IRE
No.Name
15Robbie Henshaw, FB
14Keith Earls, W
13Garry Ringrose, C
12Bundee Aki, C
11Jacob Stockdale, W
10Johnny Sexton, FH
2
2
9Conor Murray, SH
1Cian Healy, P
T
2Rory Best, H
3Tadhg Furlong, P
4Devin Toner, L
5James Ryan, L
6Peter O'Mahony, FL
7Josh van der Flier, FL
8CJ Stander, N8
Replacements
16Sean Cronin, R
17Dave Kilcoyne, R
18Andrew Porter, R
19Quinn Roux, R
20Sean O'Brien, R
21John Cooney, R
T
22Joey Carbery, R
23Jordan Larmour, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Aviva Stadium
4:45 PM, February 2, 2019
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'That's it for our live commentary. Just seven days until we do it all over again. The 2019 Six Nations is up and running!
81'Plenty more reaction to come here including a full report of just how England managed to pull that off and all the reaction from Dublin.
81'Tom Hamilton, Senior Sports Writer for ESPN in Dublin, on Twitter: "Finest England performance in at least a decade. It was a game where Henry Slade found his international feet and where that triumvirate of Mako, Billy and Manu wrecked havoc in Dublin."
81'Next up for England it's France at Twickenham next Sunday. Ireland suddenly have a massive challenge against Scotland at Murrayfield in seven days time.
81'A first home defeat for Joe Schmidt in the Six Nations for Ireland...
81'+120-32 End of second half
80'That is quite a performance from England. They have silenced the Aviva Stadium and had all the answers against an Ireland team that never managed to formulate a Plan B to combat England's relentless defence.
80'Only a consolation for Ireland. After time ticks over England run the ball into touch and win in Dublin.
80'20-32 Conversion - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
80'18-32 Try - John Cooney , Ireland
78'
TRY
Ireland show a little heart and go on the attack. Sean Cronin sees a game and goes for the pick-and-go. He releases to the replacement John Cooney who dots it down. Sexton rushes to put the conversion over.
78'Mako Vunipola is the Guinness Man of the Match. He was one of many candidates in white.
77'Ireland are well-beaten now.
77'Substitute on - John Cooney , Ireland
77'Player substituted - Conor Murray , Ireland
77'Substitute on - George Ford , England
77'Player substituted - Manu Tuilagi , England
77'Player substituted - Mako Vunipola , England
77'Substitute on - Ellis Genge , England
77'Substitute on - Luke Cowan-Dickie , England
77'Player substituted - Jamie George , England
77'13-32 Conversion - Owen Farrell , England
76'That try was the game in a microcosm. Ireland struggling to build attacks, England irrepressible in defence and they get their reward. Top-class rugby.
76'13-30 Try - Henry Slade , England
75'
TRY
That sums it all up. Ireland try to play out from their own 22. Johnny Sexton throws a pass across his line but England are all over it. Henry Slade intercepts, catches magnificently at the second attempt, picks himself up and marauds over the line. Bonus point England, delight for Eddie Jones.
74'Substitute on - Chris Ashton , England
74'Player substituted - Jack Nowell , England
73'Substitute on - Joey Carbery , Ireland
73'Player substituted - Garry Ringrose , Ireland
72'
Chris Ashton is on to replace Jack Nowell.
72'A chorus of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' from the England fans just sums up where this match is right now. England are full of beans.
72'England clever again. Ben Youngs this time dinks a nice kick over the top and puts Ireland on their own try-line. England's kicking into space has cause Ireland real problems.
70'What a huge test for Ireland now. The reigning champions need something badly, but they are finding it so hard to breach this England defence. There's nowhere to go and eventually they have to kick it away.
70'13-25 Penalty goal - Owen Farrell , England
69'
Owen Farrell decides to go for the posts from a long way out. Does he have the distance? You bet he does. Brilliant from the England skipper.
68'We have a real game on our hands now. These are important moments for Ireland and they have the ball in England's half. The defence from England is magnificent though. Courtney Lawes flies forward to win a tackle on Garry Ringrose and then England get the penalty at the ruck.
67'Substitute on - Sean Cronin , Ireland
67'Player substituted - Rory Best , Ireland
66'13-22 Try - Henry Slade , England
65'
No extra points as Farrell puts the kick wide. It was a fine move from England for the try. Slade's pass into May initially was perfect.
65'
TRY
It's a try! Johnny May produced a brilliant kick over the top and into space from the touchline. Slade, who was just about level, went careering after it and got there first to tap it down for England. Big big pressure on Ireland now.
65'Huge moment for England. Henry Slade chases a Johnny May kick and crashes over. But we're going to TMO to check if he was onside...
65'Substitute on - Sean O'Brien , Ireland
65'Substitute on - Harry Williams , England
65'Player substituted - CJ Stander , Ireland
65'Player substituted - Kyle Sinckler , England
64'It's very tense here. Eddie Jones is on his feet, unable to stand still in the England box.
64'
CJ Stander comes off and Sean O' Brien takes his place.
63'Ireland having to build from deep and it's difficult. They move forward but Josh Van Der Flier knocks on and England have the scrum.
62'Ireland win their own scrum after a Tuilagi knock-on from a high ball. Johnny May collects another high kick for England.
62'Substitute on - Andrew Porter , Ireland
62'Player substituted - Tadhg Furlong , Ireland
62'Player substituted - Cian Healy , Ireland
62'Substitute on - Dave Kilcoyne , Ireland
61'
Farrell sizes up the task but this time does not quite get it right and misses to the left. Let-off for Ireland.
60'England retain possession from the scrum. England make little progress but their retention of the ball pays dividends and Ireland give away an unnecessary penalty.
57'Ireland win a well-contested scrum just inside their own half. England again are on it defensively. A brilliant tackle from Henry Slade dislodges the ball and England have their own scrum. The intensity from England is superb.
57'Substitute on - Quinn Roux , Ireland
57'Player substituted - Devin Toner , Ireland
55'Kyle Sinckler was picked up telling Jerome Garces how excited he was playing this game as we approached half-time. Well it seems that excitement has not abated. This from Tom Hamilton, our Senior Sports Writer in Dublin: "Kyle Sinckler in danger of spontaneously combusting here. Jumping around like he's having the time of his life."
55'13-17 Penalty goal - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
54'Player substituted - Maro Itoje , England
54'Substitute on - Nathan Hughes , England
53'
Sexton has the chance to close the gap and he makes certain of it with an easy kick from just to the left of the posts.
53'
There are a few injury worries for England here. Maro Itoje is down and Jack Nowell is hobbling with what could be a hamstring problem. Itoje is coming off and Nathan Hughes replaces him.
53'Ireland burst forward from the scrum. Tuilagi comes in with a massive hit but can't get the ball back for England. More huge collisions as Ireland try to force their way forward. Then there's a high tackle from Sinckler and Ireland have a penalty.
52'Player substituted - George Kruis , England
52'Substitute on - Courtney Lawes , England
51'
Courtney Lawes is on for George Kruis for England as we set up for the scrum.
50'England carry with authority. First Mako Vunipola then Slade power beyond the gain-line. Ireland fight back and subdue a burst from Tuilagi. England look for a gap in the green line but can't find one. Ireland win it back and kick forward. Henry Slade can't pick it up and Ireland have the ball in England territory. It all came from a big tackle from Garry Ringrose in his own half.
47'Johnny May and Jordan Larmour wrestle for a ball after both catching in mid-air. Neither gives an inch but England eventually get the penalty and have a scrum around the halfway line
45'Sexton goes for a cross-kick in the middle which Farrell of all people gathers. He kicks forward and Daly puts Henshaw under pressure, but the full-back does well to hold on and Ireland get the penalty in their own 22. There are some after between O' Mahoney and Sinckler, which Jerome Garces quickly quiets down.
44'England are really thrashing into the tackles to stop Ireland getting beyond the gain line easily. Sinckler and Itjoe have been particularly forceful in their demand to stop easy ball too.
43'Nothing too much to report early on in the second half. Both sides win their own line-outs in the middle but there is no space to launch attacks. Owen Farrell makes his first slight slip of the day by kicking out on the full under pressure, but he was in Irish territory so Ireland still have a long way to go to launch an attack.
