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:
England 12-15 Ireland, 59 minutes
Dave Kilcoyne and Rob Herring are on in the Irish front row as Andy Farrell looks for greater scrum security. Another reset.
England 12-15 Ireland, 58 minutes
Reset. That just quietens the crowd a touch, but England will again fancy their chances at the scrum.
England 12-15 Ireland, 57 minutes
More roaring from the home fans, who are loud! Marcus Smith sends one for the heavens and Hugo Keenan loses control of the ball as Freddie Steward takes him just beneath the shoulders. England scrum, 25 metres out, just right of centre.
England 12-15 Ireland, 56 minutes
Another penalty against Ireland at the lineout - that’s 13 against the visitors now, I think. Will Mathieu Raynal begin to lose patience?
England 12-15 Ireland, 54 minutes
What noise! England win the ball back on the left touchline in the air and then Maro Itoje stomps after a box kick from Ben Youngs, demolishing Johnny Sexton.
England don’t quite make it count, and concede a penalty soon after, with Caelan Doris doing excellent work at a breakdown. But Twickenham is properly up for this contest.
PENALTY! ENGLAND 12-15 Ireland (Marcus Smith penalty, 53 minutes)
The flamethrowers blow their assent - it’s true from Marcus Smith.
England 9-15 Ireland, 51 minutes
Penalty to England, and Twickenham roars! Jamie George punches the air as if he’s scored as Freddie Stewards firm hit and Joe Marchant’s jackal draws England a holding on penalty. Marcus Smith will have another go at the posts, but not before Ben Youngs replaces Harry Randall.
England 9-15 Ireland, 50 minutes
England remain in the ascendancy at scrum time. On this occasion, Cian Healy is picked out for the infringement. The English front row has been properly dominant so far.
England 9-15 Ireland, 49 minutes
More unsteadiness at the set-piece, and Ellis Genge and Tadhg Furlong are called into the headmaster’s office for a talking to. Mathieu Raynal tells the props what he wants. Back down they will pack.
England 9-15 Ireland, 48 minutes
Another chance gone for Ireland. A lineout free kick is, as is the order of the day, quick tapped and Tadhg Furlong is soon rumbling into space from the second phase, but his offload in the vague direction of a supporting Bundee Aki travels forward as Furlong is up-ended. England scrum.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments