England vs Ireland result: Irish Grand Slam dream ends as hosts deliver dominant victory
Re-live the action from the final Six Nations clash of the weekend at Twickenham
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates live from Twickenham as England take on Ireland with their Six Nations championship hopes on the line.
Ireland arrive in London with two wins from two after seeing off Scotland and Wales, but face their toughest ask yet as they travel away from home for the first time to face an England side that got back to winning ways against Scotland last time out following the opening defeat against France – who are now favourites for the Six Nations title after their stunning win over Wales yesterday.
England boss Eddie Jones has made four personnel changes for the match, with Manu Tuilagi returning from injury and shifting Jonathan Joseph out to the wing for the first time as Elliot Daly moves to full-back, while Joe Marler, Courtney Lawes and Ben Youngs also return. Ireland meanwhile are forced into one change as Iain Henderson misses out following the birth of his son, with Devin Toner coming into the starting XV. Follow the live action below.
When is it?
England vs Ireland takes place on Sunday 23 February at Twickenham Stadium.
What time does it start?
The match kicks off at 3pm GMT.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on ITV from 2:10pm. Live coverage will also be shown online on the ITV Hub.
Highlights will be shown on BBC Two from 6pm.
Teams
England: Elliot Daly; Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell, Jonathan Joseph; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Courtney Lawes, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Joe Launchbury, Charlie Ewels, Ben Earl, Willi Heinz, Henry Slade.
Ireland: Jordan Larmour; Andrew Conway, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rob Herring, Tadhg Furlong; Devin Toner, James Ryan; Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Caelan Doris, John Cooney, Ross Byrne, Keith Earls.
Odds
England to win: 4/9
Ireland to win: 5/2
Draw: 25/1
Prediction
England 22-17 Ireland: There haven’t been many one-sided results so far this tournament and, with bad weather predicted once again this weekend, expect more of the same. The Twickenham factor should prove beneficial to England given what they did to Ireland here last August, and with Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade back, the hosts seem to have a confidence about them this week that they have lacked this championship.
25 mins: England 14-0 Ireland
Ireland are proving the creators of their own downfall here as once again they gift England the score. Stockdale dallies on the ball and gives Daly enough time to dive in and slap the ball down for a try just before it reaches the deadball line, with Farrell adding the extras. There's worse news for Ireland as Healy is forced off and in a lot of pain, with Dave Kilcoyne coming on in his place.
29 mins: England 14-0 Ireland
Sexton gets himself into a spot of bother as a tackle from Youngs forces his right boot to come off. It's of course his kicking foot, and when he stands in line to pas on the very next play he slips over. England spot the weakness, and after Murray kicks down Daly's throat, the full-back sends one straight back at the fly-half who is begging for it to find touch. It does just that but it's deep in the Irish 22.
30 mins: England 14-0 Ireland
England pinch the lineout and are on the attack once again! They get away with one as a Tuilagi knock-on isn't picked up, but the penalty goes against them when Aki gets over the ball and the support isn't there, with Lawes isolated and pinged for holding on.
33 mins: England 14-0 Ireland
Itoje gets a charge down on Murray and the ball falls in England's favour, with Farrell sending a cross-field kick over for May to challenge for. Stockdale gets it and is clattered into touch by the England man, but TMO Marius Jonker checks it and correctly judges the tackle to be in the air, handing Ireland a penalty.
"It's just a timing issue so penalty only", comes the message.
34 mins: England 14-0 Ireland
Daly does well to isolated Murray in back-field with a deep kick and gets up on him to make the tackle, but England are unable to flood the ruck and Kruis ends up coming in the side to give Ireland a penalty. Sexton finds touch just outside the 22, and this is rare territory for the away side.
36 mins: England 14-0 Ireland
Itoje reads the play perfectly and rushes up to trap Aki, and the turnover comes to give England counter-attack ball. Youngs goes himself and kicks for Joseph to chase, and the natural centre shows good pace to compere with Conway and miraculously win the ball without going into touch. England go on the attack and Curry make a neat break with a pirouette out of contact, and the penalty comes for England for Ryan offside in midfield. That all came from Ireland's first attacking platform in about 25 minutes, and they just can't get a foothold in the game at the moment.
Farrell will go for goal in front of the posts.
40 mins: England 17-0 Ireland
Farrell kicks his first penalty of the day to extend the lead.
Half-time: Ireland sum up their first half by knocking the ball on, and that will end one of the more one-sided halves of rugby we've seen at Twickenham for quite some time.
England 17-0 Ireland
Half-time: Here's a look at the opening try of the half as Ford capitalised on the Sexton error...
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments