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Six Nations | Group Stage
Feb 10, 2013 at 3pm UK
 
Ireland
6-12
England
FT

Live Commentary: Ireland 6-12 England - as it happened

Live text commentary of Ireland's game against England in the Six Nations.
2

Four Owen Farrell penalties were enough to give England victory over Ireland in the Six Nations this afternoon.

Wet conditions led to few try-scoring opportunities for either side, as handling problems plagues the hosts.

Farrell successfully kicked four of his six attempts at the uprights, while Ronan O'Gara made two of his three efforts.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


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Good afternoon. With around 30 minutes until the action gets underway at the Aviva Stadium, let's have a look at the teams.

IRELAND STARTING XV: Rob Kearney, Craig Gilroy, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Simon Zebo, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony, Donnacha Ryan, Mike McCarthy, Mike Ross, Rory Best, Cian Healy

IRELAND REPLACEMENTS: Sean Cronin, David Kilcoyne, Declan Fitzpatrick, Donnacha O'Callaghan, Chris Henry, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O'Gara, Keith Earls

ENGLAND STARTING XV: Alex Goode, Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Billy Twelvetrees, Mike Brown, Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs, Joe Marler, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Geoff Parling, James Haskell, Chris Robshaw, Tom Wood

ENGLAND REPLACEMENTS: Dylan Hartley, Dave Wilson, Mako Vunipola, Courtney Lawes, Thomas Waldrom, Danny Care, Toby Flood, Manu Tuilagi

It's already been a busy day for Brian O'Driscoll. His wife gave birth to their first child at 10.30 this morning. Luckily, the centre just had enough time to leave training camp to be at the birth. Expect plenty of baby-themed celebrations if O'Driscoll scores a try this afternoon.

After impressing on his debut for England last week, Billy Twelvetrees keeps his place ahead of Manu Tuilagi, who is named among the replacements today.

Ireland looked untouchable in the first half against Wales last week, but allowed last year's Six Nations winners back into the game after half time. England, meanwhile, always looked in control against Scotland.

The weather could play a part today. It's drizzling at the Aviva Stadium. During the teams' warm-ups, a practice scrum tore up a large chunk of turf, so mastering the pitch conditions could be crucial.

If you've missed what happened in the other two games this weekend, Wales left it late against France, winning 16-6 in Paris, while Scotland also claimed victory, thrashing Italy 34-10 at Murrayfield

The players are heading out to the pitch ready for kickoff. The crowd go wild as the home players run out on to the field ready for the pre-game formalities.

Ahead of the game, England coach Stuart Lancaster told BBC Sport: "I think conditions will play a part for both sides. Between us both teams want to play, there's no reason why we can't but it's a question of right place, right time - it's about game management."

The Irish president, Michael D. Higgins, is meeting the players ahead of kickoff. Handshakes over, it's time for the anthems for both countries.

There's polite applause for "God Save the Queen", but it's the Irish rugby anthem, "Ireland's Call" that really gets the crowd going. If the Aviva Stadium had a roof, it would probably just have been raised.

The players are lined up and ready to get this game underway.

Owen Farrell takes the kickoff to get the game underway.

England are in possession and chip the ball forwards. Chris Ashton jumps high to get the ball down. Ben Youngs finds Billy Twelvestrees, but Ireland concede a penalty, giving Farrell his first attempt at the uprights.

PENALTY SCORED! Ireland 0-3 England (Farrell)

It's a good move from Ireland, as they bear down on the England try line, but the ball comes lose and the visitors let the ball go dead, and Farrell kicks the ball away to midfield, where England have the scrum.

England chip the ball forward, but Simon Zebo and Brian O'Driscoll are both waiting underneath it to take the ball back for Ireland. Ireland win a penalty and kick it out for a lineout, but Ben Youngs takes the ball back for England.

As expected, the wet conditions are playing havoc with the pitch conditions. The site of the scrum from earlier is marked by series of muddy foot holes.

Ireland have another lineout, and this time Rory Best picks out Jamie Heaslip, and Ireland are inside the England 22.

England defend well as Ireland look to push on towards the try line, but a mis-timed pass ends up in Chris Ashton's hands, and the ball is back in Ireland territory.

REPLACEMENT! Simon Zebo is off and Keith Earls is on in his place. That's a big blow for Ireland, he was a key player against Wales last weekend.

