Ireland begin their Six Nations campaign with an interesting test.
England will be heavy favourites today at Twickenham.
They won the equivalent fixture 49-5 last year, and 88-10 the last time the sides met in London in the Six Nations.
Historically, England have won 21 of the 30 editions of this competition, with Ireland triumphing twice, in 2013 and 2015.
Yet Ireland have improved since Scott Bemand’s appointment as coach in 2023, including reaching the World Cup quarter-finals before a narrow loss to France last year.
Today, the visitors will be hoping to provide more evidence that they are going in the right direction.
Anna McGann shows good strength to power over the line under pressure from a couple of English players, after good work from Ireland’s forwards in the build-up.
O’Brien’s conversion attempt from a difficult angle drifts wide.
Harrison produces an excellent pass for Kildunne, who goes past a tired Flood as if she wasn’t there and shows electric pace before dotting down in the corner.
For the first time this afternoon, Rowland misses the conversion.
28 mins ago
4:04PM
A record attendance at Twickenham of 77,120 fans has been confirmed.
It’s the latest evidence that the women’s game is growing in popularity.
27 mins ago
4:04PM
Here’s a look at Ireland’s consolation try…
Anna McGann scores Ireland's first try of the game at Twickenham
Ireland finished strongly after a fairly uninspired first hour or so, although it was partly due to the hosts taking their foot off the pedal after scoring the bonus try.
Scott Bemand’s side made too many mistakes and were duly punished by an England side who looked a class apart, even if they were also below their best following last year’s World Cup triumph.
Ireland will hope for a major improvement ahead of their next match on 18 April against Italy in Galway’s Dexcom Stadium.
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As it happened: England v Ireland, Women's Six Nations Championship
England 33-12 Ireland
Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.
Ireland begin their Six Nations campaign with an interesting test.
England will be heavy favourites today at Twickenham.
They won the equivalent fixture 49-5 last year, and 88-10 the last time the sides met in London in the Six Nations.
Historically, England have won 21 of the 30 editions of this competition, with Ireland triumphing twice, in 2013 and 2015.
Yet Ireland have improved since Scott Bemand’s appointment as coach in 2023, including reaching the World Cup quarter-finals before a narrow loss to France last year.
Today, the visitors will be hoping to provide more evidence that they are going in the right direction.
Kick off is at 2.25pm.
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
A reminder of Ireland’s starting XV announced earlier in the week…
15. Stacey Flood
14. Béibhinn Parsons
13. Aoife Dalton
12. Eve Higgins
11. Vicky Elmes Kinlan
10. Dannah O’Brien
9. Emily Lane
1. Ellena Perry
2. Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald
3. Linda Djougang
4. Dorothy Wall
5. Fiona Tuite
6. Brittany Hogan
7. Erin King
8. Aoife Wafer
Replacements:
16. Neve Jones
17. Niamh O’Dowd
18. Eilís Cahill
19. Ruth Campbell
20. Grace Moore
21. Katie Whelan
22. Nancy McGillivray
23. Anna McGann
And here’s a reminder of the England team that will line out…
15. Ellie Kildunne
14. Jess Breach
13. Megan Jones (captain)
12. Helena Rowland
11. Claudia Moloney-MacDonald
10. Holly Aitchison
9. Lucy Packer
1. Kelsey Clifford
2. Amy Cokayne
3. Sarah Bern
4. Morwenna Talling
5. Lilli Ives Campion
6. Maddie Feaunati
7. Sadia Kabeya
8. Alex Matthews
Replacements
16. Connie Powell
17. Mackenzie Carson
18. Maud Muir
19. Haineala Lutui
20. Abi Burton
21. Natasha Hunt
22. Zoe Harrison
23. Emma Sing
We’re underway…
Bad start for Ireland.
Two players go for the same ball at kick-off and Higgins ends up knocking on.
It gives England a scrum on the 22.
6 mins: Signs of nerves perhaps, as Ireland have made a couple of unforced errors in these early stages.
A lineout has just gone astray and handed England back possession.
TRY FOR ENGLAND!
9 mins: England win a lineout deep into Irish territory.
Amy Cokayne gets possession in a driving maul and scores a comfortable enough try.
Rowland makes no mistake with the conversion.
9 mins: Another frustrating error for Ireland.
Higgins runs with the ball and drops it as she attempts to make the pass.
It’s been a difficult start for the visitors.
14 mins: Another handling error for Ireland in a promising position around the 22.
This time, Lane is the culprit.
17 mins: England are knocking on the door again.
Jess Breach shows terrific pace out wide but is tackled just shy of the try line.
TRY FOR ENGLAND!
20 mins: After a long spell of pressure,
Sarah Bern dives under the posts amidst an abundance of bodies.
The conversion straight in front of the posts by Rowland is successful.
22 mins: Packer executes a brilliant kick to put Ireland under further pressure well into their half.
This is already starting to feel a little like a damage limitation exercise for Bemand’s side.
Here’s a look at England’s first try…
26 mins: Ireland have steadied the ship somewhat in recent minutes, winning a couple of penalties.
As I type, they have a lineout just outside the English 22.
28 mins: Ireland are penalised for another knock-on.
They haven’t been able to get going at all from an attacking perspective.
TRY FOR ENGLAND! 19-0
Bern powers over for her second try of the match.
Moloney-MacDonald made the initial bursting run, and there was some doubt over whether she was tackled into touch, but the official awards the try.
Rowland converts from a difficult angle.
40 mins: Elmes Kinlan is the latest player to knock on as she attempts to gather a kick.
Ireland have been punished amid an error-ridden first half.
TRY FOR ENGLAND! 26-0
ENGLAND TRY RULED OUT! 21-0
England’s try is disallowed.
Jones made the initial line break and offload, before Kildunne bursts through.
However, replays reveal she didn’t ground the ball properly, and a knock-on is belatedly awarded in Ireland’s favour.
HALF-TIME: ENGLAND 21-0 IRELAND
So, it’s half-time, and England have been dominant as expected.
Aside from that last disallowed try, the world champions have been clinical and deserve their comprehensive lead.
Ireland, though, have made it easy for them, committing several basic errors and looking nervous throughout the half.
The visitors will need to be much better in the second half to avoid a thrashing.
Here’s a look at the third English try…
The second half has begun…
44 mins: Worry for England.
Morwenna Talling has taken a knock and has to come off.
19-year-old Haineala Lutui comes on for her senior debut.
47 mins: It’s been a stop-start second half so far.
Both sides have been guilty of knock-ons and unforced errors aplenty.
48 mins: England win a penalty from an Irish scrum.
It’s been that sort of day for Bemand’s side.
50 mins: More last-ditch defending from Ireland.
Moloney-MacDonald does really well to win possession near the Irish try line to relieve the pressure for now.
TRY FOR ENGLAND! 26-0
55 mins: Flood’s kick is blocked.
Jones then kicks through, and Breach shows impressive pace to dot down under pressure from an Irish player.
Rowland converts in front of the post.
England have their bonus try.
60 mins: There’s another long stoppage after Natasha Hunt suffers a knee injury after landing awkwardly.
After being patched, the substitute looks okay to continue.
Here’s a look at England’s bonus try…
TRY FOR IRELAND! 28-5
Anna McGann shows good strength to power over the line under pressure from a couple of English players, after good work from Ireland’s forwards in the build-up.
O’Brien’s conversion attempt from a difficult angle drifts wide.
It’ll only be a consolation at this stage.
TRY FOR ENGLAND! 33-5
England go right down the other end and score.
Harrison produces an excellent pass for Kildunne, who goes past a tired Flood as if she wasn’t there and shows electric pace before dotting down in the corner.
For the first time this afternoon, Rowland misses the conversion.
A record attendance at Twickenham of 77,120 fans has been confirmed.
It’s the latest evidence that the women’s game is growing in popularity.
Here’s a look at Ireland’s consolation try…
TRY FOR IRELAND! 33-10
The Irish captain King dives over a couple of bodies to score Ireland’s second try after a spell of sustained pressure.
This time, O’Brien’s conversion is successful.
Here’s a look at that Erin King try, as Ireland finish strongly…
England’s impressive captain, Megan Jones, has been named Player of the Match.
Two minutes remain.
Dalton bursts towards the try line.
But Kildunne does well to get back and intercept her attempted pass.
FULL-TIME: ENGLAND 33-12 IRELAND
So that’s that.
Ireland finished strongly after a fairly uninspired first hour or so, although it was partly due to the hosts taking their foot off the pedal after scoring the bonus try.
Scott Bemand’s side made too many mistakes and were duly punished by an England side who looked a class apart, even if they were also below their best following last year’s World Cup triumph.
Ireland will hope for a major improvement ahead of their next match on 18 April against Italy in Galway’s Dexcom Stadium.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction on the site shortly.
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