Ireland vs. England live: Score and latest Six Nations updates
5:51 p.m.
What can Ireland do now that they have the ball in England’s 22 and a man advantage? They’re only five yards apart when Baird and Furlong both try to barge over from close range. England is defending with everything they have and forcing a knock-on. They will appear to be a moral victory for the visitors.
5:49PM
Ireland 10-6 England after 40 minutes
They work the ball wide at pace from the line-out – they had the numbers, but the execution was lacking – and Hansen plays a forward pass. The crowd, on the other hand, is not pleased that Steward has gone into Keenan. He appears to be trying to get out of the way; there is contact to the head, which does not look good in slow motion. Even though he appears to be attempting to avoid him, there is no mitigation and he is shown the red. Steward is pleading his case, but it is being ignored. ‘I had a millisecond,’ the full-back says…
This is a pivotal moment in the game.
5:46PM
Ireland 10-6 England after 38 minutes
For the first time, Arundell has the ball in space, but he is well defended by the Irish, and the ball is turned over. After the ensuing scrum, England is called offside, and Sexton kicks for touch. There are only 40 seconds until the break, but they could be a significant 40 seconds.
5:41PM
Ireland 10-6 England after 35 minutes
The possession and territory stats had been trending in Ireland’s favor for the past 10 minutes or so, and that try did not come out of nowhere, despite England’s solid defense thus far.
Meanwhile, Farrell has a knock-on and it’s a scrum for the hosts on halfway.
5:40PM
TRY IRELAND!!!!
England 10-6 Ireland
Van der Flier then breaks off the back of the maul before playing a lovely inside pass that Dan Sheehan races on to from the resulting line-out. He takes off and charges about 20 yards over the whitewash. Excellent, well-executed attempt.
When Sexton adds the extras, the hosts take the lead for the first time.
5:36PM
Ireland 3-6 England after 29 minutes
Sexton put in the up and under, which Keenan brilliantly collects. However, England is preventing the hosts from receiving quick ball, which is making life difficult for the hosts. However, England is offside, and the Irish are awarded a penalty. They choose to kick for the corner once more.
5:34PM
Sexton’s record-breaking kick
5:31 p.m.: Ireland 3-6 England
Donbrandt incurs an unnecessary penalty by barging into Sexton. Ireland’s fly-half then attempts a touch kick. The men in green enter the England 22 from the resulting line-out, working through the phases and waiting for an opening. They move the ball from right to left, but Baird knocks it on. Today, England’s defense is on point, while Ireland’s offense is struggling.
5:28PM
Ireland 3-6 England in 24 minutes
Ireland’s attacking prowess is beginning to shine through as Hansen and Henshaw cross the gain line.
5:25PM
Ireland 3-6 England in 20 minutes
Ireland is making a few unforced errors, including one here that gives England a line-out on the Irish 22. Tuilagi charges through midfield, and the visitors are questioning the hosts. After seven seconds Lowe knocks Watson back in the tackle and England have to regroup. They regroup, and Steward, Ludlum, and Tuilagi almost work an opening on the right, but great defensive work from Lowe and Sexton keeps the men in white in touch.
Ireland is well aware that they are in a Ttest match here.
PENALTY TO IRELAND AT 5:22PM!!
Ireland defeated England 3-6.
England’s defense is doing well but giving up a few penalties here – they do so again, and Sexton gets the hosts on the board, breaking his compatriot Ronan O’Gara’s Six Nations record of 560 points. And, for the first time in my memory, a player receives a standing ovation after slotting a penalty from in front of the posts. What a servant he has been to Irish rugby.
5:19PM
Ireland 0-6 England in 15 minutes
Ireland’s pace from the restart eventually brings the ball to Furling, who, rather than offloading, takes the ball into contact. And with that, the opportunity for a try is lost.
The visitors are really putting pressure on the Irish offense.
5:17PM
ENGLAND GETS A PENALTY!!
England 0-6 Ireland
England opts for points once more, and Farrell doubles the visitors’ lead. England’s start is so different from last week’s that you wonder if it’s the same team….
5:15PM
0-3 Ireland in 12 minutes England
England is currently kicking well. They have a line-out on Ireland’s 22, which Itoje wins, and Andrew Porter gives away a penalty.
5:14PM
Ireland 0-3 England in 8 minutes
Ireland blinks first in a game of kick tennis, as Keenan delivers a poor kick. But England gives Ireland a penalty, and Sexton, as he has done previously, kicks for touch.
What can they do from here? This line-out is on the outskirts of England’s 22. They worked the ball into the danger zone thanks to Van der Flier, and England played solid defense. However, there is another penalty that Sexton takes quickly and crosses the line. It’s unclear whether I he touches down or
(ii) England was offside. The answer is no to both. There is a good period for England there.
5:08PM
ENGLAND GETS A PENALTY!!
England 0-3 Ireland
Farrell doesn’t miss those (despite a poor booting season) as he slots home the penalty from in front of the posts.