42'And we're off. England gather the kick-off.
41'
OK, about to start the second half. One change for Ireland. Jordan Larmour is on for Keith Earls.
41'That was a spellbinding half of rugby. The action has ebbed and flowed beautifully. England had the perfect start when Johnny May crossed with two minutes. Ireland bounced back well and, after Tom Curry spent ten minutes on the sidelines for England, Cian Healy powered over from close range to give the home side the lead. They looked to be in control but then from nowhere England wrestled the game back into their grasp as Elliot Daly dotted down the loose ball from Jacob Stockdale's handling error. Sexton and Farrell have kicked everything perfectly and the match is very well balanced heading into the second half. Ireland may have be behind but they are still within a score.
41'Player substituted - Keith Earls , Ireland
41'Substitute on - Jordan Larmour , Ireland
41'10-17 End of first half
41'10-17 Penalty goal - Owen Farrell , England
40'
And Farrell makes no mistake. He curls his kick into the Dublin sky for three points and Jerome Garces blows up for half-time.
40'10-17 Start of second half
39'No try! But England were working with an advantage so Farrell has a penalty to give them a 7-point lead at the break.
38'England think they have scored again! Mako Vunipola surges for the line off the back of the ruck. The question is whether there was a double movement before the grounding. We're going to TMO. What a big moment...
38'England go down the blindside again. Nowell gets the ball from Tuilagi and has half a chance, but Ireland close the door well. Can the forwards force it over?
37'Ireland have the line-out deep in their own half, but the throw is not straight from Rory Best. Another Ireland error. England have the scrum at five metres and another chance to attack.
36'Another ultra-dangerous kick down the middle from Owen Farrell. It trickles towards the Ireland line. Henshaw gets there and bravely holds on right on his own line under immense pressure. Ireland regroup but Murray can't find touch. England bring forth more powerful attack. Finally Jack Nowell is released on the right but he is submerged under Irish defence and forced into touch.
31'10-14 Conversion - Owen Farrell , England
30'10-12 Try - Elliot Daly , England
29'There were several mistakes from Ireland in that sequence but the big one came from Jacob Stockdale. Daly's kick was tricky but, retreating beyond his own line, he should have gathered it. Instead he juggled, failed to control it and Daly had the easiest try he can remember.
29'
TRY
England secure the ball from their own line-out. They construct another good attack, coming down the short-side. Elliott Daly drips a dangerous grubber kick behind the Irish line. Jack Nowell and Daly chase for their lives and are rewarded. Jacob Stockdale, retreating beyond his own line, juggles and fails to gather. The ball falls loose and Daly jumps on it.
28'So England are behind despite a good start, but they regain possession from an Irish clearance at the kick-off. Tadgh Furlong tries to rip the ball back for England but England keep possession before Farrell aims a little dabbed kick towards the corner. Henshaw gathers and kicks clear. It's kick for kick for a moment, then Ireland slice into touch.
26'10-7 Conversion - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
25'Tom Hamilton: "Try for Ireland - they turn down a kickable penalty to gamble in the corner. Solid lineout, good setup and Cian Healy goes over after a few darts at the line"
25'8-7 Try - Cian Healy , Ireland
23'
James Ryan gathers the lineout for Ireland and they drive for the line! Held up a few feet short. Cian Healy tries to push over, then Josh Van Der Flier does the same. Ireland re-position and now they're ready. Cian Healy grabs the ball and wriggles over to give Ireland the lead.
21'Another quick England turnover in midfield allows Farrell to smash a high kick out left. Keith Earls takes it well and Jacob Stockdale picks up and breaks. A key tackle from Ben Youngs slows the attack but England are then offside and Ireland have a penalty. They kick for the corner, and Tom Curry returns to the field.
19'Ireland win a lineout around halfway and are busy around the England defence. Henshaw kicks forward and a routine pick up for Johnny May goes through his legs. England scramble to defend but fail to clear, then after Ireland run the ball back England manage to get the turnover and clear their lines.
