Good evening, and welcome along to our live coverage of Ireland v England in the Women’s Six Nations.
A huge challenge lies ahead for Scott Bemand’s rising side as they welcome the six in-a-row champions to Cork.
Kick-off at Virgin Media Park is 4.45pm, with the action live on RTÉ 2, but we’ll keep you updated right here.
12 Apr
4:25PM
Here’s how the teams have been selected for this evening’s clash…
Ireland
15. Stacey Flood
14. Anna McGann
13. Aoife Dalton
12. Eve Higgins
11. Amee-Leigh Costigan
10. Dannah O’Brien
9. Emily Lane
1. Niamh O’Dowd
2. Neve Jones
3. Linda Djougang
4. Fiona Tuite
5. Dorothy Wall
6. Brittany Hogan
7. Erin King
8. Aoife Wafer
Replacements:
16. Cliodhna Moloney
17. Siobhán McCarthy
18. Christy Haney
19. Ruth Campbell
20. Grace Moore
21. Aoibheann Reilly
22. Nicole Fowley
23. Vicky Elmes Kinlan
England
15. Ellie Kildunne
14. Abby Dow
13. Megan Jones
12. Tatyana Heard
11. Jess Breach
10. Zoe Harrison
9. Natasha Hunt
1. Hannah Botterman
2. Lark Atkin-Davies
3. Maud Muir
4. Morwenna Talling
5. Abbie Ward
6. Zoe Aldcroft
7. Sadia Kabeya
8. Alex Matthews
Replacements:
16. Amy Cokayne
17. Kelsey Clifford
18. Sarah Bern
19. Rosie Galligan
20. Maddie Feaunati
21. Lucy Packer
22. Holly Aitchison
23. Helena Rowland
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France).
12 Apr
4:28PM
Both sides make three changes.
Emily Lane, Dorothy Wall and Brittany Hogan start for Ireland, who are again captained by Amee-Leigh Costigan. Regular co-captain Edel McMahon and Enya Breen miss out through injury.
Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir and Alex Matthews get the nod for England, who have rotated heavily through the tournament so far.
12 Apr
4:38PM
Ireland opened this Six Nations campaign with defeat at home to France (27-15), before an impressive win in Italy (54-12). England kicked off their seven in-a-row bid with back-to-back victories over Italy (38-5) and Wales (67-12).
The Red Roses are closing in on a decade of dominance over Ireland, who last beat them in 2015. Last year’s fixture finished 88-10 at Twickenham, but Scott Bemand’s side have been on the rise and will be intent on closing the gap.
England — the world’s number one ranked side — are all conquering, and have their sights set on defending their crown ahead of a home World Cup this summer. “We’re just a small bit of homework on the way to their final exam, the World Cup,” as Lindsay Peat said on RTÉ — but the hope is this building Irish side can put in a good performance.
Stacey Flood during the warm-up. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
12 Apr
4:40PM
The teams are out on the pitch. What a reception in Cork!
12 Apr
4:45PM
Great renditions of the anthems there. Kick-off is imminent.
Just a note that France won today’s earlier game, beating Italy 42-12. You can read the full report on The 42.
12 Apr
4:46PM
KICK OFF! Dannah O’Brien gets us underway at Virgin Media Park.
12 Apr
4:48PM
Ireland 0-0 England
2 mins - After some early possession, O’Brien gets Ireland up field with a great kick which deceives Jess Breach and trickles over the line. England get the line out away, but Ireland have the ball in hand again.
12 Apr
4:52PM
Ireland 0-0 England
5 mins - After a Dorothy Wall knock-on, England counter quickly from right to left. Brittany Hogan with a crunching tackle to stop Breach. Good line out Ireland, first penalty of the day goes their way after an English player doesn’t roll away from the maul.
O’Brien finds touch, but England steal the line out and are on the hunt once more.
Ireland fail to deal with a kick into the back field, and England have a 5m scrum.
12 Apr
4:56PM
Ireland 0-0 England
9 mins - Big tackle from O’Brien on Breach to stop England in their tracks. Only momentarily. But a big defensive win follows for Ireland, England concede a penalty for crossing over.
O’Brien finds touch, the line out goes long to Wall and Ireland eventually get the ball to O’Brien. A booming kick follows, the bounce deceiving an English player, and Costigan and Higgins driving her into touch.
12 Apr
4:58PM
Ireland 0-0 England
10 mins - Ireland are inches away from the opening try, driving forward slowly but surely from the line out maul. O’Brien tries a cross field kick to McGann but it doesn’t come off, brought back for a penalty for an England offside.
12 Apr
5:01PM
Ireland 0-0 England
13 mins – No repeat threat the second time around, as England stop the lineout maul after brilliant work from Abbie Ward to force the turnover. England go for the scrum on their own line, and on the second attempt, win a penalty and exit.
Encouraging start from Ireland, but they’ll be disappointed not to have taken something from that visit to the English 22.
12 Apr
5:04PM
Ireland 0-0 England
16 mins - Ireland win another penalty after excellent work from Linda Djougang at the breakdown. Ireland look to move it quickly from the line out, but a forward pass disrupts the move.
Handling errors just flashed up on the screen. Ireland 3-0 England.
Another scrum penalty follows for England and they get the line out away nicely.
12 Apr
5:08PM
Ireland 0-0 England
19 mins - Superb defending from Ireland inside their own 22. Huge hits going, and they win a penalty from the latest one. O’Brien with the tackle, Hogan with the turnover and a second big defensive win for Ireland.
Break in play as Jones gets some treatment, but she’s all good.
Ireland's Niamh O'Dowd tackled by Hannah Botterman of England. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
12 Apr
5:11PM
Ireland 0-0 England
20 mins - We go back to penalty from way back, against King on Botterman. Confusion reigns, but we go again in the corner. On the restart, Neve Jones is penalised for coming in the side of the maul. “We need more discipline,” the referee tells Costigan.
12 Apr
5:14PM
Ireland 0-0 England
22 mins - Ireland turn it over and clear their lines! Think it was Wall with the key work.
England go again, but knock it on. Huge cheers from the Irish players as the continue to hold firm.
Stat flashes up on the screen: 85% possession England in last 10 minutes, just showing you how much defending Ireland have been doing.
12 Apr
5:16PM
Ireland 0-0 England
24 mins – Penalty for Ireland as Atkin-Davis was off her feet in the ruck, and O’Brien’s kick moves Ireland back inside the England 22.
Jones’ line out is up and over the lot, but Wafer keeps it alive and Ireland are on the hunt.
Trrrrryyyyyyyyy!!!! Wow. Ireland hit the front. They keep at it after the line out, O’Brien dinks over and Costigan wins the foot race against Dow to dot down.
O’Brien doesn’t add the extras, but Ireland are 5-0 up!
12 Apr
5:23PM
Ireland 5-0 England
30 mins - England back on the front foot as they look to respond immediately. A series of scrums inside their own 22 follow, after a knock-on in the tackle. The referee tells players from both sides to be better in the scrum, and we go again.
12 Apr
5:26PM
Ireland 5-0 England
33 mins – Ireland momentarily clear their lines, but Kildunne gathers O’Brien’s clearance and England move through the phases once more. Play is brought back twice as Ireland think they have exited: first for a knock-on, then an offside.
England’s pressure eventually tells, driving over from the line out maul, Morwenna Talling with the final say.
Zoe Harisson adds the extras, and England hit the front. 7-5.
12 Apr
5:33PM
Ireland 5-7 England
39 mins – Ireland respond well, and are chasing a second try before the break. They’re going through a lot of phases, but not exactly getting anywhere just yet. It all breaks down when McGann knocks on.
England scrum, O’Dowd penalised and warned. England on the march after a line out, looks to be a knock-on but the referee shouts off the feet. King eventually turns over, O’Brien clears, and half time should be imminent…
It was Ireland who stuck first through Amee-Leigh Costigan in the 25th minute, after periods of excellent defending from the hosts. But the Red Roses hit back 10 minutes later, their possession and pressure eventually telling as Morwenna Talling finished from a line out maul.
Just Zoe Harisson’s conversion separates the sides on the scoreboard. What a half from Ireland!
The RTÉ panel are debating whether to be worried about England’s bench. Hannah Tyrrell suggests she is a little afraid, but Lindsay Peat is confident Ireland can continue in the same vein: “Keep this up, and we’re absolutely in this until the very death!”
12 Apr
5:48PM
SECOND HALF! England restart.
This time last year, the Red Roses led 38-3 at Twickenham, Now it’s 7-5 in Cork. How will the next 40 minutes unfold?
