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
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 10-6 England, 43 minutes
England are perhaps aided slightly by the fact that the rest of their back three cohort are comfortable at full back. Owen Farrell drops back to lend his support to one of them, Anthony Watson, as the two sides enter a kicking passage.
Watson goes up to take Jamison Gibson-Park’s box kick and puts on some footwork, neatly skipping by three Irish forwards. But Henry Arundell is well handled on the left.
Ireland 10-6 England, 41 minutes
Maro Itoje, now without headgear, takes the second half restart.
Immediately Irealnd attack England’s under-resourced backline - a lovely cross-kick lands in James Lowe’s hands on the left, but the wing can’t quite find a teammate with his offload.
Second half
England made Ireland wait for a couple of extra minutes before re-emerging. Johnny Sexton will restart affairs.
H/T: Ireland 10-6 England
We’ll park the Freddie Steward discussion there for now - you suspect there will be enough post-match to sustain us for the next week at least.
Ireland are 40 minutes away from a Grand Slam, and back out there in Dublin. Jimmy O’Brien is amongst their number with Hugo Keenan removed.
H/T: Ireland 10-6 England
In some ways, it is a bit of a shame, because it has been a cracking test match. England have been very impressive, given the low they plunged to last week, with their breakdown work much, much improved and their defensive intensity lifted significantly. 20 tackles for Jack Willis in that half, and a couple of breakdown snaffles, too.
But England were cut open for Dan Sheehan’s try.
H/T: Ireland 10-6 England
England produced their best performance of the 2022 Six Nations against Ireland after Charlie Ewels’s early dismissal, not that it mattered much in the final accounting. They’ll need to summon something even greater than that to stay in this one, you feel, given what is at stake for Ireland.
You can understand the process that saw Jaco Peyper and his officiating team arrive at their decision, but I’m not sure they came at the incident from the right starting point.
H/T: Ireland 10-6 England
Plenty to discuss from that first 40, with Ireland short of their best but England responding strongly to their France thrashing, but there is only one place to start. Even amid the understandable efforts to reduce head contacts, you have to say that Freddie Steward’s collison with Hugo Keenan was harshly viewed by the officials - the England full-back had no other place to go and appeared to be leaping in an attempt to avoid a stumbling, stooping Keenan, who was grasping for a loose ball.
Ireland 10-6 England, 45 minutes
A huge test of England’s character now. They hold firm to ensure the margin is only four at the half, Ryan Baird knocking on as English forwards charge into him.
RED CARD! Freddie Steward is sent off! Ireland 10-6 England, 41 minutes
It’s red!
Referee Jaco Peyper explains: “In the current climate, you are upright, you had time turn your shoulder - direct contact to head, it’s a red card.”
Steward and Owen Farrell protest the full-back’s innocence, and that does feel a little harsh. Steward had turned to brace for Keenan, who was in an unnatural position with the whistle blown, but Peyper argues that the England man has a duty of care towards his opponent and should have done more.
England will play the remainder of the game without their most consistent performer during this campaign.
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