England are bearing down on the Ireland try line. Alex Goode looks to pass the ball out wide to Chris Ashton, but the pair get their timing mixed up and the ball bounces in to touch.

Ireland re-take possession, and Keith Earls comes in from the wing to charge up the centre of the pitch before being tackled. Ireland win a lineout, and there's a little bit afters between the players, with emotions clearly running high.

The referee has a word with both captains following the skirmish, but there's no punishment for either side. It looked like it was triggered by Cian Healy catching the ankle of one of his opponents in the rook.

Ireland have a lineout deep in England territory, but the visitors get the ball back, and Ireland give away a penalty in their own half.

England have the lineout, but it's Ireland who come away with the ball, and James Haskell is penalised for not rolling away, allowing Ireland to kick the ball away.

A good lineout from Ireland sees the hosts pushing towards England's try line, but the ball comes loose, and Alex Goode kicks it away.

Gordon D'Arcy takes the ball inside the England 22, but a strong tackle sees him spill the ball. Ireland have struggled with their handling so far.

James Haskell needs a bit of treatment. Initially it looks like an ankle injury, but he's also got blood around his nose, but it doesn't look like he'll have to go off.

It's been one for the defensive purists so far. Ireland have probably had the better of the chances, but their ball handling has let them down inside the 22.

A great team effort sees Ireland quickly take the ball from midfield to the England 22. A delay for an injury gives the groundsmen time to make repairs to the pitch.

Peter O'Mahoney has some treatment after taking a knock to head he's alright, and takes his place in the scrum for Ireland. The hosts win a lineout, and the ball is eventually kicked in to touch.

Sean O'Brien is penalised following an England lineout, and Owen Farrell will have his second attempt at the goal posts.

PENALTY SCORED! Ireland 0-6 England (Farrell)

England win a scrum and looks to press into Ireland territory, but Billy Twelvetrees tries to chip the ball forward but can't force it through the Irish defence.

REPLACEMENT! Jonathan Sexton looks to have injured his hamstring while kicking the ball away. He can't continue, and Ronan O'Gara comes on in his place.

From a scrum, Ireland are on the attack. O'Driscoll dinks the ball forward and almost gets it back, but he's just beaten to the ball by Goode.

England are penalised for coming in from the side, and O'Gara looks to kick the ball out for a lineout, but he's lucky to get away with it, as Goode almost takes a catch.

A poor lineout throw from Tom Youngs provides an easy catch for Ireland. There's a bit more pushing and shoving afterwards as tempers flare again.

It sounds like a final warning from Jerome Garces, as he tells the players that he can't allow indiscipline. England have the scrum in a good position as they head in to the Irish 22.

Some fierce defending from Ireland results in a penalty for the hosts. That was probably England's best chance for a try in the opening half.

O'Gara kicks the ball away, and England retake possession. The visitors head back in to Ireland territory and give away another penalty, which is within Farrell's range.

PENALTY MISSED! Farrell goes for the uprights on the stroke of half time, but the ball goes just wide.

HALF TIME: Ireland 0-6 England

It wasn't the most free-flowing 40 minutes of rugby, with the wet conditions clearly causing problems for both teams.

Ireland saw more of the ball but were haunted by handling problems, and also gave away several crucial penalties.

England were tidier in possession, but relied too heavily on kicking rather than passing, often choosing to chip the ball forward instead of looking to hand the ball off to a teammate.

The players let their emotions get the better of them on a couple of occasions, with the officials having to step in to break up a few skirmishes throughout the first half, but Jerome Garces has kept his cards in his pockets so far.

Owen Farrell had three penalty kicks for England, making two of them. Given how few try-scoring opportunities there were in the opening half, a nine-point lead for England would have been a big concern for Ireland.

The teams are heading back out for the second half. It looks like the rain has the rain has got heavier over half time, that could result in an even more defensive approach from both sides.

Ronan O'Gara gets the second half underway.

Ireland are penalised for offside, and England get the lineout around the half-way line.

England's lineout goes badly wrong, giving the ball back to the hosts, who force their own lineout. However, the handling problems from the first half continue, as Heaslip hands the ball to O'Mahoney, but he drops the ball.

England give away a penalty during the scrum, giving Ireland their first attempt at the posts.

PENALTY SCORED! Ireland 3-6 England (O'Gara)

Neither side are really capitalising when they get the ball at the minute, managing just one or two passes before kicking the ball away.