12 Apr
5:52PM
Ireland 5-7 England
41 mins - England think they have made the perfect restart with a try, but the TMO overturns the on-field decision: Costigan did enough to drag Breach into touch.
A real statement of intent from the visitors, Ireland a bit sloppy early on here.
44 mins - Ireland hold their nerve and do just enough to keep the marauding Red Roses at bay. Turnover and scrum, Ireland need to be better here.
Yellow card for Niamh O’Dowd.
12 Apr
5:58PM
Ireland 5-7 England
47 mins - England’s attack fails to fire twice there: they force a grubber, but at the second time of asking it looks like Ellie Kildunne is in for a try but the World Rugby Player of the Year fumbles under pressure from Dalton. A huge miss!
A lovely team move, with Ellie Kildunne prominent, as Meg Jones puts in the hard yards to finish with aplomb. Two tries in the time since O’Dowd was yellow-carded, England with the wind in their sails now and looking to drive on with those forward replacements.
Extras added, 21-5.
12 Apr
6:08PM
Sin-bin over, O’Dowd is back on the field but has just taken a huuuuge hit.
Grace Moore is on too, with Siobhan McCarthy coming off and Tuite remaining among the replacements.
12 Apr
6:09PM
Reverse that, momentarily anyway: O’Dowd goes off for a HIA, McCarthy returns.
12 Apr
6:10PM
Ireland 5-21 England
57 mins - An opportunity for a reprieve for Ireland, they win a penalty after good work from McGann. O’Brien boots it up the field and finds touch, but England are smelling blood here…
Ireland make more changes, with Vicky Elmes Kinlan in for her Six Nations debut.
So too, do England, as they look to finish strong and extend their 28-5 lead.
12 Apr
6:17PM
Ireland 28-5 England
62 mins - Ireland make a rare foray — for this half — out of their own half. Clíodhna Moloney wins the scrum penalty, and Nicole Fowley finds touch.
They enjoy a bit of possession, before McCarthy knocks it on, and England are on the attack once more.
12 Apr
6:20PM
Ireland 5-28 England
65 mins - The ball is turned over both ways as England chase a fifth try, before King steps up with a huge touch down to stem the flow. Fowley finds touch, but the subsequent line out is crooked. The scrum goes to ground, we go again.
Stacey Flood in action. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
12 Apr
6:22PM
TRY! Ireland 5-33 England (Bern, 67 mins)
Sarah Bern with another try, pure power on the finish after a huge carry. All came from a line out inside Ireland’s 22, England unstoppable as they steamroll through.
Harisson adds the extra, five from five off the tee for her. 35-5.
12 Apr
6:26PM
Ireland 5-35 England
70 mins - The Fields of Athenry rings around, the crowd have been really vocal this evening. No attendance confirmed, but word of 7,000 or so. A note, too, that O’Dowd is back on the field after her HIA. A lot of tired bodies out there.
A stunning individual try from Ellie Kildunne, the World Rugby Player of the Year gliding through the Irish defence to dot down with ease. “Like a hot knife through butter,” as Fiona Coghlan says on commentary.
Kildunne celebrates, before Harisson continues her 100% record from the tee.
42-5.
12 Apr
6:30PM
Ireland 5-42 England
74 mins - England are on the hunt again. Kildunne was down with a knock there, following a challenge from Stacey Flood, but is back on her feet and moving sheepishly.
Dalton grounds the ball in the back field as England drive it on, Fowley drop kicks it down their throat and they run it back…
Kelsey Clifford barrels over, another prop getting on the scoresheet. It all came after they ran it back in, Aitchison going from provider to scorer then with the conversion. 49-5.
Maud Muir is named Player of the Match.
12 Apr
6:35PM
Ireland 5-49 England
79 mins - Ireland make another rare foray into the England half, but the Red Roses turn it over and will surely be eyeing the 50-point barrier.
A word for Amee-Leigh Costigan today: another big tackle there, she has been absolutely excellent.
12 Apr
6:37PM
While England look to stride towards 50, Ireland turn them over, and Higgins breaks. The clock is in the red, but Ireland are refusing to kick it out, hoping to finish on a high.
Knock on, England kick it deep but seem happy with their lot, and Flood calls it a day by finding touch. Sin é.
