At least England don’t need to practice their runner-up look. A really exciting match that and you can why these two are the front-runners for the title. England surged back into it but, as Manchester post-punk rockers Pins put it on their new single, it was too little, too late. Ireland used their greater experience and smarts, were more disciplined and held on for a well-deserved win.
That makes Joe Schmidt’s team heavy favourites to defend their title, unless (a) Wales suddenly remember how to play and give them a hiding or (b) Italy clone Sergio Parisse 14 times. A fine performance, if imperfect.
Robbie Henshaw has been named man-of-the-match. Peter O’Mahoney should be seething at that.
Right that’s all from me. The Six Nations takes a break next weekend, so either join me then for silly o’clock cricket or do so in a couple of weeks when all this resumes. Thanks for reading, for your emails and your tweets. Sorry I couldn’t use them all – it was rather frantic. Bye!
Full-time: Ireland 19-9 England
80 min Free-kick to England at the lineout. Up they go and drive to within 5m. Now they go left and Twelvetrees puts Nowell into the corner! But he’s thrown a forward pass! And with that the whistle goes.
79 min Penalty England for holding on after several phases and then Craig Joubert marches them forward 10m when an Irishman chats back. Ford sticks it into touch on the 22.
78 min Henderson takes it in and Ireland maul, but it’s going nowhere. Inside they go, but this is going to be stuck up the jumper for the next two minutes.
77 min Brilliant take from Watson and England look to counter from deep again. They sling it left to Nowell, who knocks on and then Twelvetrees plays it from an offside position. Madigan finds touch 10m outside the England 22 and that’s just about that.
76 min Ireland secure the ball but Kearney’s kick to the corner is inaccurate and fielded by Goode. He kicks it straight back though and we’re at the stage where England can’t afford to throw the ball away now.
75 min Ireland kick it back to England, but then Easter knocks on in the tackle with Healy on halfway. Here’s that excellent Henshaw try from earlier.
74 min Madigan clears to touch midway between his own 22 and 10m line. Sean Cronin comes on for Rory Best. England win the lineout and the forwards look to punch holes around the fringes, but then when they go along the line Twelvetrees throws his pass behind Burrell. I genuinely don’t know why Twelvetrees is there.
73 min a bit more Surely England have left this too late now? They engage early and it’s a pressure-relieving free-kick to Ireland.
73 min Accidental offside! Easter goes into his own man and it’s a scrum to Ireland. Pulses are rising now...
72 min In the middle of the park and England keep it tight, driving slowly towards the line. Tom Youngs and Easter crash it up the middle, then Nowell surges to within 5m. On they go, a metre out now.
71 min England win the lineout and, two phases later, Wigglesworth snipes through a gap! England into the 22 and Billy V carries on.
70 min Ford dummies to kick then runs around the long way, behind the ruck and up to halfway. Now the kick does come, from Wigglesworth, but it’s too deep and Bowe claims an easy mark. The winger kicks to touch on the right, on his own 10m line. Payne off, Felix Jones on.
69 min Wigglesworth is on for Ben Youngs too. England charge out of the 22 after Nowell secured the kick-off, but it’s slow ball as Ireland counterruck well. Wigglesworth clears to Kearney midway inside the Ireland half and Ireland have possession again, but Vunipola catches Murray’s high ball neatly.
Penalty (Ford 68) Ireland 19-9 England
It’s right in front, 25m out and an easy kick for Ford. Easter and Twelvetrees on for England.
67 min Dan Cole goes on the charge now and completely wipes Healy out when the Irishman goes in too high. England then get a penalty when Ireland go off their feet at the ruck. Really good work there from the Leicester man Cole.
66 min Burrell and Mako Vunipola charge upfield and then Kruis drives up to the 22. England go left but Joseph is wrapped up by O’Mahoney. Healy comes into the ruck and drives England further back.
65 min Madigan kicks long to Goode who calls the mark, then clears to touch 70m down the field. For Ireland, Iain Henderson comes on for the excellent Devin Toner and for England Mako Vunipola replaces Marler.
64 min Patient from Ireland but then Madigan steps inside when he should go along the line. Kearney stabs through but Goode gathers and just about evades his opposite number and Youngs clears.
63 min Ireland nab the lineout and sling it left. Henshaw carries up to the 22 and now they go through the phases, that man O’Mahoney making yet more ground.
62 min Ireland go left off the lineout but Kearney spills it forward. England play the advantage and sling it wide, where Henshaw is inches away from intercepting Ford’s pass just outside the 22! It goes loose and for a second it looks like Nowell might be away but he can’t gather, then O’Connell charges Ben Youngs’ kick down into touch.
61 min Goode again up into the Ireland half. Back it comes to Haskell, who takes it into contact just over Ireland’s 10m line, but Moore seals him off on the ground and it’s another penalty. Madigan kicks to touch on the right as Croft comes on for Haskell.
60 min England clear to halfway and Ireland spot a bit of space on the left, where O’Mahoney makes ground. He’s stopped and it comes back right, but Madigan’s high kick for Bowe goes out on the full. England take it quickly and kick tennis takes place.
59 min Cian Healy comes on for Jack McGrath, to big cheers. Madigan restarts long to Nowell.
@DanLucas86 super stuff from Ireland solid pressure, they'll grind Eng down in the next 10-15! Massive mountain 2 climb for Eng! Ire on fire
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) March 1, 2015
Penalty (Ford 58) Ireland 19-6 England
England win the penalty at the scrum and opt for the kick at goal. 27m out, pretty much in front. Ford nails it but they’re a fair way behind yet.
57 min Goode sends up a high one and it looks to have bounced back off Madigan on his own 22. The replay reveals it came off Goode’s fingertips and thus it’s a very good call by the referee to award the knock-on. Martin Moore replaces Ross, who held his own brilliantly against Marler.
55 min Devin Toner takes it but then, cursed by my colleague Ian McCourt, apparently, knocks on. Vunipola comes off the back of the scrum and bursts 40m up the pitch. He obviously hasn’t got the pace to go clear, so kicks ahead. He overcooks it though and the ball goes into the in-goal area, where Kearney safely grounds it.
54 min O’Mahoney wins the lineout and Ireland maul. Tom Youngs goes offside and it’s another penalty. England are falling apart here, although Sexton is a big loss for Ireland. I say that – Madigan puts a lovely touchfinder down the right and 5m into the England 22. The crowd is getting noisy.
53 min Tom Youngs is on for Hartley. Murray puts up a high kick yet again and Goode knocks on. Ireland play the advantage and kick ahead, but Goode fields in the 22 and quickly cracks a long free-kick to touch on halfway. Sexton looks to have done his hamstring and is replaced by Madigan.
Conversion (Sexton) Ireland 19-3 England
That was also a magnificent box-kick from Murray. And this is a magnificent conversion from the right touchline!
Try! Ireland 17-3 England (Henshaw 53)
Ireland go through the backs and get advantage for offside as Nowell flies out the line. Murray chips over with the box-kick, Henshaw outjumps Goode, gathers on the full over the line and tumbles over in the corner! What a finish!
Updated
52 min Advantage Ireland and Sexton chips across to the left. Watson gets it but he’s scragged and turned over 8m from his own line! Ireland are very narrow and drive towards the line, O’Mahoney battering away at the defence. Great tackling from England though.
51 min Sexton clears to touch on halfway on the Ireland right. From the lineout, Murray sends it high and Nowell knocks on.
50 min It’s pleasing to see these two sides using the scrum to restart the game rather than to earn penalties. Of course as I write that, Ireland get a penalty for England wheeling the scrum.
49 min Nowell takes Murray’s box-kick well over his shoulder. He knocks it backwards but it’s OK as he regathers, then Ford hangs the ball up high. Bowe takes and is immediately run over by Vunipola. The ball’s not coming out of this one and it’s a scrum to Ireland on their own 22.
Penalty (Sexton 48) Ireland 12-3 England
From the 10m line, on the right about 17m infield, Sexton will look to extend the lead beyond seven points. Dead-eyed, he sticks it through the middle.
46 min Free-kick to Ireland and they go quickly. Payne takes it into the England half and a lovely pass from O’Mahoney finds Sexton. He’s tackled but Robshaw comes into the ruck at the side and concedes yet another penalty.
45 min A breathless start to this half. Sexton chips to Zebo on the left but the winger knocks on and Watson turns and counters. Through he goes with magical feet, leaving half a dozen defenders in his wake. He spins it right towards Ford, but the ball goes forward on the halfway line.
44 min England clear, Kearney tries the drop-goal from halfway but it’s wide.
43 min Ireland lineout 11m inside their own half and Murray sends it up high. Robshaw knocks on and Murray breaks! On it goes to Payne who volleys ahead, but Goode does brilliantly to run back over his line, out of two tackles and back up to his 22.
