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The Independent UK

World

Jack de Menezes

Henry Slade double sees England stun favourites Ireland in Six Nations opener

England stunned reigning Six Nations champions Ireland 32-20 to take a giant step towards reclaiming their crown with a first win in Dublin for six years.

Leading 17-13 in an epic opening-weekend title showdown that lived up to expectations, they engineered the decisive moment in the 66th minute when Henry Slade and Jonny May combined brilliantly from a scrum for Slade to touch down.

It was a try made possible by the pace of May, who along with Jack Nowell on the opposite wing was magnificent throughout an afternoon of drama and high-quality rugby.

Owen Farrell was on target with a penalty to put the game beyond Ireland's reach as the Aviva Stadium was stormed for the first time in the Six Nations since 2013, securing Eddie Jones' 29th win in 36 Tests.

Joe Schmidt's Grand Slam champions fell apart in the closing stages, enabling Slade to plunder his second try, before replacement John Cooney restored some scoreboard credibility in the final seconds.

2019-02-02T09:41:02.693Z

Good morning from a chilly Dubin and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Six Nations clash between Ireland and England, brought to you from pitchside at the Aviva Stadium.

With kick-off scheduled for 4:45pm, we'll begin our full build up at 2:45pm while also keeping an eye on the Scotland vs Italy match at Murrayfield and reflect on the brilliant encounter in Paris last night as Wales defeated France 24-19.

On that note, here's how the curtain-raiser unfolded at the Stade de France:

North seals Welsh comeback against France in thrilling opener

2019-02-02T14:57:40.693Z

Well I'm delighted to report that the sun is shining and it's clear skies over Dublin this afternoon, giving us the perfect conditions for running rugby in a couple of hours' time. The UK may be under a deluge of snow, but there's been barely a drop on this side of the Irish Sea and it should produce a frantically fast game.

2019-02-02T15:16:05.146Z

The England team is in some two hours before kick-off and there's no changes to report, with everyone coming through Friday training and Saturday warm-up unscathed.

Ireland have until 3:45pm to get their team in, and of course the last time England were here at the Aviva Stadium, the home side saw Jamie Heaslip ruled out in the warm-up that led to Peter O'Mahony's introduction. How big an impact did that play? Well, the Munster flanker went on to claim man of the match and prevent England winning a second consecutive Grand Slam.

We'll keep our eyes peeled.

2019-02-02T15:39:14.560Z

Ireland have confirmed no changes to the announced squad, which means they'll be lining up as follows:

Ireland: Robbie Henshaw; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong; Devin Toner, James Ryan; Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Quinn Roux, Sean O’Brien, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour.

England: Elliot Daly; Jack Nowell, Manu Tuilagi, Henry Slade, Jonny May; Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Mark Wilson, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Harry Williams, Courtney Lawes, Nathan Hughes, Dan Robson, George Ford, Mike Brown, Chris Ashton.

2019-02-02T16:45:38.276Z

The national anthems are playing. We're just moments away as England and Ireland begin their Six Nations campaigns.

2019-02-02T16:46:11.603Z

KICK-OFF: Owen Farrell gets the game underway!

2019-02-02T16:47:29.986Z

2 mins: TRY FOR ENGLAND!

2019-02-02T16:51:01.966Z

Ireland 0-7 England

What a start by the visitors. Farrell sends the kick-off deep and England force the lineout, which George deliberately overthrows straight into the arms of Tuilagi. It gives England possession on the edge of the Irish 22, and after strong runs from Sinckler and Curry, England come left.

Earls shoots out of the line for theintercept, but Farrell squeezes the ball past his reach and into the hands of Daly, and the full-back sucks in opposite man Henshaw before releasing Jonny May to score in the corner. Farrell converts from the touchline and England have made a flying start!

2019-02-02T16:52:52.076Z

7 mins: A huge roar goes up from the crowd after Ireland win a free-kick in an effort to spur them into life, and the players respond by going wide immediately. Curry does well to track Stockdale and make the double-hit with Nowell, but he's to eager into the breakdown and gives away the penalty that Sexton kicks to around 35m out.

2019-02-02T16:54:38.350Z

8 mins: Murray chips over for May to run back and collect, and he sends a long one trying to find touch deep in Irish territory. He does...but on the line and it's coming back as he's outside his 22. A big mistake from the try scorer and it gives Ireland possession and territory on the edge of the 22.

2019-02-02T16:55:52.053Z

10 mins: May quickly atones for the error as he collects Sexton's high bomb with Earls looming and calls for the mark. Ireland had a penaltt advantage though as Billy Vunipola followed through and hit Sexton slightly late, so Sexton will go for goal from in front of the posts.

2019-02-02T16:57:22.086Z

11 mins: Sexton successfully kicks the penalty and Ireland are on the board. 3-7

2019-02-02T16:59:23.636Z

13 mins: The boos ring out as Earls is hit late by Curry, and referee Jerome Garces wants a look at this. He speaks with his assistant referee, and there's no need for a TMO review as it's a yellow card. England will play with 14 men for the next 10 minutes, and you'd say it was deserved.

2019-02-02T17:01:40.050Z

15 mins: Earls receives a bit of treatment but is fit to continue, and Ireland go through the phases to move towards the England 22, only to cough up the ball. England try to counter but there's nothing on and we'll come back for the scrum.

2019-02-02T17:06:34.346Z

18 mins: Yet another penalty against England and this time it's Itoje who gives it needlessly away, taking out Earls as he jumps for the ball. Itoje gets up first but clatters into the Irish wing, who's takjing one hell of a battering out there, but it's deemed worthy of a penalty only.

2019-02-02T17:09:28.723Z

20 mins: Ireland break wide and find the space with the extra man. Ringrose chips into the ENgland 22 and May makes a dogs dinner of trying to gather it, with the ball rolling between his legs. He gets back to savage possession and England clear the danger...for now.

2019-02-02T17:12:04.310Z

22 mins: Itoje does well to rip possession off Stander, and with no one at home for Ireland there's tonnes of space in behind. Youngs fails to notice it though and by the time England finally kick clear, Stockdale and Henshaw are back. Ireland counter down the right and Stockdale breaks free, and Ireland then win the penalty about 40m out for offside after a knock-on from England. Sexton turns down the kick at goal and goes for the corner just as Curry returns from the sin-bin.

2019-02-02T17:13:14.526Z

24 mins: Sexton finds touch on the 5m and the rolling maul from a full lineout - and I mean everyone but Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton - is stopped just short. Ireland recycle...

TRY FOR IRELAND!

2019-02-02T17:15:56.046Z

25 mins: When the bodies emerge, it's Cian Healy who emerges with the ball in his hands and there's no doubt that he got the ball grounded there. Sexton kicks to conversion from out wide and Ireland have a three-point lead and are growing into the game. 10-7

2019-02-02T17:18:10.006Z

29 mins: Ireland come close to pinning Wilson on his feet but Billy Vunipola and Kruis do well to get the ball to ground and free it up. Farrell chips in behind, and when Henshaw responds Nowell charges up field through the middle. Farrell sends another kick deep, and Henshaw slices it into touch.