'Sensational' - England's Jonny May steals first half show with 80m solo try

England’s Jonny May in full flight is undoubtedly one of world rugby’s most majestic sights, and when the winger is on form, one of its most hard to contain threats.

After an uneventful start, the game burst into life as two tries from May put England in control.

Winger May beat Ireland full-back Hugo Keenan to Owen Farrell’s high kick to touch down the opening score, before adding a superb solo effort minutes later.

Having missed the first conversion, Farrell made no mistake with the second to leave the hosts 12-0 in front.

Yet it was the second try that truly lit up the fixture and it left social media stunned, leaving aside his remarkable facial hair that is. The try – his 31st at international level – made him the joint second highest try-scorer in his country’s history alongside Will Greenwood and Ben Cohen.

The Gloucester man ran from deep inside his own half and touched down under the posts after chasing down his own kick.

"I'm burning through the sky, yeah, two hundred degrees"#ENGvIREpic.twitter.com/iXkNOisEtN

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 21, 2020

“The in-out from Jonny May there to sit down Farrell on that second try was a thing of beauty!” said Brian O’Driscoll.

The in-out from Jonny May there to sit down Farrell on that second try was a thing of beauty!

— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) November 21, 2020

World class, Jonny May. Phenomenal.

— Nick Heath (@nickheathsport) November 21, 2020

Wow Jonny May ??

— Tommy Bowe (@TommyBowe) November 21, 2020

Jonny May. That’s incredible.

— Freddie Burns (@FreddieBurns) November 21, 2020

I think the chicken noises in Jonny May’s head were clucking ten the dozen on that run! What a try for @EnglandRugby!!

— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) November 21, 2020

WHAT A TRY JONNY MAY!!!!!!!! That’s exceptional.

— Pen (@thepenGW) November 21, 2020

I thought Jonny May’s moustache was memorable but that try…

— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) November 21, 2020

https://twitter.com/Sonjamclaughlan/status/1330171668308910087

That's a special try from Jonny May. He's come on so much in the last few years. Complete skillset.

— Owain Jones (@OwainJTJones) November 21, 2020

Jonny May. Lions test winger.

No debate. #ENGvIRE #AutumnNationsCup

— Scrum365 (@Scrum365) November 21, 2020

And it wasn’t just his try-scoring that drew attention. His moustache won plaudits and ridicule in equal measure.

https://twitter.com/TJ_McH/status/1330171584414408704

Jonny May seems to have been bitten by a radioactive moustache…
Awesome first half#ENGvIRE

— Jeets 💙 (@BeingJeetley) November 21, 2020

Jonny May! Fantastically engineered and executed. And is he currently filming a First World War movie by any chance? That haircut and moustache. #ENGvIRE

— Paul Diggory (@paulwdiggory) November 21, 2020

Jonny May deserves to be sin-binned for that moustache. #ENGvIRE

— @sinead_ryan (@sinead_ryan) November 21, 2020

– additional reporting PA