Updated
42 min An exchange of kicks then Kearney has a run, but Joseph drags him down. Now Goode has a run after fielding Sexton’s kick and goes right to Watson. Hartley carries on and England have possession on the 10m line. It goes wide to Nowell thanks to a good miss-pas from Joseph, but he’s tackled well into touch by Kearney.
41 min No changes at the break and Sexton gets us back underway. Bowe taps the ball down from the restart but England clear. Kearney returns the kick and Goode takes very well indeed under pressure. Vunipola carries on and Youngs kicks it to Bowe. He’s not kicked too well today, Youngs.
And a belated prediction, from our rugby-loving man across the pond:
.@DanLucas86 – I said 15-12 Ireland to anyone who would listen & from your text alone, I see little reason to change that. Yrs, Billy Yank.
— Martin Pengelly (@MartinPengelly) March 1, 2015
Ireland haven’t outmuscled England but they certainly outthought them in that very entertaining first half. England’s discipline was poor but they’ve been on the back foot; Ireland should probably be further ahead given their possession and territorial advantage.
@DanLucas86 As of today I'm starting the Devon Toner Appreciation Society (#dtac). Free to join. Spread the word.
— Ian McCourt (@ianmccourt) March 1, 2015
Forget Toner: Peter O’Mahoney is right up there among the very best blindsides in the world right now. He’s arguably the most underrated player about, too.
Half-time: Ireland 9-3 England
One last play then and England have a lineout on the Ireland 10m line. Robshaw takes it and then Burrell crashes through Sexton. England get quick ball and go left, but Nowell is dragged into touch.
That’s the break and Ireland will be happy enough.
40 min England go through the phases up to the Irish 10m line. Goode hangs up a good high kick that Kearney misses, but Zebo secures the ball before Joseph can pounce. Back it goes and Kearney clears to touch on the left.
39 min The ball goes loose and Youngs fires it wide to Nowell who is running at forwards. He kicks ahead and it’s a lovely, touchline-hugging chip that finds touch in the 22. O’Connell secures it though and Murray clears.
38 min He kicks down the left and finds touch 35m from his own line. Irish lineout and they win it. Left to Hensahw and he breaks the tackle.
37 min O’Connell takes and Ireland set up the maul, but Kruis gets himself into the middle of the Ireland pack, Courtney Lawes style, and prevents them gaining any ground. The ball is shifted back to Sexton in the pocket but his kick is too deep and Goode takes it in the in-goal area. For some reason, he calls mark and has to clear to touch.
36 min Bowe gathers the drop-out just inside his own half and moves it inside to Murray, who gets wrapped up. Slow ball, but then Attwood steps offside and it’s yet another penalty. Sexton kicks to touch on the England 22, on the left again.
35 min Sexton steps up and lets England off with a bad hook to the left of the posts.
34 min Stupid England. Ford looks to counter but then gets dumped on his backside by a huge tackle from Sexton. The ball is spilled forward and then Watson brainlessly picks it up from an offside position. Penalty Ireland on the 22, about 5m infield from the left.
33 min Back it goes to Sexton in the pocket but he’s closed down before he can get the drop-goal away. On they go through Henshaw, but then O’Donnell knocks on.
32 min Or rather on the England 10m line. Quick ball off the top and Murray takes it on the loop and is so close to breaking through! Ireland form a maul and drive it up to the 22. Ireland back on top now...
31 min Hartley passes inside to Ford and he steps through half a gap to make ground. England carry it on through Hartley and then Robshaw, but Jordi Murphy gets over the ball well, Robshaw holds on and that’s a penalty to Ireland. Sexton finds touch between the England 22 and 10m line on the Irish left.
30 min Ford restarts and Bowe is wrapped up in his 22. Murray clears long to Goode on halfway.
Penalty (Sexton 29) Ireland 9-3 England
Right in front, on the 22, easy.
Updated
28 min Not a great kick from Ford, only just clearing the 22. Robshaw wins the lineout and England maul it upfield, looking for another penalty. They don’t get it and when they go along the line, Burrell gets wrapped up and isolated. He holds on and it’s a penalty to Ireland!
27 min Ireland are driven back but then Sexton comes around on the loop and gets it to Bowe on the right wing via Kearney. Good ground made by the winger and now they go left. O’Mahoney carries brilliantly deep into England territory, but then holds on to the ball after good work by Vunipola on the floor.
