England v Ireland LIVE: Result and reaction from Six Nations as Marcus Smith denies Irish grand slam with last-gasp drop goal

England 23-22 Ireland: Smith slotted a drop goal with the final kick to snatch a shock victory for the hosts and stop back-to-back Irish grand slams

Andy Farrell hails Ireland's composure with Six Nations win in France

Marcus Smith slotted a last-minute drop goal as England ended Ireland’s double grand slam dream with an exhilarating 23-22 win in a display of their best attacking rugby for years to take the Six Nations championship to the final round.

After Scotland’s shock loss to Italy, Ireland knew victory would give them the title with a round to spare and set them up for back-to-back grand slams and they looked on course with a 12-8 half-time lead via four Jack Crowley penalties despite England scoring the only try through Ollie Lawrence.

Ireland surged 17-8 ahead thanks to James Lowe’s try early in the second half but England roared back with scores from George Furbank and Ben Earl to edge three points clear heading into the final quarter.

A second Lowe try put Ireland back in front, only for replacement fly half Smith to send Twickenham wild at the death as he dropped back and slotted the decisive drop goal for the best performance and result of the Steve Borthwick era.

Relive all the action from England v Ireland below:

England v Ireland LIVE: Latest updates from Six Nations

• England beat Ireland in the most dramatic fashion at Twickenham in the Six Nations
• Ireland denied back-to-back grand slams as Marcus Smith slots last-gasp drop goal to snatch one-point win
• REPORT: Marcus Smith crushes Ireland’s grand slam dream as England become title contenders
• FULL-TIME! England 23-22 Ireland
• 80’ - DROP GOAL! Smith wins it with dramatic last-gasp drop goal (ENG 23-22 IRE)
• 73’ - TRY! Lowe over again as Ireland edge ahead (ENG 20-22 IRE)
• 60’ - TRY! Earl powers over the line to put England in front (ENG 20-17 IRE)
• 47’ - TRY! Furbank races over after neat England offloads (ENG 13-17 IRE)
• 44’ - TRY! Lowe finishes in the corner after nice team move (ENG 8-17 IRE)
• 40’ - PENALTY! Crowley slots his fourth penalty to give Ireland a half-time lead (ENG 8-12 IRE)
• 25’ - NO TRY! Lawrence over again but try ruled out for a knock-on (ENG 8-6 IRE)
• 5’ - TRY! Lawrence finishes in style in the corner (ENG 5-3 IRE)

[9 March 2024 17:15 · Luke Baker]

England 8-6 Ireland, 26 mins

Solid scrum by Ireland, no counter-push by England and the visitors boot clear to halfway.

[9 March 2024 17:12 · Luke Baker]

NO TRY! England 8-6 Ireland, 25 mins

A bounce of the ball and Ollie Lawrence is over for his second try! Or is he? This will be checked.

RULED OUT BY THE TMO. Lawrence stabbed a grubber kick though, it bounced awkwardly and Furbank contested with Frawley, flicking the ball out of his hands, where Lawrence scooped and ran in for the score. But Furbank knocked on in the process of competing with Frawley.

We’re also checking for a high tackle on Genge but nothing doing there, so an Ireland scrum deep in their own 22. Phew!

[9 March 2024 17:11 · Luke Baker]

England 8-6 Ireland, 24 mins

Ireland scramble a kick clear from behind their own line but England run it back.

[9 March 2024 17:11 · Luke Baker]

England 8-6 Ireland, 22 mins

Five-metre lineout for England. The lineout should be a strength with the pack Borthwick has selected.

Trick play! Chessum runs into the lineout late and catches the ball on the run. England within a couple of metres of the line.

But Tadhg Beirne with a huge turnover!

[9 March 2024 17:09 · Luke Baker]

England 8-6 Ireland, 22 mins

For the second time this game, Ford tries a drop goal (the first being when England had a penalty advantage) but he’s not set up properly and it’s blocked. The ball bounces back to England though and they fortunately retain possession.

They then win a penalty near the right touchline and kick to the corner...

[9 March 2024 17:08 · Luke Baker]

England 8-6 Ireland, 21 mins

Nash has failed his HIA by the way, so it’s Frawley on for the rest of the game, with Keenan on the wing. A slight weakness to exploit for England?

Ireland make a mess of the kick-off and England have a lineout on the Irish 22

[9 March 2024 17:06 · Luke Baker]

PENALTY! England 8-6 Ireland (Jack Crowley, 20 mins)

No mistake from Jack Crowley. In front of the posts, he slots it to narrow the gap.

(Getty Images)

[9 March 2024 17:05 · Luke Baker]

England 8-3 Ireland, 20 mins

Ireland on the attack here as they win a penalty in midfield, kick to the corner and then win another when Lawrence is caught offside at a ruck. This is kickable for Crowley

[9 March 2024 17:04 · Luke Baker]

WATCH: Ollie Lawrence scores early try for England

Here was that Ollie Lawrence try that set England on their way

[9 March 2024 17:03 · Luke Baker]

England 8-3 Ireland, 18 mins

Analysis from our man at Twickenham, Harry Latham-Coyle

This has been an encouraging start from England in attack, winning collisions and playing with good speed and width. You wondered where their carrying punch was going to come from without a big ball carrier in the back row, and Ellis Genge is being used heavily from a variety of angles to provide go forward. Can they sustain this sort of intensity?