REPLACEMENTS! England take off Billy Twelvetrees and Joe Launchbury, and introduce Mani Tuilagi and Courtney Lawes.

Sean O'Brien is receiving treatment on his back and neck following an awkward landing.

The usually safe hands of Brian O'Driscoll let him down, as he loses the ball inside the Irish 22. Mani Tuilagi looks to collect the loose ball but he also has handling issues, and knocks on.

REPLACEMENT! It's another change for England, as Dylan Hartley comes on in place of Tom Youngs.

Ireland are starting to look a bit more threatening in possession. A good lineout sees the ball passes to O'Driscoll, who charges towards the England 22, but the visitors just manage to get the ball off him and kick it away.

O'Driscoll looks to have picked up an ankle injury. He's missed a large part of the season with ankle trouble, but it doesn't look like he's ready to give up yet.

Ireland win a penalty, and take the lineout just inside their own half. The more-attacking play from Ireland is starting to force a few more errors from England. The hosts definitely look the more likely to add to their score at the moment.

SIN BIN! James Haskell is shown a yellow card after kicking the ball while moving away from the ruck, and England are down to 14 for the next 10 minutes.

PENALTY SCORED! Ireland 6-6 England (O'Gara)

O'Gara goes for the posts following Haskell's infringement, and levels the scores for Ireland.

REPLACEMENT! Mako Vunipola is on for Joe Marler.

A good move from England sees them take the ball almost to the try line, before Ireland take it in to touch, giving England a lineout.

The ball is chipped beyond the try line, and Tuilagi is there to score the try, but he can't take a clean catch and knocks on again. However, England have the consolation of a penalty to follow.

PENALTY SCORED! Ireland 6-9 England (Farrell)

Despite being a man down, England are back in front thanks to a clean kick from Owen Farrell. They'll be disappointed not to have got the try though.

Ireland are on the attack, but Lawes makes a strong tackle to break up the move. Unfortunately for him, he appears to have injured himself in the process.

PENALTY SCORED! Ireland 6-12 England (Farrell)

Farrell kicks again following an infringement by Ireland in the run out to Lawes' tackle. Lawes appears to be fine following his treatment by the way.

REPLACEMENTS! Ireland take Sean O'Brien and Donnacha Ryan off for Chris Henry and Donncha O'Callaghan.

England are back up to 15 as Haskell returns from the sin bin, but England give away a penalty during a lineout for obstruction.

Hartley gives away a penalty, and it should be a relatively straight-forward kick for O'Gara.

PENALTY MISSED! O'Gara somehow pulls the ball wide. That wasn't the most difficult kick he's had to make today, but that could be a crucial miss for Ireland.

REPLACEMENT! Courtney Lawes is still suffering from the injury he sustained a few minutes ago, so Thomas Waldrom takes his place.

There seems to be a bit more urgency about Ireland now. O'Gara's miss means a converted try is their best chance to win this game, but O'Gara gives away a penalty for not releasing the ball.

PENALTY MISSED! Farrell has scored all of England's points so far, but he can't add to it with a tricky effort from out wide. There's still time for Ireland.

REPLACEMENT! Rory Best is taken off by Ireland and replaced by Sean Cronin.

England have a scrum inside the Ireland half following an offside. It could be a good chance to go for a drop goal to seal the win.

REPLACEMENT! England make another change, taking off Dan Cole for David Wilson.

England try to edge the ball towards the try line, but the referee brings the scrum back for being unstable. England won't mind as it helps run the clock down.

Ireland win a penalty from the scrum and force a lineout at the half-way line, but England retake possession, and that should be enough the ensure a win for the visitors.

The clock goes red and England have the lineout.

FULL TIME: Ireland 6-12 England

England kick the ball out to end the game, and they remain the only unbeaten side in this season's Six Nations.

It really wasn't the prettiest game of rugby, but England made the most of Ireland's mistakes to edge out their opponents, relying on the kicking skills of Owen Farrell.

Ireland were the more attacking of the two sides but were plagued with handling issues throughout, while Mani Tuilagi was also let down by his hands in England's best chance for a try.

That's all from the Aviva Stadium, and for the Six Nations for two weeks. Join us again then as Wales head to Italy, England host France and Scotland face Ireland. Until then, good bye.

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