26 min Sexton puts it into touch on the left, 30m out. Zebo comes in off the wing as Ireland win the lineout, then Toner carries it on but Haskell is solid in defence.
25 min Henshaw tackles Vunipola and gets driven back, but he strips the England number 8 of the ball! Ireland go left to O’Mahoney, but he gets wrapped up. England offside though. O’Donnell comes on for O’Brien, who looks to have hurt his shoulder.
24 min Toner steals again and O’Brien barrels through Ford in midfield. He’s tried that a few times now and it’s clear Ireland see Ford’s tackling as a weakness. Murray then kicks but it’s too deep and Goode looks to launch the counter. England carry up to halfway through good strength from Burrell.
23 min Do England see the lineout as a weakness for Ireland after that decision? Ford sticks it in the corner, but then Toner rises magnificently to win the lineout in front of Attwood! Murray completes the clearance with a box-kick, but only just gets it out the 22.
Updated
22 min Kruis takes it in and England form the maul. O’Brien collapses the maul and England have a penalty about 15m in from touch on the right, inside the 22.
21 min Kearney too kicks it away, straight to Vunipola and England go left along the line. Ireland don’t retreat from Vunipola and that’s a penalty to England on halfway. Ford kicks to touch and finds it on the right, 1m outside the Ireland 22.
20 min Clean scrum again, which is really pleasing to see. Payne slips off Ford and makes it up to the England 10m line, but then McGrath is driven back brilliantly by Haskell. Ireland go right but Toner knocks on, only for Goode to kick the turnover ball away to Kearney.
19 min Murray sends up a high one for Bowe, but Goode is secure under the ball. England drive towards halfway on the left, but then there’s an accidental offside and Ireland get the scrum a metre inside their own half.
18 min Ford pushes it just wide to the left and it remains 6-3. Sexton’s restart is brilliantly taken by Zebo on the 10m line and Ireland quickly move it right, but England are sending them backwards in the tackle.
16 min Ireland do pre-engage and England get a free-kick, which Ford sends high. Sexton returns with a kick up to halfway and England get the penalty as Murphy turns Goode over on the ground but then fails to release the ball. Ford will go for goal from a couple of metres inside the Ireland half, fairly straight.
15 min “Guys let’s have no pre-engage,” says referee Joubert, inadvertently making an Arrested Development reference.
14 min Ireland go through the phases around their own 10m line, so Murray puts up another high one. Neither Zebo nor Goode can claim it cleanly so Hartley comes in to secure the ball, but then England knock on at the ruck on their own 10m line.
13 min Sexton’s kick is high and deep to Nowell. England move it infield, then Youngs fires it back to Ford who kicks down the middle. Kearney runs back up to halfway and Sexton puts it up high for Ford, who takes well, breaks down the right but then passes inside straight to Zebo.
Drop-goal (Ford 12) Ireland 6-3 England
Back left they go and England have advantage. Back it goes to Ford in the pocket, 23m out and he slots it through.
Updated
11 min Hartley throws to Attwood at the front. Inside it goes to Ford and he’s hit well, but Ben Youngs makes ground with a good strong run through the middle. Cole, then Haskell carry it on but England are crabbing right here.
10 min England get possession for the first time, a quarter of the way through the half. Burrell makes ground on the crash ball then they send it left to Nowell. He kicks ahead and Zebo runs it into touch inside his own 22.
9 min Yet again Ford goes long to Zebo and the winger is tackled by Attwood. Murray clears straight away this time and it’s a lineout to England, on their right, midway between the Irish 10m line and halfway. Ireland’s gameplan coming off perfectly so far.
Penalty (Sexton 9) Ireland 6-0 England
15m out, a fraction to the right and that’s easy enough for Sexton. Ireland are utterly dominant here.
Updated
7 min Dan Cole has a wee bit of treatment before the scrum, but he’s fine to continue. Again it’s a good solid one and Murphy picks up then flicks inside for Kearney on the cutback. Ireland are right on the line and get a penalty for England not rolling away.
Updated
6 min A good solid scrum and Ireland carry towards the line through Henshaw. Just inches away and they have numbers out left, but they keep it tight and get held up over the line. That was a good chance for Ireland, but they have another 5m scrum under the sticks.
