Ireland vs England LIVE: Six Nations 2023 result and reaction as Ireland seal grand slam after red card
Ireland 29-16 England: Freddie Steward’s controversial red card helped change the game as Ireland completed a deserved 2023 Six Nations grand slam in Dublin
Ireland completed just their fourth-ever Six Nations grand slam with a 29-16 victory over England at the Aviva Stadium, emphatically underlining their status as the world’s top-ranked team heading into September’s World Cup.
None of Ireland’s three previous clean sweeps had been completed in Dublin but this victory over their fiercest rivals was the sweetest way to seal a deserved grand slam on St Patrick’s Day weekend.
There was controversy late in the first half when England full back Freddie Steward was sent off for a dangerous hit on Hugo Keenan despite bracing for impact and turning away from his opposite number, with contact appearing accidental. The harsh call prompted a mountain of reaction on Twitter, including from England cricket captain Ben Stokes.
However, Ireland were still good value for their victory, as Dan Sheehan scored two tries, with Robbie Henshaw and Rob Herring also dotting down, to fulfil Irish dreams.
Relive the action from the Aviva Stadium below:
France 34-7 Wales, 55 minutes
Wales won’t go down without a fight. Tomos Williams forces France back into their own in-goal and Thomas Ramos can’t escape. turned over by Justin Tipuric after he is felled by Nick Tompkins.
France 34-7 Wales, 54 minutes
Better from Wales. Nick Tompkins threads a diagonal grubber for his teammates to chase and both George North and Josh Adams oblige, forcing France to scramble into their own half. Antoine Dupont subsequently throws a forward pass.
France 34-7 Wales, 53 minutes
There is still nearly half-an-hour left, but I think we are reasonably safe to say that France will go top of the Six Nations table with that bonus point in tow.
France 34-7 Wales, 51 minutes
Two more French front-row changes, with Reda Wardi and Peato Mauvaka on. The Stade de France crowd lift as the latter gathers a Welsh over-throw at a lineout.
Wardi is soon involved, too, carrying off Antoine Dupont’s pass. A French knock on ends the movement.
TRY! FRANCE 34-7 Wales (Gael Fickou try, 49 minutes)
That’s the bonus point score!
A first phase strike move of real beauty from France. Jonathan Danty is the decoy on the hard angle back towards the set-piece, Romain Ntamack fading out the back to take a pass. The fly-half has options around him and picks the right one, waiting a half-beat to give flat to Gael Fickou, who makes the incision and tumbles over the line.
Thomas Ramos continues his perfect afternoon with the boot.
France 27-7 Wales, 48 minutes
France are close to cutting Wales open with every touch. A mess of a lineout ends with the hosts totally in retreat but they still manage to threaten, Jonathan Danty fearless in lifting a one-handed offload from inside his own 22 to Thomas Ramos, who nearly sprints clear of Nick Tompkins. Wales are forced to infringe at the breakdown after Tompkins tugs Ramos down.
Uini Atonio is replaced by Sipili Falatea, who is making that bench tighthead role his own.
France 27-7 Wales, 46 minutes
Changes in the Welsh tight five: Bradley Roberts and Gareth Thomas on for Ken Owens and Wyn Jones, while Daffyd Jenkins replaces Alun Wyn Jones as the lock surely says farewell to the Six Nations.
TRY! FRANCE 27-7 Wales (Uini Atonio, 44 minutes)
50th cap, first try - Uini Atonio provides a burly French finish!
What a way to mark the half-century. It’s been a fine return to the fold for Atonio after his ban, with the tighthead busy throughout this afternoon. I’m not quite sure Thomas Ramos expected his pass to end up in the prop’s hands as he hustled around the corner to further exploit France’s numbers advantage to the left, but Atonio takes securely, making the most of a mass mismatch against Louis Rees-Zammit to flop over the line.
The excellent Ramos is accurate again from the tee.
France 20-7 Wales, 42 minutes
Julien Marchand thrusts up the centre, picking and driving through a hole outside Adam Beard. Penalty to France 15 metres out - Antoine Dupont calls for a scrum.
France 20-7 Wales, 41 minutes
Thomas Ramos takes a high kick and pauses, like a boxer inviting his opponent to swing. Wales resist, waiting for Ramos to make his intentions clear and halting him as he darts to the right.
France make metres up the left, Ethan Dumortier and Charles Ollivon eventually held up inside the Welsh 22, but able to smuggle the ball back to his scrum-half.
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