Ireland by two points with fixtures against Scotland and France still to play.

A pair of penalties and a drop goal from George Ford were not enough for England, who were second best in all departments at the Aviva Stadium.

Two Sexton penalties saw Ireland take a 6-0 lead before Ford’s goal saw England put three points on the board in reply with their first foray into the Irish half.

However, a mistake from Luther Burrell afforded Sexton another simple kick to put Joe Schmidt’s side 9-3 ahead.

Sexton added his fourth penalty after Dave Attwood strayed offside and when Henshaw got above a backpedalling Goode with ease, the jig was as good as up for England.

Two further penalties from Ford brought England within ten points but the Red Rose were never in danger of mounting another comeback.

England's next assignment is Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday, March 14 (kick-off 5pm).