England show their class in the second half with a bucket load of tries to continue their march towards a seventh Six Nations title in-a-row. Ireland will take great encouragement from the first half: they hit the front through Amee-Leigh Costigan in the 25th minute, but the all-conquering Red Roses led 7-5 at half time.
Niamh O’Dowd’s yellow card early in the second period proved costly. England scored two tries in her absence, and roared on from there, with their bench impact key.
It finished 49-5, the final scoreline perhaps harsh on Ireland but underlining just how good the Red Roses are at full throttle.
12 Apr
6:43PM
That’s all from our liveblog coverage, but we’ll have a full report on The 42 imminently.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
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As it happened: Ireland v England, Women's Six Nations
Good evening, and welcome along to our live coverage of Ireland v England in the Women’s Six Nations.
A huge challenge lies ahead for Scott Bemand’s rising side as they welcome the six in-a-row champions to Cork.
Kick-off at Virgin Media Park is 4.45pm, with the action live on RTÉ 2, but we’ll keep you updated right here.
Here’s how the teams have been selected for this evening’s clash…
Ireland
Replacements:
England
Replacements:
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France).
Both sides make three changes.
Emily Lane, Dorothy Wall and Brittany Hogan start for Ireland, who are again captained by Amee-Leigh Costigan. Regular co-captain Edel McMahon and Enya Breen miss out through injury.
Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir and Alex Matthews get the nod for England, who have rotated heavily through the tournament so far.
Ireland opened this Six Nations campaign with defeat at home to France (27-15), before an impressive win in Italy (54-12). England kicked off their seven in-a-row bid with back-to-back victories over Italy (38-5) and Wales (67-12).
The Red Roses are closing in on a decade of dominance over Ireland, who last beat them in 2015. Last year’s fixture finished 88-10 at Twickenham, but Scott Bemand’s side have been on the rise and will be intent on closing the gap.
England — the world’s number one ranked side — are all conquering, and have their sights set on defending their crown ahead of a home World Cup this summer. “We’re just a small bit of homework on the way to their final exam, the World Cup,” as Lindsay Peat said on RTÉ — but the hope is this building Irish side can put in a good performance.
The teams are out on the pitch. What a reception in Cork!
Great renditions of the anthems there. Kick-off is imminent.
Just a note that France won today’s earlier game, beating Italy 42-12. You can read the full report on The 42.
KICK OFF! Dannah O’Brien gets us underway at Virgin Media Park.
Ireland 0-0 England
2 mins - After some early possession, O’Brien gets Ireland up field with a great kick which deceives Jess Breach and trickles over the line. England get the line out away, but Ireland have the ball in hand again.
Ireland 0-0 England
5 mins - After a Dorothy Wall knock-on, England counter quickly from right to left. Brittany Hogan with a crunching tackle to stop Breach. Good line out Ireland, first penalty of the day goes their way after an English player doesn’t roll away from the maul.
O’Brien finds touch, but England steal the line out and are on the hunt once more.
Ireland fail to deal with a kick into the back field, and England have a 5m scrum.
Ireland 0-0 England
9 mins - Big tackle from O’Brien on Breach to stop England in their tracks. Only momentarily. But a big defensive win follows for Ireland, England concede a penalty for crossing over.
O’Brien finds touch, the line out goes long to Wall and Ireland eventually get the ball to O’Brien. A booming kick follows, the bounce deceiving an English player, and Costigan and Higgins driving her into touch.
Ireland 0-0 England
10 mins - Ireland are inches away from the opening try, driving forward slowly but surely from the line out maul. O’Brien tries a cross field kick to McGann but it doesn’t come off, brought back for a penalty for an England offside.
Ireland 0-0 England
13 mins – No repeat threat the second time around, as England stop the lineout maul after brilliant work from Abbie Ward to force the turnover. England go for the scrum on their own line, and on the second attempt, win a penalty and exit.
Encouraging start from Ireland, but they’ll be disappointed not to have taken something from that visit to the English 22.
Ireland 0-0 England
16 mins - Ireland win another penalty after excellent work from Linda Djougang at the breakdown. Ireland look to move it quickly from the line out, but a forward pass disrupts the move.
Handling errors just flashed up on the screen. Ireland 3-0 England.
Another scrum penalty follows for England and they get the line out away nicely.
Ireland 0-0 England
19 mins - Superb defending from Ireland inside their own 22. Huge hits going, and they win a penalty from the latest one. O’Brien with the tackle, Hogan with the turnover and a second big defensive win for Ireland.
