England vs Ireland result: Tuilagi and Cokanasiga run riot as hosts score eight tries in record victory
England sent out the perfect statement ahead of the Rugby World Cup by securing their largest win over Ireland in their history in the form of an eight-try 57-15 rout at Twickenham.
Joe Cokanasiga scored two tries with Manu Tuilagi, one of the standout players of the warm-up clash, also getting on the scoresheet, while Elliot Daly crossed in between to give England a healthy 22-10 half-time lead - following Jordan Larmour's opening score.
But England proved untouchable after the break as Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Tom Curry, Cokanasiga again and LUke Cowan-Dickie all scored, with Bundee Aki scoring a consolation try late in the day.
The result proved the most points England have scored against Ireland along with the largest winning margin, which gets them back to winning ways after last weekend's defeat in Cardiff.
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Rugby World Cup warm-up clash between England and Ireland, brought to you from pitchside at Twickenham.
Despite the 'warm-up' tag associated with this game, it promises to be anything but. Eddie Jones and Joe Schmidt have selected full-strength sides for what feels like a big Test match between two sides determined to get a win under their belts ahead of the World Cup.
As a result, Jones has recalled his big guns, with Owen Farrell captaining the side from inside centre alongside George Ford with Manu Tuilagi outside him. Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Tom Curry and Sam Underhill all come into the pack, while on the bench Mako Vunipola and Mark Wilson return from injury.
Ireland may be without first-choice fly-half Johnny Sexton due to a hand injury and his back-up Joey Carbery because of an ankle issue - resulting in Ross Byrne being given the reins at No 10 - but they have a star-studded line-up featuring the likes of Tadhg Furlong, Peter O'Mahony, Garry Ringrose and Jacob Stockdale. They also have South Africa-born lock Jean Kleyn joining Iain Henderson in the second-row, making his first appearance against England in the process.
Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm, and we'll begin our full match build-up from 1:30pm to bring you the latest from Twickenham.
For the third week in a row, England have been forced into a pre-match change. Replacement centre Jonathan Joseph has been withdrawn from the squad after waking up this morning with "muscle soreness", and with Henry Slade and Jack Nowell injured and Piers Francis needed to cover full-back this afternoon, Harlequins' Joe Marchant is drafted into the side to take his place on the bench.
Marchant of course isn't in the 31-man Rugby World Cup squad, but this could give him the chance to show why he deserves a call-up if the opportunity presents itself.
An England statement issued today read: "Joe Marchant has replaced Jonathan Joseph in England’s match day squad ahead of this afternoon's Test against Ireland.
"England head coach Eddie Jones has decided not to risk Joseph who has muscle soreness this morning. Marchant will wear the number 23 shirt."
One of England's biggest weapons this afternoon will be their pace and power out wide, with Jonny May holding a 93 per cent try-per-match ratio since the start of 2018 and Joe Cokanasiga scoring one in two since his debut last autumn.
But Cokanasiga did find himself targeted last weekend, and Eddie Jones took the time to explain this week why he will need to find a way to come through his second-season struggles.
The team sheets are in, and it's no further changes bar the Joseph-Marchant switch:
England: Elliot Daly; Joe Cokanasiga, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell, Jonny May; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Mark Wilson, Willi Heinz, Piers Francis, Joe Marchant.
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Ross Byrne, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong; Iain Henderson, Jean Kleyn; Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Andrew Porter, Devin Toner, Tadhg Beirne, Luke McGrath, Jack Carty, Andrew Conway.
It's a glorious day in Twickenham this afternoon as the two sets of teams begins theur full warm-ups. We're expecting a healthy turnout today that could be close to a sell-out, and given the level of match on offer, it has all the ingredients to be a cracker.
Not only have we had a change of line-up for this match, but there's been a change of referee too.
South African Jaco Peyper was due to take charge of today's clash, but delays in getting him to London before Friday morning meant that due to referee welfare - as put by World Rugby - a change of personnel was required, meaning Nigel Owens will now take charge of the contest.
Ireland spend much longer out on the field in their post-warm-up huddle before heading in to the dressing rooms, with England long gone to begin their final preparations. Little over 10 minutes to go.
Eddie Jones has tried to put his squad under extra pressure this week by bringing them late into camp on Wednesday, limiting their training time, and he aslo took the decision to make a late journey to the stadium with England only arriving an hour before kick-off. Will it have any impact?
A bizarre rendition of Ireland's Call is played before the usual God Save The Queen, but that's all over and done with and it's time to get this show on the road.
It's England vs Ireland at Twickenham. Here we go...
2 mins: England make a bright start after Tuillagi takes the kick-off. Youngs clears the lines and when Ireland try to mount an attack, Itoje turns the ball over near halfway to get England going forward. Ford kicks over the top for May to chase and he wins the battle to the ball, but the offloads attempt to Daly only finds Irish hands and the chance goes.
5 mins: Murray thinks he's pinched the ball from the back of a scrum but Healy is penalised immediately for going to his knees and collapsing. Farrell will go for goal from about 38m out from the left of the field.
9 mins: That's a mega response from the Irish. England force them into touch to win the lineout, but Henderson pinches the ball going over the maul and Ireland counter quickly. They spread left to Stockdale who chips ahead as Cokanasiga rushes up, and although the ball beats the pair of them as well as Daly and the outstretched hand of Tuilagi, Jordan Larmour sweeps in behind to dive on the ball and score the try. Byrne converts on the angle and Ireland lead. 3-7
13 mins: We have a belter of a game on our hands here. England attack from a kncok-on scrum, and it's clear ball to attack with. Farrell comes into 10 and passes out to Ford behind him, and the ball goes through the hands of May, then Daly and finally Joe Cokanasiga, who receives it some 35m out and pins his eats to beat Kearney and score a blinder of a try. Farrell shanks the conversion, but England are back in front. 8-7
17 mins: England try to run from their own 22 but after Cokanasiga wriggles out of a tackle for Farrell to take on, he's turned over by opposite number Aki and Ireland can counter.
England vs Ireland takes place at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 24 August.
What time does it start?
The match kicks off at 3pm.
Teams
England: Elliot Daly; Joe Cokanasiga, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell, Jonny May; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Mark Wilson, Willi Heinz, Piers Francis, Jonathan Joseph.
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Ross Byrne, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong; Iain Henderson, Jean Kleyn; Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Andrew Porter, Devin Toner, Tadhg Beirne, Luke McGrath, Jack Carty, Andrew Conway.
Odds
England to win: 2/5
Ireland to win: 11/4
Draw: 28/1
Prediction
England by eight: Eddie Jones has thrown his players into the fire with a shortened training week, but that could have the desired effect in triggering a response to prove they are ready for the World Cup campaign. Given they are a match further into their World Cup preparations, England may just be able to catch Ireland cold.
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