Ireland vs England – Six Nations: Live score, team news and updates

03/20/2021

Ireland vs England LIVE: Owen Farrell kicks England into an early lead in Dublin as Eddie Jones’ men look to finish with a flourish after fantastic France win… follow all the action on the last weekend of the Six Nations

England regained some pride with victory over France last weekend at home
Andy Farrell’s side will be desperate to conclude Six Nations on a high
Latest Six Nations news, including fixtures and results
England team news in full as Henry Slade is ruled out

Andy Farrell will be trying to orchestrate the downfall of his son Owen and the England team on Saturday afternoon.

Ireland and England are unable to win the Six Nations but both sides have pride on the line in Dublin.

Eddie Jones’ men managed to get back to winning ways last weekend against France while their hosts want to back up victory over Scotland to round off the campaign in style.

Follow Sportsmail’s Ben Miller for live Six Nations coverage of Ireland vs England, including scoreline, team news and build-up.

Host commentator

England take the lead with nine minutes gone! Furlong’s early drive at the England lineout in Ireland’s 22 earns Farrell a chance on the England right, which he accepts to put the visitors ahead!

The first scrum takes an inexorable amount of time to proceed before Aki goes on a run and is sent into touch.

Conor Murray has sent a couple into touch already, denoting the air war that we could well be set for here. England then have their first lineout, from where Ben Youngs’ delivery gives Ireland an opening from their 22. Stockdale passes the halfway line but does little with the opportunity. Here’s how his side looked shortly before the start.

We’re off! George Ford gets us started here, and there’s a palpable cacophony as he does so, the players having already roared at the top of their sizeable lungs for those stirring anthems.

Let’s have a final reminder of the teams before the action gets underway.

Ireland: 15-Keenan; 14-Earls, 13-Henshaw, 12-Aki, 11-Stockdale; 10-Sexton (capt), 9-Murray; 1-Kilcoyne, 2-Herring, 3-Furlong, 4-Henderson, 5-Beirne, 6-Stander, 7-Van Der Flier, 8-Conan

Replacements: 16-Kelleher, 17-Healy, 18-Porter, 19-Baird, 20-O’Mahony, 21-Gibson-Park, 22-Byrne, 23-Larmour

England: 15-Daly; 14-Watson, 13-Lawrence, 12-Farrell (capt), 11-May; 10-Ford, 9-Youngs; 1-M Vunipola, 2-Cowan-Dickie, 3-Sinckler, 4-Itoje, 5-Ewels, 6-Wilson, 7-Curry, 8-B Vunipola

Replacements: 16-George, 17-Genge, 18-Stuart, 19-Hill, 20-Earl, 21-Robson, 22-Martin, 23-Marchant

Here’s how this stadium looked a little earlier. ‘International coaching is Ying-Yang,’ theorised Leigh Jones in that chat. ‘You’re always balancing the need for results with the need for development.

‘It’s been a profitable year from Eddie’s perspective. He’s blooded a number of youngsters such as George Martin from Leicester, managing to find that balance with a good win/loss percentage, while also unearthing new talent. That is success for an international coach, in my eyes.’ Jones was speaking on behalf of Saxo Markets.

Leigh Jones, the soon-to-be General Manager of Leicester Tigers, has been discussing Eddie Jones. ‘His win ratio speaks for itself,’ he said, speaking on behalf of Saxo Markets. ‘He’s battled a time like no other and trusted his best players, which is now bearing fruit.

‘It’s been a difficult year in many ways, but Eddie has done his homework. He knows who his best players are through a lot of research and analysis – the problem being that because of Covid, a lot of those players have not managed to get a lot of quality rugby under their belt to get into the form they would like to for the Six Nations.

‘Eddie has remained loyal and we saw the first signs, last week against France, that it is paying off.’

Andy Farrell strategising to beat his own son is one of the more bizarre plot lines but such is modern sport. Both sides have had a stroll around the pitch, bit of a warm-up and a few huddles, such a shame this game isn’t being played in front of the usual intimidating crowd.

Dead rubber? This is Ireland vs England in Dublin and you can guarantee there will be no let up in intensity this afternoon, even though neither of these sides can win the championship. Kick off is just under an hour away so keep it here for all the build-up before we get underway.

Source: Read Full Article