As Ireland travel to face England in what could be the toughest test yet of their Six Nations defence, it's hard not to reminisce on some of the great days we have had against the old enemy this century.
There have been barren periods in the past when England consistently got the better of Ireland - between 1987 and 2001 Ireland came out on top just twice. In the all-time head-to-head record, England are comfortably in the ascendancy with 80 wins to Ireland's 53.
Ireland will hope to make that 54 this weekend, as they push for a fifth consecutive win against England for the first time since the 1970s.
Recent years have brought some of the most memorable victories over England of all-time - so what better time to make our picks for the top five most satisfying of the 21st century?
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The five most satisfying wins against England in the 21st century
5. Ireland 24-8 England - 2011 Six Nations, Aviva Stadium
19 March 2011; Tommy Bowe, Ireland, goes over to score his side's first try of the game despite the tackle of Tom Wood, England. RBS Six Nations Rugby Championship, Ireland v England, Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
Ireland have developed a knack for putting a stop to England's Grand Slam machinations on the final day of the Six Nations.
It has happened three times this century, in 2001, 2011, and 2017. Though many will fondly remember both 2001 (the foot-and-mouth delayed October finale) and 2017 (the first England defeat under Eddie Jones), we've plumped for 2011 out of the three.
England under Martin Johnson, an old foe of the Irish team, were barrelling towards a Grand Slam during a Six Nations where every other side was lacklustre. Tries from Tommy Bowe and Brian O'Driscoll put an end to any such dream, as England were completely dismantled. It was the first time that the newly rebuilt home of Irish rugby on Lansdowne Road truly shook with the noise of Irish fans.
What made this one even more satisfying was that England's pompous celebratory video, produced in anticipation of a Grand Slam which never arrived, leaked hours after their collapse in Dublin. As did the email from Nike to employees with plans to release a limited edition Grand Slam commemorative t-shirt. Oh, the joy.
4. England 13-19 Ireland - 2004 Six Nations, Twickenham
6 March 2004; Ireland players, from left, Keith Gleeson, Gordon D'Arcy, Ronan O'Gara and Kevin Maggs celebrate following the RBS Six Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium in Twickenham, England. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Ireland came into the 2004 Six Nations off the back of a 2003 championship where their Grand Slam dreams had faltered on the final day in a dramatic capitulation against England in Dublin - the infamous day of CarpetGate. They were out for revenge.
In the intervening months, England had drawn attention somewhat by becoming the first (and, to date, only) Northern Hemisphere side to win the Rugby World Cup. The clash with Ireland in the third round of the Six Nations was their first game at home in Twickenham since that World Cup final triumph, and they were prepared for a glorious homecoming.
How beautiful it was that Ireland were to be the first team to beat the defending world champions, in their home ground, as they sought to claim back-to-back Grand Slams. Girvan Dempsey scored Ireland's try on the day, but it was four penalties from the boot of Ronan O'Gara which were ultimately the difference in west London.
Ireland went on to win their first Triple Crown in 19 years, buoyed by their shock win at Twickenham. The golden generation had their first taste of silverware.
3. England 24-28 Ireland - 2006 Six Nations, Twickenham
18 March 2006; Shane Horgan, Ireland, stretches for the line to score his side's last minute try as he is tackled by Lewis Moody, England. RBS 6 Nations 2006, England v Ireland, Twickenham, England. Picture credit: Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE
2004 would not be the last taste of silverware for this Ireland team and, though defeating the world champions on their own back yard is one thing, 2006 brought things to another level.
Not only was this win part of another Triple Crown campaign, it took place on the final weekend of the tournament. And it sealed back-to-back away wins at Twickenham. And it came with one of the most entertaining and unbearably close clashes these two sides have enjoyed in recent memory.
And, best of all? It was clinched with an inch-perfect reaching try from Shane Horgan in the corner with virtually the final play of the tournament.
It was undoubtedly the most dramatic fashion in which Ireland have won a game from any of the games on this list, and it clinched another Triple Crown. Could that possibly be topped?
2. England 15-24 Ireland - 2018 Six Nations, Twickenham
17 March 2018; Ireland players, from left, Conor Murray, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Jonathan Sexton, Jordi Murphy, James Ryan and Dan Leavy celebrate after the NatWest Six Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium in London, England. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Yes, it could be topped.
Nine years on from the madcap 2009 Grand Slam campaign, Ireland claimed another clean sweep in far more decisive fashion under Joe Schmidt in 2018. It was the final day victory which encapsulated the brilliance of Schmidt's team.
Even though Ireland approached the journey to London with the championship already secured, there were nerves in the air at the prospect of facing Eddie Jones' England on home soil with a Grand Slam on the line. Ireland had won only two of the previous eight meetings between the two teams.
A demolition job was in store, with Ireland scoring three tries of outstanding quality through Garry Ringrose, CJ Stander, and Jacob Stockdale to secure the Grand Slam in crushing fashion. In truth, the scoreline did not reflect Ireland's dominance at Twickenham, on a day when three separate Irish players scored place kicks (Johnny Sexton, Joey Carbery, and Conor Murray).
As though all of the above was not the stuff of dreams, the fact that it had all been done in England's back yard on St. Patrick's Day was the icing on the cake. Splendid.
1. Ireland 43-13 England - 2007 Six Nations, Croke Park
24 February 2007; A general view of rugby at Croke Park as the Ireland and England packs engage in a scrum during the RBS Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and England at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
There has perhaps never been a sporting occasion held on this island with as much historic weight and emotion behind it as the visit of England to Croke Park during the 2007 Six Nations.
With Lansdowne Road knocked and the Aviva on its way, the Irish rugby and soccer teams needed a temporary new home. The obvious choice was the 82,000+ seater Croke Park on the opposite side of Dublin, but just as obvious were the barriers that could prevent that from becoming a reality.
The GAA, tenants of Croke Park, holds its identity as a nationalist organisation, and the infamous 'Rule 42' prevented the playing of non-Gaelic Games in GAA stadiums.
In a historic move in 2005, the GAA's central council passed a modification to Rule 42 which would allow football and rugby to be played in Croke Park during the time of Lansdowne Road's redevelopment.
With the history of the GAA rooted in nationalist identity, and the historical significance of the Bloody Sunday massacre having been perpetrated by the British RIC at Croke Park in 1920, the game against England in 2007 - the second to take place at Croker - took on enormous historical significance.
Fears abounded before the game that boos would ring out during 'God Save the Queen,' but the English anthem was met with impeccable respect by the Irish crowd. The subsequent rendition of 'Amhrán na bhFiann' still ranks right towards the very top as one of the greatest moments in Irish sporting history. Watching it back all these years later, you find yourself similarly teary to John Hayes and Jerry Flannery. An extraordinary moment in Irish sports and cultural history.
And what made it all the better was that Ireland went out and walloped their opponents. On perhaps the most emotional day in the history of Irish rugby, Eddie O'Sullivan's side recorded their biggest-ever victory over England, barely giving the world champions a sniff on a memorable day in Croke Park.
43-13 was the final score, on a day when four different Irishmen scored tries and ROG and Paddy Wallace were flawless from the tee. Everything went right on the day of all days.
More than a few pointed out the poignant irony that Shane Horgan's try in front of Hill 16 was a result of a catch that only a man raised on Gaelic football could have pulled off.
This was not just the most satisfying victory over England for Ireland. It ranks among the very best they have ever achieved.
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