England vs Ireland LIVE: Six Nations 2022 result and final score as Ireland win after early England red card
England 15-32 Ireland: Six Nations 2022 live updates as Ireland stay in tournament title hunt after battling past 14-man England at Twickenham
Follow live coverage as Ireland overcome a valiant, 14-man England in an extraordinary Six Nations clash at Twickenham to keep their title hopes alive heading into Super Saturday.
Ireland took full advantage of a red card for England lock Charlie Ewels after less than two minutes to claim a bonus-point 32-15 victory that keeps them in the hunt for the title.
Ewels was sent off for a head-on-head tackle on Ireland second row James Ryan - the fastest dismissal since the championship began in 1883 - and led 15-9 at half-time after tries for James Lowe and Hugo Keenan.
Amid a feverish atmosphere England hit back superbly, smashing the Irish scrum, and levelled the scores with two Marcus Smith penalties, but Ireland finished strongly, pulling clear with another Sexton penalty and then tries by Jack Conan and Finlay Bealham that earned a potentially key bonus point.
France top the standings on 18 points after winning their first four games. Ireland have 16 and could still take their first title since 2018 with victory or possibly even a draw against Scotland in Dublin next week if England can upset France in Paris.
Follow all the reaction and analysis from Twickenham:
Kick-off nears
It’s a gorgeous evening at Twickenham, a bright setting sun just dipping beneath the top of the stands as the two sides depart back down the tunnel. This could be a cracker. Plenty of Irish shirts and scarves about.
Team News - Ireland
Andy Farrell makes a clutch of intriguing selection decisions to his Ireland side. Peter O’Mahony’s place in the back row seems sensible given his lineout and breakdown prowess, and his character should suit a game like this. Both Cian Healy and Dave Kilcyone were contenders to start after injury to Andrew Porter but it is the former who gets the nod.
Johnny Sexton is back in the starting side for the first time since Round One having confirmed his intention to play until the World Cup with a contract extension this week, while Bundee Aki has edged out Robbie Henshaw for the starting shirt outside the Ireland captain. James Lowe similarly pips Mack Hansen in another tight call on the wing with Andrew Conway back in.
It’s another experienced Irish bench - in Iain Henderson, Jack Conan, Conor Murray and Henshaw, it contains four members of last summer’s Lions squad. Strength in depth.
Ireland XV: Healy, Sheehan, Furlong; Beirne, Ryan; O’Mahony, van der Flier, Doris; Gibson-Park, Sexton; Lowe, Aki, Ringrose, Conway; Keenan.
Replacements: Herring, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Henderson, Conan; Murray, Carbery, Henshaw.
Team News - England
It’s been another disrupted England week with as many as four potentially first-choice players in the pack hampered to some degree. Kyle Sinckler’s troublesome back eased sufficiently for him to prove his fitness on Thursday and Friday, Tom Curry has cleared concussion protocols and Maro Itoje has overcome a bout of sickness – they all start.
Alex Dombrandt, however, is short of training time and thus drops to the bench, with Sam Simmonds in the number eight shirt. Luke Cowan-Dickie’s injury is a longer-term concern; Jamie George starts at hooker.
Eddie Jones returns to the midfield that started against Italy, with Joe Marchant into the side in place of Elliot Daly and Harry Randall retaining his place, while the hosts’ bench includes Joe Launchbury for the first time since the end of 2020.
England XV: Genge, George, Sinckler; Itoje, Ewels; Lawes, Curry, Dombrandt; Randall, Smith; Nowell, Slade, Marchant, Malins; Steward.
Replacements: Blamire, Marler, Stuart, Launchbury, Dombrandt; Youngs, Ford, Daly.
England vs Ireland preview
‘New England’ face ultimate test of improvement against Ireland
Defeat a year ago against Andy Farrell’s side saw Eddie Jones wield the axe on his squad
On to England vs Ireland
We’ll have plenty more reaction to Scotland’s win this evening and tomorrow, but the second game of the day is swiftly approaching - and it’s big...
The bonus point score
A clever little play from Scotland to attack a close-in space, and a delicate little shimmy, shake and pass from Finn Russell to put Darcy Graham in:
F/T: Italy 22-33 Scotland
A thoroughly enjoyable game, that, very different to last night’s defensive battle in Cardiff but no less engrossing. Italy showed a load of character and arguably deserved at least a point. It’s tough to know how to assess the Scotland performance. Gregor Townsend’s side relied on scraps more than they might have thought they were going to before kick-off, but a bonus point win should boost the confidence a bit ahead of a final weekend trip to Dublin.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments