
(PA)
Ireland and England are going head to head at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin with the Rugby World Cup only three weeks away.
For England, after sharing the spoils in back-to-back Tests with Wales, this is undoubtedly their stiffest test yet up against the world’s No 1 ranked team and the reigning Six Nations champions. The two sides last met in the same venue five months ago where the Irish pulled off a dominant 29-16 win to clinch the grand slam.
England coach Steve Borthwick is without Owen Farrell as the captain continues to wait for a resolution to his disciplinary hearing, after World Rugby decided to appeal against the decision to overturn his red card against Wales. Owen’s father and Ireland coach Andy Farrell has given a debut to Cian Prendergast at No 8, while wing Keith Earls is poised to earn his 100th international cap from the bench.
Follow all the action from Ireland vs England below.
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TRY! IRELAND 22-3 England (Mack Hansen try, 65 minutes)
Another pretty rainbow from Ross Byrne and Mack Hansen sashays in!
The forwards again do plenty of damage for Ireland, allowing their backs to capitalise for the fourth score. Jamison Gibson-Park passes, loops, and passes again, allowing Byrne the freedom to launch another of his delectable wide passes out to the wing.
Freddie Steward has to rush across and overchases, with Joe Marchant not close enough on the inside to prevent Hansen from sliding over.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 August 2023 19:02
Ireland 17-3 England, 63 minutes
Elliot Daly requires two attempts to take a high kick, leaving him vulnerable to Mack Hansen’s rib-tickler. England do well to regather and attack up the blindside on the left, but Danny Care runs out of support.
Ross Byrne dumps Daly on his posterior and Ireland turn England over, James Ryan the unlikely identity of the player chipping and chasing beyond the visitors’ defence. Freddie Steward gets back to smother and kicks upfield, but a high shot from Maro Itoje on a stooping carrier grants Ireland another opportunity to work out their lineout kinks after booting to the corner.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 August 2023 19:01
Ireland 17-3 England, 60 minutes
England poke to the corner and launch their attack, perhaps drawing on some of the belief they showed in the final quarter last week. But Ireland are not Wales, and those ramparts are rather more firmly formed – Finlay Bealham limpets over the top at the breakdown and wins a holding on penalty out of Joe Marchant.
Ollie Lawrence replaces Manu Tuilagi in England’s midfield. Solid but unspectacular from Tuilagi today.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 August 2023 18:58
Irealnd 17-3 England, 59 minutes
James Lowe is now exiting for that HIA – and that brings the crowd to their feet given the identiy of his replacement, Keith Earls on to an almighty Aviva roar.
Bundee Aki will have to depart, too. Jack Crowley slips on to rather less fanfare.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 August 2023 18:55
Ireland 17-3 England, 59 minutes
Eek! A clash of heads between James Lowe and Bundee Aki halts a promising England attack, both tacklers going low and thus finding themselves in the same space. Both are back on their feet quickly enough, pleasingly – and don’t seem to be departing for a head injury assessment, slightly strangely.
England have a penalty to go back to near the left touchline, 25 metres out.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 August 2023 18:54
Ireland 17-3 England, 57 minutes
Three reds in three consecutive games against Ireland for England now. A couple of Harlequins arrive, Joe Marler and Danny Care replacing Ellis Genge and Ben Youngs; Ireland have brought on Joe McCarthy in the second row and Finlay Bealham at tighthead.
Those two new tight five forwards lend their weight to a defensive maul effort that ends with England’s drive skewed over the touchline.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 August 2023 18:52
RED CARD! Billy Vunipola is sent off! Ireland 17-3 England, 56 minutes
“High degree of danger, no mitigation” – it’s a sending off and, almost certainly, a ban for Billy Vunipola.
My, oh my. England could really be in a proper, proper state.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 August 2023 18:50
TRY! IRELAND 17-3 England (James Lowe try, 55 minutes)
Floated over the top and James Lowe can stroll in!
The relentless pounding of the muscular men up the middle sucks in England’s defence, shorn of a man and shorn of its spirit as the passage continues. Ross Byrne lifts to the left wing, allowing Lowe the simplest of finishes having safely secured his fly half’s pass.
Byrne hits the left upright from the tee…and there’s a decision due on Vunipola’s card.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 August 2023 18:47
Ireland 12-3 England, 54 minutes
With Vunipola the only true number eight in England’s World Cup squad, that could be (another) disaster for Steve Borthwick.
It’s not great for their prospects today, either. Ireland build momentum inside the 22.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 August 2023 18:47
YELLOW CARD! Billy Vunipola is sent to the sin bin with the incident on review (Ireland 12-3 England, 52 minutes)
Here we go again. A shoulder to the head from Billy Vunipola, who’ll be off for ten minutes at least – and that could well be more.
It’s on review. There’s a slight dip from Porter but that looks like it will probably be upgraded to red…
Harry Latham-Coyle19 August 2023 18:46