Ireland vs England LIVE: Six Nations 2023 result and reaction as Ireland seal grand slam after red card

Ireland 29-16 England: Freddie Steward’s controversial red card helped change the game as Ireland completed a deserved 2023 Six Nations grand slam in Dublin

(AFP via Getty Images)

Ireland completed just their fourth-ever Six Nations grand slam with a 29-16 victory over England at the Aviva Stadium, emphatically underlining their status as the world’s top-ranked team heading into September’s World Cup.

None of Ireland’s three previous clean sweeps had been completed in Dublin but this victory over their fiercest rivals was the sweetest way to seal a deserved grand slam on St Patrick’s Day weekend.

There was controversy late in the first half when England full back Freddie Steward was sent off for a dangerous hit on Hugo Keenan despite bracing for impact and turning away from his opposite number, with contact appearing accidental. The harsh call prompted a mountain of reaction on Twitter, including from England cricket captain Ben Stokes.

However, Ireland were still good value for their victory, as Dan Sheehan scored two tries, with Robbie Henshaw and Rob Herring also dotting down, to fulfil Irish dreams.

Relive the action from the Aviva Stadium below:

Ireland vs England - live Six Nations updates

• Ireland beat England 29-16 in the final match of the 2023 Six Nations
• Ireland complete an impressive grand slam in Dublin for the first time
• Freddie Steward controversially red-carded for England in the first half
• FULL-TIME! Ireland 29-16 England
• 77’ - TRY! Herring adds the icing by stretching out to score (IRE 29-16 ENG)
• 73’ - TRY! George forces way over from a maul to give England deserved try (IRE 24-16 ENG)
• 69’ - TRY! Great hands by Conan allows Sheehan to touch down (IRE 24-9 ENG)
• 62’ - TRY! Henshaw goes over from Aki’s pass (IRE 17-9 ENG)
• 51’ - PENALTY! Farrell close the gap to a single point for 14-man England (IRE 10-9 ENG)
• 40’ - RED CARD! Steward shown controversial red after making contact with Keenan’s head (IRE 10-6 ENG)
• 33’ - TRY! Sheehan runs a great line on to Van der Flier’s inside pass (IRE 10-6 ENG)
• ‘Shambles, shambles, shambles’: Ben Stokes and others react to controversial Freddie Steward red card
• France down Wales 41-28 to put themselves in position to nick the title if Ireland slip up
• Scotland beat Italy 26-14 in a thriller to kick off Super Saturday

[18 March 2023 18:46 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 24-9 England, 72 minutes

Alex Mitchell is introduced by Steve Borthwick as 14-player England try to find a route back. They’ll have a chance from a penalty inside the Ireland half, which is kicked into the Ireland 22.

[18 March 2023 18:42 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! IRELAND 24-9 England (Dan Sheehan try, 69 minutes)

Start the party? Dan Sheehan has his second and Ireland are beginning to acclerate away!

The hooker makes the initial bust, met excellently by Jack van Poortvliet after out-pacing the English cover defence. But there is no-one in front of Sheehan as the ball is returned to him two phases later by a delicious offload over the shoulder from by Jack Conan.

The Leinster hooker departs to an ovation as Johnny Sexton converts, and the engraver can probably start his work.

[18 March 2023 18:41 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 17-9 England, 67 minutes

Dave Ribbans has carried beefily in this second half but that’s a little foolish from the France-bound lock, fiddling on the floor having made a tackle.

Here is a significant moment - Dan Cole becomes England’s fourth male centurion, replacing Kyle Sinckler.

[18 March 2023 18:39 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 17-9 England, 65 minutes

England are held up inside the Ireland 22. Might it be time for Marcus Smith at some point soon? It would be bold, but I’m not sure England’s current strategy will bring them back into this game.

[18 March 2023 18:34 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! IRELAND 17-9 England (Robbie Henshaw try, 62 minutes)

Ireland make the most of the opportunity!

New tighthead Tom O’Toole draws a penalty advantage out of Ellis Genge and from there it feels inevitable. Two inward hit-ups and then Jamison Gibson-Park goes blind, Bundee Aki taking at first receiver and connecting with his old mucker Robbie Henshaw at the line, who spies a gaping hole and the white line beyond.

Henshaw scores, Sexton converts and Ireland’s lead swells.

[18 March 2023 18:33 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 10-9 England, 60 minutes

Such intelligence from Johnny Sexton. The fly-half immediately kicks towards new man Marchant, turning the new wing with England one-short in their back three. The diagonal lift bounces nastily for the Harlequin, forcing Anthony Watson to hurry across and claim on the second hop.

Watson is carried over his own line. Five metre scrum, Ireland’s feed.

[18 March 2023 18:31 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 10-9 England, 59 minutes

Brilliant from Ryan Baird. The lock has impressed today in the biggest opportunity of his young international career, jackaling wth perfect form after Alex Dombrandt had made initial inroads up the right.

Changes for both teams. Tom O’Toole steps in for Tadhg Furlong, while Henry Arundell, who hasn’t been on the periphery, is replaced by Joe Marchant.

[18 March 2023 18:30 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 10-9 England, 58 minutes

Not for the first time this afternoon, Ireland appear to get a nudge on at the scrum but are penalised, with Andrew Porter again picked out for the angle of his drive.

[18 March 2023 18:29 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 10-9 England, 56 minutes

Handbags! A proper fracas for the first time in a contest of increasing spike and spite is sparked after Jamison Gibson-Park emerges from an English maul with a loose ball.

Gibson-Park chips ahead and a nasty bounce ends up with a leaping James Lowe, but the wing can only bobble it into touch, at which point both teams pile in for some futile pushing and shoving.

[18 March 2023 18:27 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 10-9 England, 56 minutes

Jaco Peyper gives England a hurry up at the lineout, but then calls time off with Dave Ribbans in need of a new contact lens and Ireland readying a change. Peter O’Mahony off; Jack Conan on.