Break in play as Jones gets some treatment, but she’s all good.
Ireland 0-0 England
20 mins - We go back to penalty from way back, against King on Botterman. Confusion reigns, but we go again in the corner. On the restart, Neve Jones is penalised for coming in the side of the maul. “We need more discipline,” the referee tells Costigan.
Ireland 0-0 England
22 mins - Ireland turn it over and clear their lines! Think it was Wall with the key work.
England go again, but knock it on. Huge cheers from the Irish players as the continue to hold firm.
Stat flashes up on the screen: 85% possession England in last 10 minutes, just showing you how much defending Ireland have been doing.
Ireland 0-0 England
24 mins – Penalty for Ireland as Atkin-Davis was off her feet in the ruck, and O’Brien’s kick moves Ireland back inside the England 22.
Jones’ line out is up and over the lot, but Wafer keeps it alive and Ireland are on the hunt.
TRY! Ireland 5-0 England (Costigan, 25 mins)
Trrrrryyyyyyyyy!!!! Wow. Ireland hit the front. They keep at it after the line out, O’Brien dinks over and Costigan wins the foot race against Dow to dot down.
O’Brien doesn’t add the extras, but Ireland are 5-0 up!
Ireland 5-0 England
30 mins - England back on the front foot as they look to respond immediately. A series of scrums inside their own 22 follow, after a knock-on in the tackle. The referee tells players from both sides to be better in the scrum, and we go again.
Ireland 5-0 England
33 mins – Ireland momentarily clear their lines, but Kildunne gathers O’Brien’s clearance and England move through the phases once more. Play is brought back twice as Ireland think they have exited: first for a knock-on, then an offside.
TRY! Ireland 5-5 England (Talling, 35 mins)
England’s pressure eventually tells, driving over from the line out maul, Morwenna Talling with the final say.
Zoe Harisson adds the extras, and England hit the front. 7-5.
Ireland 5-7 England
39 mins – Ireland respond well, and are chasing a second try before the break. They’re going through a lot of phases, but not exactly getting anywhere just yet. It all breaks down when McGann knocks on.
England scrum, O’Dowd penalised and warned. England on the march after a line out, looks to be a knock-on but the referee shouts off the feet. King eventually turns over, O’Brien clears, and half time should be imminent…
HALF TIME: Ireland 5-7 England
England lead at half time…just.
It was Ireland who stuck first through Amee-Leigh Costigan in the 25th minute, after periods of excellent defending from the hosts. But the Red Roses hit back 10 minutes later, their possession and pressure eventually telling as Morwenna Talling finished from a line out maul.
Just Zoe Harisson’s conversion separates the sides on the scoreboard. What a half from Ireland!
Here’s a look at the tries:
The RTÉ panel are debating whether to be worried about England’s bench. Hannah Tyrrell suggests she is a little afraid, but Lindsay Peat is confident Ireland can continue in the same vein: “Keep this up, and we’re absolutely in this until the very death!”
SECOND HALF! England restart.
This time last year, the Red Roses led 38-3 at Twickenham, Now it’s 7-5 in Cork. How will the next 40 minutes unfold?
Ireland 5-7 England
41 mins - England think they have made the perfect restart with a try, but the TMO overturns the on-field decision: Costigan did enough to drag Breach into touch.
A real statement of intent from the visitors, Ireland a bit sloppy early on here.
Here’s a look at that huge stop from Costigan:
Ireland 5-7 England
44 mins - Ireland hold their nerve and do just enough to keep the marauding Red Roses at bay. Turnover and scrum, Ireland need to be better here.
Yellow card for Niamh O’Dowd.
Ireland 5-7 England
47 mins - England’s attack fails to fire twice there: they force a grubber, but at the second time of asking it looks like Ellie Kildunne is in for a try but the World Rugby Player of the Year fumbles under pressure from Dalton. A huge miss!
TRY! England 12-5 Ireland (Harrisson, 49 mins)
More like it from England, moving the ball quickly through the hands and Harisson drives home. She adds the extras. 14-5.
Ireland change: Siobhan McCarthy is on with O’Dowd in the bin, Tuite the player to make way amidst a reshuffle.
Here’s the England try, excellent from Harisson:
England bring on their bomb squad, Amy Cokayne and Sarah Bern among those coming on.
