Ireland vs England LIVE rugby: Result and reaction from World Cup warm-up after Billy Vunipola red card

Job one for England today might be keeping 15 men on the pitch - not just given what happened at Twickenham last Saturday but also due to the fact that their last two Irish encounters have seen an English player sent off, Charlie Ewels’s head-to-head collision in the opening Six Nations skirmishes last year followed by Freddie Steward’s unfortunate dismissal in these parts earlier this year.

Let’s take a closer look at the two teams who will hope to avoid injury and incident this evening.

What a bizarre week. It’s now seven days since Owen Farrell was sent off against Wales and still the England captain is unsure what the future holds, the presumed ban not arriving on Tuesday and Thursday morning’s appeal by World Rugby only further muddying an already complicated conversation. The furore surrounding the fly half’s shoulder to the head of Taine Basham has rather overshadowed the build-up to a vital juncture in both Ireland and England’s World Cup preparations - but at last we have rugby around the corner to distract us from the debate.

That’s the hope, at least. Kick off in Dublin isn’t too far away....

England take on Six Nations champions Ireland in Dublin on Saturday in what is both teams’ penultimate warm-up before the Rugby World Cup begins next month.

Owen Farrell was cleared this week to lead his country both in this match and into the tournament, after his red card picked up against Wales was unexpectedly overturned by a disciplinary hearing. The all-Australian judicial committee decided that his offence warranted a yellow card only and should not have been lifted to a red by the Bunker review system during the game.

For Ireland, Keith Earls is set to earn his 100th international cap, becoming only the ninth Irishman to have played a century of Test matches.

“It would be a massive honour but also just a bit of relief because I was stuck on 98,” Earls said this week having suffered with injuries and not played for Ireland for more than a year. “I suppose in the last couple of years I was genuinely thinking every time I stepped on to the field it could be the last time. I’d be extremely proud and privileged to join a unique group.”

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Ireland vs England from Dublin - the latest Rugby World Cup warm-up match.

England have had a turbulent week with Owen Farrell’s red card, non-suspension and subsequent appeal, while Ireland are serenely going about their business as one of the World Cup favourites.

Stick with us for full coverage.