5:07PM
Ireland 0-0 England in 4 minutes
England is currently dominating turnovers, which I did not mention in my post about last week’s defeat to France. On the eighth play, the visitors are inside Ireland’s 22 and Slade is well tackled by Henshaw. However, because England recycles the ball well and remains in the hosts’ 22, they earn a penalty and are unable to capitalize on the advantage and return for the infringement. England is off to a great start. They make the decision to go for the points.
5:04PM
0-0 Ireland after 2 minutes England
Farrell commits an early penalty by tackling the man in the air. Sexton, his counterpart, kicks for touch. They move the ball down the line using their hands from the resulting line-out. Before the visitors turn the ball over, they must go through all seven phases. England is showing early signs of promise. Borthwick’s boys had good defensive line speed and were not overcommitting men at the ruck.
5:01PM
Ireland 0-0 England in 1 minute
They’re already underway in Dublin, and England can’t afford to get off to another shaky start…
4:58PM
There is a sizable England contingent in the audience.
As they enthusiastically sing Got Save the King. However, the hosts outvoice them (no shock there…)
4:53PM
The two teams are on the field, and it’s time for the national anthem.
4:49PM
This may be Johnny Sexton’s final Six Nations match.
What a fitting way for Ireland’s No. 10 to end his career as a Grand Slam winner. He’s been immense for his country since his debut way back in 2009.
Ireland’s on-field coach has been described as Johnny Sexton.
4:35PM
I’m sure many of you have questions about what’s going on in Dublin.
Charlie Morgan will respond to as many as possible after the game, so please leave them in the comments section below.
4:28PM
Andy Farrell is almost entirely Irish these days. He and Fabien Galthie are the hottest coaches in world rugby right now. His Ireland team has won 21 of their last 23 Tests, with only two losses coming on the road to France and New Zealand. They are world No. 1 and heavily favored to win the Grand Slam this afternoon.
So it’s no surprise that England may be kicking themselves for letting him go from their coaching staff in 2015, with an eye on him as their main man in the future.
4:10PM
Update on the weather
Rain, rain, has passed, only to return another day…
At least, that’s what Charlie Morgan and the BBC weather app say.
4:02PM
Ireland anticipates
It’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend, their team is attempting to complete the Grand Slam, and they have a chance to do so against an old foe.
3:54PM
If there is a statistic that illustrates the magnitude of the task that England faces, it is
Maybe it’s this one.
This championship, England has given up 14 tries to Ireland’s four.
Ireland has scored 16 tries compared to England’s 11.
3:48PM
So, if England is to pull off a major upset,
how will they pull it off?
They can’t afford a bad start like last week. The match against France was effectively over in the first ten minutes. They must take risks and be daring in their attacks.
If you want a detailed breakdown of how Steve Borthwick’s side should go about achieving what many consider to be Mission Impossible, here’s Charlie Morgan’s breakdown of the four key areas England will focus on to upset Ireland.
2:48PM
Over the years, these two have delivered a slew of high marks.
2:04PM
The pair of XVs
Backs: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton, Jamison Gibson-Park
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Ryan Baird, James Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, and Caelan Doris are the forwards.
Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Ross Byrne, Jimmy O’Brien are the replacements.
Backs: Freddie Steward, Anthony Watson, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Henry Arundell, Owen Farrell, and Jack van Poortvliet for England.
Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, and Alex Dombrandt are the forwards.
Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Curry, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, and Joe Marchant are the replacements.
12:46PM
Ireland will not be underestimated by England.
On the surface, a trip to Dublin appears to be the last thing England would have wanted. Humiliated (obliterated, humbled, thrashed, had their pants pulled down – are all equally adept words and phrases to describe the result..) (obliterated, humbled, thrashed, had their pants pulled down – are all equally adept words and phrases to describe the result…) They won 53-10 at Twickenham last weekend and now travel to the world’s top-ranked side, a XV that defeated France 32-19.
Jamie George stated in the lead-up to today’s game that a similar thrashing would not be repeated. However, given the strength of this Irish team and the state of the England team, another humiliating defeat is unlikely. Even though Dublin has never been an easy place for teams to visit, it is difficult to recall a time when England traveled across the Irish Sea with such low expectations and such high fears of another heartbreaking defeat.
Because of the contrasting emotions surrounding both teams, perhaps the one thing that could derail the Grand Slam-chasing Irish is complacency – if they play half as well as they have in their last 23 Tests, no one expects anything less than victory. But Ireland, according to Peter O’Mahony, will not take England lightly.
“I’m not buying it,” the backrower said when asked if England will perform as poorly as they did last Saturday. “I’ve had the privilege of playing alongside a large portion of that English team, and I know how proud they are.” “We’re expecting the best version of those English boys to come to the Aviva.” “I know what kind of player they are, what kind of person they are, and how important it would be for them to put on a performance for themselves more than anyone else, to show themselves the potential that I certainly know they have.”
Stay tuned for all of the pre-match build-up and action from what promises to be an exciting match at the Aviva Stadium.