17'The first scrum of the match goes England's way. Jack Nowell binds on at flanker to replace Tom Curry. A few moments later Ireland have a penalty in their own half as Maro Itoje is ruled to have blocked off an Ireland player.
15'From our Senior Sports Writer Tom Hamilton in Dublin: "This is the first time Manu Tuilagi, Billy Vunipola and Mako Vunipola have started a game for England together." Could be a scary prospect for Ireland.
14'Can Ireland profit with the extra man? Not yet. A knock-on releases the pressure for England and they can take a moment to re-gain some composure. Plenty of time left though with the extra man for Ireland.
13'Yellow card - Tom Curry , England
12'
A big moment of ill-discipline for England. Tom Curry clatters Keith Earl as he kicks clear. It's late, strong and involves plenty of shoulder. Not a good tackle and he's heading to the sin bin for it.
11'3-7 Penalty goal - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
7'
It has been a decent response from Ireland and Sexton makes no mistake, dissecting the posts from a central position. Ireland have a reward for their start.
7'Solid lineout and Connor Murray probes at the England line. Sexton goes for a cross-kick this time but May manages to snatch it from the air. But Ireland had a penalty advantage and we're coming back for Sexton with a presentable chance to get Ireland on the board.
7'Sexton finds touch and Ireland have a platform to attack from. Rory Best hits Peter O' Mahoney. England defend with gusto and push Ireland back well. Then Johnny May tries a kick in behind, it's nearly perfect but he has over-cooked it and the ball goes out on the full. Ireland lineout.
4'Ireland looking a little shell-shocked here after that England try. Johnny Sexton kicks away easy ball and England launch another attack. Owen Farrell is already in the mood with another well-placed cross-kick. Ireland do weather the storm though and earn a penalty in their own territory.
3'0-7 Conversion - Owen Farrell , England
2'0-5 Try - Jonny May , England
1'
Owen Farrell from the touch-line pushes his kick straight through the posts. As good a start as Eddie Jones could possibly have imagined.
1'
TRY
And we're off. Owen Farrell boots it deep into Ireland territory. Keith Earls claims and Conor Murray clears safely to touch. From the line-out England go over the top to Tuilagi for a first carry. England fly forward into the defensive line of Ireland. Suddenly there's space. Elliott Daly releases Johnny May on the left, and he's over! What a start for England
1'The key team news for Ireland is the inclusion of Robbie Henshaw in a surprise full-back role. For England Manu Tuilagi will make his first start for five years as Eddie Jones also springs a surprise. On both sides the fly-halves are the danger-men -- it's Johnny Sexton versus Owen Farrell. The winner of that battle may well be on the winning side come full-time. Kick off seconds away.
1'Stirring renditions of 'God Save the Queen' and 'Ireland's Call'. We are nearly ready...
1'The Irish president Michael Higgins has been introduced to both teams to the background music of World in Union. The anthems are coming up now.
1'Already this weekend Scotland began their campaign with a 33-20 win over Italy at Murrayfield while Wales pulled off a fine comeback to beat France 24-19 in Paris. It's already been very watchable but now it's time for the main event.
1'The teams are in the tunnel. Owen Farrell and Rory Best both ultra-focussed. The anticipation is building for what should be a very compelling contest.
1'Don't forget that there is still time to sign up to our Fantasy Rugby game.

There are weekly prizes of Beats Solo 3 Wireless Headphones, while the overall winner will claim a 13-inch Macbook Pro. And you can also take on your friends head-to-head in our mini league option.
1'Less than 12 months ago Ireland won at Twickenham on the final day of the Six Nations to secure that Grand Slam. Since then they have beaten the All Blacks, won a series Down Under and put themselves right in the mix to win the World Cup in Japan. England lost their series in South Africa last summer but there was encouragement during the November internationals when they beat the Springboks and Australia, and pushed the All Blacks very close. We are all set for a belter here.
1'Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the third match of this year's Six Nations -- Ireland v. England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The defending champions and last year's Grand Slam winners could hardly have asked for a tougher opening weekend test, and England are crossing the Irish Sea with revenge on their minds...
1'0-0 Start of first half

Six Nations Championship 2019 News