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:
TRY! Italy 22-33 Scotland (Ange Capuozzo try, 83 minutes)
A second for Ange Capuozzo! A dream debut for the youngster, who again shows why there is such excitement about his potential, shimmying away from a tackler and brushing aside another to score on the right.
Paolo Garbisi can’t convert, but that is an encouraging performance from Italy.
Italy 17-33 Scotland, 81 minutes
Monty Ioane! A Scottish defender is planted into the floor by a fearsome fend. Italy building and building and into the Scotland 22.
Italy 17-33 Scotland, 80 minutes
Toa Halafihi has been outstanding all afternoon for Italy, carrying with tireless energy and plenty of punch. He makes a dent in the Scottish line and his teammates are lifted by the number eight, with Italy putting speed on the ball.
Italy 17-33 Scotland, 79 minutes
A last chance for Italy to further bloody Scottish noses, but after more merry metres made down the left, a chip falls into Scottish hands.
An opportunity for a sixth? Nope. A pass behind Kyle Steyn ends up in touch as the clock tick, tick, ticks towards the red.
Italy 17-33 Scotland, 78 minutes
It all comes unstuck as Stuart Hogg tries to find Kyle Steyn on the inside with the sort of pass that Finn Russell produced to set Darcy Graham free earlier.
Italy 17-33 Scotland, 77 minutes
Another half-chance for Italy. They make a mess of a Scotland lineout and make rapid progress down the left, with Monty Ioane toeing on and nearly fly-hacking further still. Somehow the ball eventually bounces favourably for Hamish Watson, and Scotland counter-attack with interest.
Ben Vellacott is a real livewire and nearly unlocks Italy with his first snipe, offloading to a teammate, and Watson then injects more tempo with a typically bustling carry through the middle.
Italy 17-33 Scotland, 75 minutes
The latest Scotland attack is launched from a quick tap, but hopes of creating a line-break are ended by some staunch Italian defence, and eventually Scotland kick into the 22 via the left peg of Ali Price.
That’ll be that for the scrum-half’s 50th appearance as Gregor Townsend makes a raft of changes: Ben Vellacott is on for a debut in the place of Price; Adam Hastings’ first appearance of the tournament comes in Finn Russell’s stead; Jamie Hodgson is on in the second row; and finally Sione Tuipulotu has come on in midfield.
Maro Itoje fit to start for England
Big news ahead of the crunch England v Ireland clash that follows Italy v Scotland. Talismanic England lock Maro Itoje has been passed fit to start at Twickenham.
Itoje was taken ill overnight on Thursday and his place in the starting XV was in doubt but England have now officially declared him fit to play from the off.
That’s a massive boost for- the Red Rose ahead of a must-win contest to take their Six Nations title hopes into the final round against France next weekend.
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