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

(AFP via Getty Images)

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:

Ireland vs England - live Six Nations updates

• Ireland beat England 29-16 in the final match of the 2023 Six Nations
• Ireland complete an impressive grand slam in Dublin for the first time
• Freddie Steward controversially red-carded for England in the first half
• FULL-TIME! Ireland 29-16 England
• 77’ - TRY! Herring adds the icing by stretching out to score (IRE 29-16 ENG)
• 73’ - TRY! George forces way over from a maul to give England deserved try (IRE 24-16 ENG)
• 69’ - TRY! Great hands by Conan allows Sheehan to touch down (IRE 24-9 ENG)
• 62’ - TRY! Henshaw goes over from Aki’s pass (IRE 17-9 ENG)
• 51’ - PENALTY! Farrell close the gap to a single point for 14-man England (IRE 10-9 ENG)
• 40’ - RED CARD! Steward shown controversial red after making contact with Keenan’s head (IRE 10-6 ENG)
• 33’ - TRY! Sheehan runs a great line on to Van der Flier’s inside pass (IRE 10-6 ENG)
• ‘Shambles, shambles, shambles’: Ben Stokes and others react to controversial Freddie Steward red card
• France down Wales 41-28 to put themselves in position to nick the title if Ireland slip up
• Scotland beat Italy 26-14 in a thriller to kick off Super Saturday

[18 March 2023 17:29 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 3-6 England, 26 minutes

Ireland’s faster men begin to fizz. Mack Hansen eludes three tacklers with a counter-attack from inside his own 22, before Robbie Henshaw scorches Manu Tuilagi on the outside. Alex Dombrandt is penalised for a late collision with Johnny Sexton, with Sexton’s exaggeration of the contact drawing Owen Farrell’s ire. The two skippers exchange their preferred brand of pleasantries.

[18 March 2023 17:27 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 3-6 England, 25 minutes

Maro Itoje’s arm strays where it shouldn’t, with the lock penalised for making contact on the Irish catcher in the air.

Peter O’Mahony has to really reach to claim the subsequent Ireland linout, which prevents his side from building from the set piece.

[18 March 2023 17:25 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 3-6 England, 23 minutes

Ireland lift their physicality. Caelan Doris very nearly wins a turnover but England don’t continue much longer, Lewis Ludlam and Manu Tuilagi each deposited over the touchline as the pair run out of room on the right.

[18 March 2023 17:24 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 3-6 England, 22 minutes

That’s the England of four years ago - Manu Tuilagi off Henry Slade’s shoulder to win the initial collision, then Kyle Sinckler taking his prop partner’s pass to make ground as Ellis Genge plays distributor at the line.

A crunching double tackle on Freddie Steward drives England back.

[18 March 2023 17:23 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 3-6 England, 20 minutes

Ellis Genge is robbed of the ball as he tries to muscle his way up towards halfway. Yeesh, that’s some step from Ryan Baird, jumping from left to right and leaving a defender on his behind.

But Ireland’s accuracy still isn’t quite there. A missed connection around the corner sees the ball again hit the deck. England kick it up into the Irish 22 and Hugo Keenan shanks his kick into touch.

[18 March 2023 17:21 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! IRELAND 3-6 England (Johnny Sexton penalty, 19 minutes)

Three more points to his tally - Johnny Sexton surpasses Ronan O’Gara as the all-time leading Six Nations scorer.

[18 March 2023 17:20 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 0-6 England, 17 minutes

Kyle Sinckler flops over the top of a breakdown. Penalty to Ireland, and this time Johnny Sexton beckons for the tee. This should be history for the Ireland fly-half...

[18 March 2023 17:19 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 0-6 England, 16 minutes

But here come Ireland. Dan Sheehan hurries into a half-gap and then Hugo Keenan cuts England open more completely, the full-back slithering up the centre and into the visitors backfield.

England reform, though, and Ireland are over-hasty in their play, losing their accuracy and allowing Henry Arundell to snatch a pass from the air.

[18 March 2023 17:17 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! Ireland 0-6 ENGLAND (Owen Farrell penalty, 15 minutes)

Two from two for Owen Farrell. Slightly further left than his first but still simple enough for the fly-half. A bright opening 15 minutes for England.

[18 March 2023 17:16 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 0-3 England, 14 minutes

And Ireland compound that error. Mack Hansen slices an attempted clearing kick out for a gain of all of ten metres, with Andrew Porter then taking a lifter out before the English lineout catcher has come safely to floor.

Owen Farrell will try to double his tally.