How’s everyone? We’re almost ready for take-off…
Gavan Casey with you here, and I’ll be bringing you live updates from Ireland’s final World Cup warm-up game on Irish soil, as they look for the perfect send-off against England.
If you can’t get to a telly, I’ll keep you posted on the scoreline and big moments from the game on this end. If you can, and if you simply want more analysis afterwards, I’ll be doing player ratings for The 42 and my colleagues Murray Kinsella and Ciarán Kennedy behind me will be sure to sate your remaining appetite.
Let’s get stuck into it!
We’re just over 15 minutes from kick-off here at Lansdowne Road and the WiFi, as always, has me in conniptions. But we’ll get there.
One hundred up today for Keith Earls, for whom there was an enormous reception as his name was read over the tannoy with the rest of the Ireland team.
Here’s a quick recap of the lineups. (Your referee, by the way, is Paul Williams of New Zealand).
Ireland
- 15. Hugo Keenan
- 14. Mack Hansen
- 13. Garry Ringrose
- 12. Bundee Aki
- 11. James Lowe
- 10. Ross Byrne
- 9. Jamison Gibson-Park
- 1. Andrew Porter
- 2. Dan Sheehan
- 3. Tadhg Furlong
- 4. Tadhg Beirne
- 5. James Ryan (captain)
- 6. Peter O’Mahony
- 7. Josh van der Flier
- 8. Cian Prendergast
Replacements:
- 16. Rob Herring
- 17. Jeremy Loughman
- 18. Finlay Bealham
- 19. Joe McCarthy
- 20. Caelan Doris
- 21. Conor Murray
- 22. Jack Crowley
- 23. Keith Earls
England
- 15. Freddie Steward
- 14. Anthony Watson
- 13. Joe Marchant
- 12. Manu Tuilagi
- 11. Elliot Daly
- 10. George Ford
- 9. Ben Youngs
- 1. Ellis Genge
- 2. Jamie George
- 3. Will Stuart
- 4. Maro Itoje
- 5. David Ribbans
- 6. Courtney Lawes (capt)
- 7. Ben Earl
- 8. Billy Vunipola
Replacements:
- 16. Theo Dan
- 17. Joe Marler
- 18. Kyle Sinckler
- 19. Ollie Chessum
- 20. Jack Willis
- 21. Danny Care
- 22. Marcus Smith
- 23. Ollie Lawrence
Don’t mention the war…
Just over 10 minutes to go, now, and the stadium isn’t even half-full yet. It’ll hardly reach capacity, considering it’s just a warm-up game and tickets cost roughly a million euro each.
But there’s definitely a relaxed vibe here today compared to the tension that engulfed the place ahead of the Slam game back in March.
It’s a cracker of a day in Dublin and a few heads might need to be torn out of pubs if they’re going to make kick-off.
Ireland are led out by Keith Earls and his kids, and the noise is serious. Anthem time.
The ground is after filling up now very quickly and, after Earls’ intro, the place is fizzing.
Kick-off in a couple of minutes’ time!
1′ – IRL 0-0 ENG:Ross Byrne gets us underway at the Aviva!
4′ – IRL 0-0 ENG: Couple of huge hits already from opposing left wings Elliot Daly and James Lowe respectively.
Mack Hansen takes the sting out of a manic-enough start with a mark, but he only slices the free kick as far as his own 10′.
England win a penalty off the ensuing phase as Tadhg Beirne fails to roll away.
Shot called by George Ford.
Poor start by Ireland, who were turned over on the ground twice in the opening four minutes.
5′ - Ford is on the mark from 40-odd metres and settles any English nerves. The visitors lead!
6′ - Courtney Lawes is pinged for coming in the side near midfield and Ireland get their first opportunity as Ross Byrne prods them into the English 22′.
6′ – IRL 0-3 ENG: Sloppy by Ireland, who nail the lineout but after a decent carry by Dan Sheehan, the ball squirts loose and England boot downfield into acres of space. Hugo Keenan recovers the loose ball well and James Lowe — with an absolute cannon — sends one right back down to the English 22′. Some kick!
TRRRRYYYYYYYYYY! IRL 7-3 ENG:Ah, what a score!
Mack Hansen claims a high ball under no pressure, and in transition, Josh van der Flier sends Peter O’Mahony through a hole with a perfectly timed pass.
O’Mahony charges into the English 22′, senses his support runner Bundee Aki on his right-hand periphery, and times the pass perfectly to send Aki under the sticks.
Byrne adds the extras, and Ireland lead.
12′ – IRL 7-3 ENG: England gain territory soon after Aki’s try and knock on the door, but Cian Prendergast says no — and Ireland come away with the ball. Prendergast gets over the top of the ball and Paul Williams pings England for holding.
16′ – IRL 7-3 ENG: Ireland making a concerted effort to take England to each edge at the earliest opportunity.
They win a penalty, though, in midfield, as David Ribbans obstructs a Jamison Gibson-Park pass from the wrong side of the ruck. He had been warned to stay down by Williams.
Byrne, with another good kick to touch, takes Ireland to the English 22′.
18′ – IRL 7-3 ENG: Attack breaks down due to a mix-up between Byrne and Van der Flier. Frustrating one, but resolute defence by England.
20′ – IRL 7-3 ENG: Lovely move by Ireland with Lowe looping around to the right and sending Hansen into a half-space.
He’s stopped, but England are off their feet and Ross Byrne punts the penalty deep into the English 22′.
…Aaaand not for the first time this summer, Ireland are penalised at the lineout! James Ryan protests but Williams tells him, “I’ve seen it differently.”
As you were!
24′ – IRL 7-3 ENG: Garry Ringrose is penalised for not rolling halfway between the Irish 22′ and 10′.
Ford will take a shot.
Ireland the better side here but they’re inaccurate, and it’s a serious battle as a result.
26′ – IRL 7-3 ENG: That being said, Ford misses the kick, which was easier than his first. The lead remains the same. A let-off for the hosts.
31′ – IRL 7-3 ENG: A few minutes of muck by Ireland, there. I don’t even wanna tell you about it. Just get back to what you’re doing and we’ll see if it improves in a couple of minutes.
33′ – IRL 7-3 ENG: It did improve, actually. Beautiful skip pass by Cian Prendergast sends Ringrose into a bit of space. Ireland go on to win a penalty and Byrne takes them to just outside the English 22′.
36′ – IRL 7-3 ENG: Ireland’s last attack broke down in what have become typical circumstances in this first half.
A botched set play, and Byrne’s pass drops behind Mack Hansen, who concedes a penalty as he recovers the loose ball.
No cause for alarm, obviously, but tough viewing, some of this.
39′ – TRYYYYYY! And for all that Ireland have been sloppy in this first half, that is an absolutely exquisite score.
James Lowe has been exceptional, in fairness: his passing range was on full display there as he sent Peter O’Mahony down the left with a 30-yard ping off his right hand.
Ireland change the point of attack and it’s Mack Hansen who stands in at first receiver and floats a wonderful crossfield kick, from left to right, into the arms of Garry Ringrose.
Ringrose steps off his right and crashes through two English defenders from close range to dot down.
Brilliant passage of rugby.
Byrne’s conversion floats left and wide, but Ireland’s lead is out to nine.
What a way for Ireland to take it to the sheds.
It’s been iffy, it’s been bitty, but the hosts have two tries to England’s none and look by far the superior side here at the Aviva.
England have scarcely threatened the Irish line — but they’ve been disruptive and annoying, and that should have yielded at least another three points for them. They’re not out of this by any means.
Catch ye in a few minutes!
47′ – IRL 12-3 ENG: We’re back, by the way. Sorry, I’m doing player ratings as well and I got caught in my own head for a couple of minutes.
A little bit of kick tennis early in the second half, anyway. Eventually, England are pinged inside their own 22′ for going off their feet on their own ball, but Ireland’s resulting lineout maul comes to nothing.
English scrum… AND IRELAND WIN THE PENALTY!
48′ – IRL 12-3 ENG: Herring to Prendergast aaand it’s crooked. Jayze, that’s a kicker.
Ireland’s lineout started well but it’s become awful. Obviously, they’re not using their full palette of calls, but the accuracy has been all over the shop.
53′ – IRL 12-3 ENG: Billy Vunipola came in very high on Andrew Porter, there. No wrap. Head contact. It’s at least a yellow, which he has received, and it will be referred to the bunker for good measure.
It looks a red, to my eyes.
TRRRYYYYYY FOR IRELAND! And it’s the man who deserves it arguably more than anyone on the field: James Lowe.
It’s a walk-in score for Lowe off a lovely skip pass by Ross Byrne as Ireland piled pressure on the English line.
Well crafted score and thoroughly deserved.
57′ – IRL 17-3 ENG: Ross Byrne’s conversion hit the post, by the way.
Meanwhile, the Aviva erupts as England are reduced to 14 for the rest of the game.
Billy Vunipola’s yellow card has been upgraded to a red: high contact, no wrap, no mitigation. Off he goes.
59′ – IRL 17-3 ENG: Keith Earls is on for his 100th cap, replacing James Lowe. The stadium nearly rises out of the ground.
Jack Crowley is also on, for Bundee Aki at 12.
61′ – IRL 17-3 ENG: England bang at the Irish door but Finlay Bealham tells them to try elsewhere. Huge turnover on the ground after a sustained period of pressure.
The Fields of Athenry rings around the Aviva.
TRYYYYYY! Over goes Mack Hansen in the right-hand corner. Wonderful, left-handed skip pass by Byrne, and Hansen cuts in off his right foot to dive over in the corner.
Byrne’s conversion is again off the mark.
Stick a fork in this one, folks.
Tryyyy! Kyle Sinckler replies for England, burrowing over from close range after a spell of pressure. Conversion is good!
TRRRYYYYYY!!! AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!!! IT’S KEITH EARLS!!!!
What a finish in the left-hand corner! Bundee Aki with a sensational skip pass to put the centurion away. Earls shows his wheels and the Aviva. Goes. NUTS!
And so does Andy Farrell in the Irish coaches’ box, ha!
Ah, one of the great Aviva Stadium moments, that one.
Jack Crowley absolutely drains the conversion from the left-hand touchline.
That’s that from the Aviva. Ireland get tough workout but earn a comprehensive win over their visitors.
Keith Earls might steal the headlines, and that’s no issue. What a moment for the Limerick man at the end.
On we go to France!
Keep an eye on The 42 for a full report, reaction, and analysis from Murray Kinsella and Ciarán Kennedy.
Thanks for joining us, and catch you soon!
