Ireland vs England LIVE rugby: Result and reaction from World Cup warm-up after Billy Vunipola red card
Ireland 29-10 England: England endured more red card drama as Billy Vunipola was sent off in a disheartening loss in Dublin
Billy Vunipola was sent off as England’s stuttering Rugby World Cup preparations were thrown into further disarray by a costly 29-10 defeat to Ireland amid Owen Farrell’s ongoing disciplinary saga.
The No 8 is likely to miss the start of the tournament in France after his 53rd-minute yellow card for making contact with the head of Andrew Porter was upgraded to red.
Steve Borthwick’s men were comfortably dispatched in a disjointed Dublin affair, which influential captain Farrell sat out following the fallout of his dismissal against Wales last weekend. Vunipola’s premature departure compounded a meek display and he will now join Saracens team-mate Farrell in facing a disciplinary panel with England’s World Cup opener against Argentina on September 9 fast approaching.
Keith Earls marked his 100th cap by claiming the fifth of Ireland’s tries, adding to scores from Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe and Mack Hansen, as the hosts retained their place at the top of the world rankings courtesy of a 12th successive win.
Relive all the action from Ireland vs England below.
Ireland 7-3 England, 30 minutes
Ireland show their defensive teeth again, shutting down the space out wide as Elliot Daly fails to take a pass at the first attempt, and then driving through the resulting ruck. Cian Prendergast is first to cause a bit of havoc, and Tadhg Beirne follows up, with an England player forced to knife in at the side with a turnover imminent.
Ireland 7-3 England, 27 minutes
Hugo Keenan looks ever the threat, the full back yet to make a telling break but constantly beating the first defender. Manu Tuilagi just, just gets a piece of an ankle to prevent Keenan cantering up the left.
England knock the ball into touch, so it is Ireland’s throw - but an off-line dart from Dan Sheehan will give England a scrum.
Ireland 7-3 England, 26 minutes
George Ford sends up the first spiral bomb of the evening, Freddie Steward the clear-up crew, hoping for some debris; Ross Byrne safely defuses.
Missed penalty! Ireland 7-3 England, 26 minutes
A bit of wobbly one from George Ford. Starts right, stays right.
Ireland 7-3 England, 24 minutes
Another penalty to the visitors as an Irish body fails to vacate a ruck. George Ford points at the posts.
Ireland 7-3 England, 22 minutes
England are shooting out of the line with plenty of physicality, the hits crunching when they come but Ireland, as ever, managing to shift the point of contact often enough.
Elliot Daly goes off on a meander and almost gets himself in bother, most hookers probably burned by the wing but Dan Sheehan the possessor of a similar sprinting speed and snaring the England back. Ireland throw bodies in at the breakdown but their entry is incorrect. Penalty England.
Ireland 7-3 England, 21 minutes
Ireland aren’t happy but that looks a sharp call from Paul Williams, lifter James Ryan slipping in front of Cian Prendergast as the number eight comes back to floor and thus correctly penalised for obstruction. Another missed opportunity for Ireland.
Ireland 7-3 England, 20 minutes
This time Ireland click, beautifully deft handling with James Lowe looping and adding an extra pair of hands to take Garry Ringrose’s pass just as the centre gets a clattering. Mack Hansen continues on up the right and Jamie George’s failure to roll away means Ireland advance again towards England’s line.
Ireland 7-3 England, 18 minutes
Just a little bit messy from Ireland, atypically for Andy Farrell’s men. Ross Byrne steps off his left boot and tries to send either Josh van der Flier or Cian Prendergast through a gap on his inside, with the two back rowers hitting similar lines - the ball flicks an Irish hand and travels forward.
Ireland 7-3 England, 17 minutes
That’s four penalties against England already, with David Ribbans there guilty of just getting himself in the way with Jamison Gibson-Park trying to hit his runner. Had Ribbans dropped to lie prone, he’d have been fine, but the lock was tall enough on one knee to cut off the passing lane.
Ireland back into England’s 22.
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