Ireland 9 - 20 England - Final Score - Post Match discussion.

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England gave themselves a confidence boost a fortnight before the World Cup as they condemned Ireland to a fourth straight warm-up defeat.

An early Manu Tuilagi try and two Jonny Wilkinson penalties saw England lead 13-9 at half-time, Ronan O'Gara landing three kicks in reply.

With Chris Ashton in the sin-bin, England stretched their lead with a Delon Armitage try.

That proved the final score as heavy rain made conditions tricky.

Five months after their humbling 24-8 defeat attempting a Six Nations Grand Slam in Dublin, England will take heart from their first victory in the Irish capital since 2003.

But the casualty rate of the warm-up programme escalated further, with both sides suffering more injuries days before departing for New Zealand.

Ireland saw David Wallace stretchered off and Jamie Heaslip also depart in the first half, while Hendre Fourie and Mark Cueto only lasted the opening quarter for England.

ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP FIXTURES
Continue reading the main story
v Argentina: 10 Sept, Dunedin
v Georgia: 18 Sept, Dunedin
v Romania: 24 Sept, Dunedin
v Scotland: 01 Oct, Auckland
Fourie - not in the 30-man World Cup squad - had only been drafted in as a late replacement after Nick Easter joined fellow back-rows Tom Wood and Lewis Moody on the sidelines, with James Haskell starting at number eight.

Fourie was heavily involved in England's opening salvo before two minutes of pressure came to nothing when Wilkinson's right-footed drop-goal from long range drifted wide.

But the visitors didn't have long to wait to get on the scoreboard. After a powerful scrum and pick-up from Haskell, England moved the ball left and a simple pass from Mike Tindall sent Tuilagi arcing round an out-of-position Keith Earls to score his second try in as many Tests, Wilkinson converting.

Ireland replied when Geordan Murphy fielded an aimless kick from Wilkinson and was blatantly impeded by Courtney Lawes as he tried to run it back, O'Gara landing the penalty.

But England's scrum power was evident as they pushed the Irish back on their own ball, giving Wilkinson the opportunity to make it 10-3.

Ireland refused several more kicks at goal, Eoin Reddan taking a quick tap penalty close to the England line, only to see Cueto intercept his scoring pass with two men outside him.

Tuilagi's impact on the game continued to be felt, particularly by Wallace.

The Ireland flanker carried the ball through Tuilagi's initial tackle but did not survive a second encounter with the Anglo-Samoan, being stretchered off with a knee injury as O'Gara was landing his second penalty for the high tackle.

England also lost Fourie - replaced by lock Tom Palmer with Lawes moving into the back row - and Cueto, with Armitage replacing the latter.

A marginal high tackle by Stephen Ferris on Lawes saw Wilkinson make it 13-6 in the 27th minute, and England should have extended their lead on the half-hour.

Tuilagi picked up a loose Ireland line-out in his own half and galloped 60m before Murphy collared him, but England butchered a clear overlap with poor passes from Wilkinson and Lawes, Chris Ashton and Ben Foden bawling their frustration.

IRELAND'S WORLD CUP FIXTURES
Continue reading the main story
v USA: 11 Sept, New Plymouth
v Australia: 17 Sept, Auckland
v Russia: 25 Sept, Rotorua
v Italy: 02 Oct, Dunedin
Referee Nigel Owens lectured England captain Tindall as the penalty count rose, then warned Tom Croft after a skirmish with Cian Healy on the floor.

Ireland finished the half in the ascendancy but the visitors kept out a wave of attacks to preserve their lead.

They should have been hampered on the resumption with Ashton was sin-binned, but O'Gara's penalty came back off an upright.

Instead England stretched their lead while down to 14 men as Tindall's beautifully-weighted grubber kick was gathered by Armitage to touch down, Wilkinson's conversion pushing them out to 20-9.

But it was a mixed outing for the celebrated fly-half, who over-cooked a penalty kicked to the corner and saw another pass go to ground.

As the heavens opened on the hour, neither side was able to sustain any momentum in the final quarter, despite Paul O'Connell's promptings for Ireland.

The hosts depart for the World Cup on the back of four straight defeats, England buoyed by victory two weeks before they take on Argentina.

Ireland: Murphy, Bowe, Earls, D'Arcy, Trimble, O'Gara, Reddan; Healy, Flannery, Ross, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Ferris, Wallace, Heaslip. Replacements: Best (for Flannery, 50), Court (for Healy, 70), Ryan (for Heaslip, 35), Leamy (for Wallace, 22), Murray (for Reddan, 62), Sexton (for O'Gara, 62), McFadden (71).

England: Foden, Ashton, Tuilagi, Tindall, Cueto, Wilkinson, Wigglesworth; Sheridan, Thompson, Cole, Deacon, Lawes, Croft, Fourie, Haskell. Replacements: Hartley (for Thompson, 52), Stevens (for Sheridan, 57), Shaw (for Deacon, 62), Palmer (for Fourie, 21), Simpson, Flood (for Tindall, 75), Armitage (for Cueto, 21).