@DanLucas86 @guardian_sport 21-13 to Ireland, and a massive comedown for your optimistic colleagues whenever whatever they're on wears off
— Brendan Dempsey (@brendempsey) March 1, 2015
5 min O’Brien then O’Connell rumble forward then Sexton hangs up a high one for Bowe to chase out wide. Both he and Nowell go for and miss the ball, then Goode is forced to run it back over his line and touch-in-goal. 5m scrum to Ireland...
4 min Sexton kicks long to the left and Goode very nearly keeps it in. He doesn’t though and Ireland have a lineout 12m inside the England half. It’s quick ball and Murphy sends up a garryowen, which Toner gathers back in. Ireland with possession 30m out now.
3 min Again Ford kicks long to Zebo and Ireland move it right. Vunipola looks to disrupt Murray at the base of the ruck, but he’s entered from the side and that’s another penalty.
Penalty (Sexton 2) Ireland 3-0 England
Sexton is going to have a pop at goal from 41m, 18m infield. This is very kickable for the man who can lay claim to being the best 10 in world rugby right now. And indeed, through it goes.
Updated
1 min Zebo takes Ford’s long kick inside the 22 and is tackled by Cole. Ireland shift it right before Murray sends up a high box-kick, which Ford takes just inside the Ireland half. Good start from Ireland’s forwards as they earn the turnover and carry it up to the England 10m line. The men in white go offside and it’s a penalty to Ireland.
Peep! Craig Joubert, the referee, gets things underway. The precipitation has given way to sunshine.
Anthems are being sung now. While that happens, I’ll attempt to answer a question from Amy Lawrence (not The Guardian one):
@DanLucas86 what do the numbers on the England jackets mean? E.g. Alex Goode 1344...
— Amy Lawrence (@gincoffeeshoes) March 1, 2015
I had never noticed those before, if I’m honest. If I were to hazard a guess it would be that they’re their cap numbers, i.e. Alex Goode is the 1,344th player to play for England. Although Wikipedia has Goode listed as the 1,345th. However he made his debut in the same match as Thomas Waldrom, who is listed at 1,344. But then if it’s the same as cricket, they go in alphabetical order so Wikipedia is wrong.
England emerge on to the pitch, followed a minute later by Ireland.
Alex Goode’s selection is a concern for me, from an England perspective. I can’t remember seeing a slower full-back at this level. The big contest though is at openside flanker: England’s chances will be boosted immensely if Chris Robshaw can keep Sean O’Brien from crossing the gainline.
Most of the office backing England then, it seems.
.@guardian_sport predictions for #ENGvIRE #SixNations pic.twitter.com/pgDvLYMGQR
— Dan Lucas (@DanLucas86) March 1, 2015
@DanLucas86 I challenge you to find anyone that will actually admit to purchasing a half & half scarf as per your picture.
— Gavin Curnow (@GavinCurnow) March 1, 2015
Challenge declined.
John McEnerney writes: “Afternoon Dan, this will be a tight encounter, a kick or 2 in it in Ireland’s favour. We have so much experience we won’t be caught out like Wales were. Paul O’Connell, you’d want him beside on the front line on Judgement Day when you’re facing the T-1000’s, played the last 10mins of 1st Lions Test v Aus with a broken arm, scrummed down & won line out ball, warrior, leader & a top top player. Tough game for both with the boys in green sneaking it by 2 kicks of Jonny’s boot. Enjoy it Dan!”
For clarification, I believe John means Ireland when he says “we”. I’m going for the hosts by seven today.
It’s snowing in Dublin. This should help Ireland as they’ll want to keep it in the tight.
“Hi Dan.” Hi, Robin Hazelhurst! It’s a rugby match, so you’re off to the pub?
“Big debut today in the pub for my six year old son, who will be wearing his Ireland shirt while I wear my England one. So a bit tricky in the cheering-loudly-if-England-score stakes. But I’m really hoping to have to face that problem regularly, should be a cracking match.”
Six-year old son? I don’t know whether to shake my head sadly or give in to the temptation to nod and smile.
“I don’t think he’s coming back.”
Let’s get this over and done with: an apology to Wales fans. I’m going to call this a Six Nations decider. I know that you guys and France could yet have a say in the way this championship goes (not you, Scotland, you’re embarrassing), but I can’t see beyond the winners of this one for the title and the slam.
Preamble
Afternoon folks! Welcome to the biggest stage on the planet. Your headliners over the three days are U2 and the Manic Street Preachers, playing this weekend on the Pyramid Stage.