TRY! Ireland 5-19 England (Jones, 53 mins)
A lovely team move, with Ellie Kildunne prominent, as Meg Jones puts in the hard yards to finish with aplomb. Two tries in the time since O’Dowd was yellow-carded, England with the wind in their sails now and looking to drive on with those forward replacements.
Extras added, 21-5.
Sin-bin over, O’Dowd is back on the field but has just taken a huuuuge hit.
Grace Moore is on too, with Siobhan McCarthy coming off and Tuite remaining among the replacements.
Reverse that, momentarily anyway: O’Dowd goes off for a HIA, McCarthy returns.
Ireland 5-21 England
57 mins - An opportunity for a reprieve for Ireland, they win a penalty after good work from McGann. O’Brien boots it up the field and finds touch, but England are smelling blood here…
TRY! England 26-5 Ireland (Bern, 58 mins)
Relentless. Sarah Bern crashes over after England go on the charge following another Irish line out failure.
Harisson converts, 28-5.
Here are the two latest England tries:
Ireland make more changes, with Vicky Elmes Kinlan in for her Six Nations debut.
So too, do England, as they look to finish strong and extend their 28-5 lead.
Ireland 28-5 England
62 mins - Ireland make a rare foray — for this half — out of their own half. Clíodhna Moloney wins the scrum penalty, and Nicole Fowley finds touch.
They enjoy a bit of possession, before McCarthy knocks it on, and England are on the attack once more.
Ireland 5-28 England
65 mins - The ball is turned over both ways as England chase a fifth try, before King steps up with a huge touch down to stem the flow. Fowley finds touch, but the subsequent line out is crooked. The scrum goes to ground, we go again.
TRY! Ireland 5-33 England (Bern, 67 mins)
Sarah Bern with another try, pure power on the finish after a huge carry. All came from a line out inside Ireland’s 22, England unstoppable as they steamroll through.
Harisson adds the extra, five from five off the tee for her. 35-5.
Ireland 5-35 England
70 mins - The Fields of Athenry rings around, the crowd have been really vocal this evening. No attendance confirmed, but word of 7,000 or so. A note, too, that O’Dowd is back on the field after her HIA. A lot of tired bodies out there.
TRY! England 40-5 Ireland (Kildunne, 71 mins)
A stunning individual try from Ellie Kildunne, the World Rugby Player of the Year gliding through the Irish defence to dot down with ease. “Like a hot knife through butter,” as Fiona Coghlan says on commentary.
Kildunne celebrates, before Harisson continues her 100% record from the tee.
42-5.
Ireland 5-42 England
74 mins - England are on the hunt again. Kildunne was down with a knock there, following a challenge from Stacey Flood, but is back on her feet and moving sheepishly.
Dalton grounds the ball in the back field as England drive it on, Fowley drop kicks it down their throat and they run it back…
TRY! Ireland 5-47 England (Clifford, 76 mins)
Kelsey Clifford barrels over, another prop getting on the scoresheet. It all came after they ran it back in, Aitchison going from provider to scorer then with the conversion. 49-5.
Maud Muir is named Player of the Match.
Ireland 5-49 England
79 mins - Ireland make another rare foray into the England half, but the Red Roses turn it over and will surely be eyeing the 50-point barrier.
A word for Amee-Leigh Costigan today: another big tackle there, she has been absolutely excellent.
While England look to stride towards 50, Ireland turn them over, and Higgins breaks. The clock is in the red, but Ireland are refusing to kick it out, hoping to finish on a high.
Knock on, England kick it deep but seem happy with their lot, and Flood calls it a day by finding touch. Sin é.
FULL TIME: Ireland 5-49 England
England show their class in the second half with a bucket load of tries to continue their march towards a seventh Six Nations title in-a-row. Ireland will take great encouragement from the first half: they hit the front through Amee-Leigh Costigan in the 25th minute, but the all-conquering Red Roses led 7-5 at half time.
Niamh O’Dowd’s yellow card early in the second period proved costly. England scored two tries in her absence, and roared on from there, with their bench impact key.
It finished 49-5, the final scoreline perhaps harsh on Ireland but underlining just how good the Red Roses are at full throttle.
That’s all from our liveblog coverage, but we’ll have a full report on The 42 imminently.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
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Liveblog Minute-by-Minute Rugby Updates Women's Six Nations