But that’s not all! Tonight, on the second stage, Avis Rent-A-Car is proud to present the second best band in America. Will you welcome Garfunkel, Messina, Oates, and Lisa Stuart Lancaster singing their number two hit, ‘Born to Runner-Up’!
Honest folks, I am going somewhere here. Stuart Lancaster’s England and second are becoming as synonymous as Guardian MBMs and Simpsons references. They’ve finished second in every championship since Lancaster took over after the 2011 World Cup. The smart money is on them being the runners up in the World Cup later this year. Be it Wales or Ireland getting married, England are the perennial bridesmaids and for most people they’re the second favourites for this match too.
Questions are being asked. When is this team, always improving but never the best, going to actually go on and win something? Was it wise to extend Lancaster’s contract to 2020 already? Does the coach have any clue what his best backline looks like?
Did you know, though, that the Chinese use the same word for “crisis” as they do for “opportunity”? Yes: crisitunity! Although it might take a fairly convoluted reference to describe England’s current situation as a crisis, today’s match could easily be seen as a crisitunity. Win here in Dublin, as they did so impressively two years ago and they will be strong – nay, overwhelming – favourites not just for a first title in four years, but for a first Grand Slam in 12.
This Ireland side, though, is a very different prospect to the one that flopped so badly in 2013. They’ve ditched that useless outside centre – whatever happened to him anyway? – and turned themselves from fourth-placed chumps to champions, favourites and World Cup dark horses. Under Joe Schmidt they are a well-drilled, driven, disciplined pack of relentless Terminators: a pack that does not break and half-backs who are out there, can’t be bargained with, can’t be reasoned with. They don’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And they absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead.
If there’s a criticism that can be levelled at Ireland, it’s that they are not the all-conquering side that Schmidt created at Leinster, one that could and would demolish you in a dozen different ways just for their own amusement. Their game-plan, effective as it is, is fairly one-dimensional. Only one team managed to disrupt their pack sufficiently to beat them in last year’s championship and that was England.
Admittedly it was Courtney Lawes who really shone in that England win, almost single-handedly taking apart Ireland’s lineout, and he’s not fit for international duty today (although the good news for England is that he put in a man-of-the-match performance for Northampton on Friday night). And, admittedly, Ireland have won all nine of their matches since then. What I’m saying is, this is a mighty tough match for injury-ravaged England.
There are two changes for the visitors from the side that shipped three tries in a reasonably convincing win over Italy two weeks ago. Mike Brown is injured, so in comes Alex Goode: the full-back with the pace of a prop who’s taken a drill to both knees. The coaches have also finally realised that Johnny May is rubbish and so replace him with Exeter’s Jack Nowell.
For Ireland, Jamie Heaslip is a big miss and I’m not convinced by his replacement today, Jordi Murphy. Certainly their pack looks a touch lightweight with the Spanish-born flanker packing down at the back. Tommy O’Donnell and Eoin Reddan replace Murphy and Isaac Boss respectively on the bench, where Cian Healy remains in spite of Jack McGrath’s struggles against France.
Kick-off is at 3pm Here are your teams in full:
Ireland
15-Rob Kearney, 14-Tommy Bowe, 13-Jared Payne, 12-Robbie Henshaw, 11-Simon Zebo, 10-Jonathan Sexton, 9-Conor Murray; 1-Jack McGrath, 2-Rory Best, 3-Mike Ross, 4-Devin Toner, 5-Paul O’Connell (c), 6-Peter O’Mahony, 7-Sean O’Brien, 8-Jordi Murphy.
Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin, 17-Cian Healy, 18-Martin Moore, 19-Iain Henderson, 20-Tommy O’Donnell, 21-Eoin Reddan, 22-Ian Madigan, 23-Felix Jones
England
15-Alex Goode, 14-Anthony Watson, 13-Jonathan Joseph, 12-Luther Burrell, 11-Jack Nowell, 10-George Ford, 9-Ben Youngs; 1-Joe Marler, 2-Dylan Hartley, 3-Dan Cole, 4-Dave Attwood, 5-George Kruis, 6-James Haskell, 7-Chris Robshaw (c), 8-Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16-Tom Youngs, 17-Mako Vunipola, 18-Henry Thomas, 19-Nick Easter, 20-Tom Croft, 21-Richard Wigglesworth, 22-Danny Cipriani, 23-Billy Twelvetrees