Yellow card: Chris Ashton (41)

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Attendance: 48,523

hey, Just got in from work. Can someone message me a stream? Can't remember the new MP2P site address. Thanks.

That was a great first half by England put in some good tackles on Ireland.

I do hope that their are no more injuries on either side it is too close toi the RWC for players to be getting injured.

If England give away a penalty in the second then Owens will start using the yellow card.

I'm furious right now coz I got up at seven (US time), which is really early for me, only to find that the site I usually use to watch England games won't show anything: there are two streams, but neither of them work!

@leftshoulder; how can you say that you gifted us a try? Really annoys me when people say that; for goodness sake, the game of rugby is all about creating mismatches and taking your chances, which is exactly how that try occurred. Manu ran a lovely line, simple handoff and finished it really well-there was no 'gifting'. Give credit where it is due.
Real shame about Wallace-he's one of my favourite players, really hope he is ok, he was having a stormer. Impressed with Murphy too.

D'Arcy seems like a lost sheep out there valjester, he is constantly out of position and his handling skills have not improved. He is the senior centre out there but is not calling the shots.

Reddan is having a very poor game so i would be tempted swap him.

There is the card

chris ashton sin-binned

How's Tindall looking at 12?

Look a different team with Sheridan. Tindall's doing alright, he was never the problem though.

Countnefarious wrote:How's Tindall looking at 12?

Not too bad but he is being out shone somewhat. Just doing the hard work as usual.

Countnefarious wrote:How's Tindall looking at 12?

invisible to me. only comes when nigel wanna talk to him.

Okay gifting was a bit much but Earls left a gap a mile wide,it was poor defensive positioning.He took it well fair play to him but I don't think it was a great attacking move.

Ha! We only need 14 lads, thanks for coming!

delon scores and i spoke to soon...sorry tindall

That said count, beautiful kick from Tindall and Armatige scores.

England have 14 men and score a try. Ireland are gone.

Wigglesworth has been decent so far as well

dylan hartley is in

14 men like wales (twice)

This is a performanc on par with Irelands form of late. I honestly hoped they would be up for the match against England but England have been far and away the dominant team this match. Only their indiscipline has let Ireland in this match.

What is that French touch judge on about???? It was a little high but not bad. Thats the second time this match.

what's wrong with jonny

Any talk of Ireland beating Australia just seems silly now. They just beat the All Blacks to win the Tri-Nations and we're heading for 4th defeat in a row. How can some of these players be so dominant in Europe for the provinces but then so clueless in an Irish jersey time after time. Any suggestions?

All I can say is Wally in hospital

Feckless, Ireland havent got a chance against the Aussies. We will get royally stuffed.

Not a great performance from England so far, but it's good to see a bit more bite from the forwards. Shame they're not being tested by a full-strength Irish pack though (hope Wallace is OK for you guys).

I'd like to see Simpson come on in the next 5 mins, if for no other reason than sending him to NZ with no test rugby under his belt would be silly.

eirebilly wrote:Feckless, Ireland havent got a chance against the Aussies. We will get royally stuffed.

I think Kidney has picked weak sides and Ireland have kept losing and all their confidence has been sucked away by losing, losing and winning are habbits and Ireland have forgotten how too it seems.

they should've replaced d'arcy with sexton

20 mins to go and the Irish fans are leaving the stands. Thats poor. Rain will be the excuse but you stay till the end in my books.

faraway wrote:they should've replaced d'arcy with sexton

Yeah, thats a good option. D'Arcy has lost his mojo

eirebilly wrote:20 mins to go and the Irish fans are leaving the stands. Thats poor. Rain will be the excuse but you stay till the end in my books.

Perhaps they're just moving out of the bad weather? At least I hope so Poor form if not.

Its poor form Cari.

Ireland have been outplayed today. They are still trying but Alyn has a point in that Ireland have forgotton how to win matches.
Taking nothing away from England here, they have been the better side.

how can the commentators confuse bowe with d'arcy?

You're a gent Billy, I'd be fuming

I am fuming Reign but credit where it is due. England have been better. Simples

is tuilagi-tindall the best combo for england?

faraway wrote:how can the commentators confuse bowe with d'arcy?

their English and probably know little of Irish rugby, it's not as if they ever cover it.

faraway wrote:is tuilagi-tindall the best combo for england?

no based on what I've seen you'd be better off looking for another uncapped tuilagi to go with the other tuilagi, lol.

faraway wrote:is tuilagi-tindall the best combo for england?

Maybe not against a better side than Ireland but it has worked well today.

That kick was never on.

eirebilly wrote:That kick was never on.

Yes it was wasteful, Ireland seem to have run out of ideas at the moment.

The commentators also called Andy Trimble, James Trimble...so I'm not surprised they get Bowe and D'Arcy confused.

Commiserations Ireland. Well done England.

I'll be praying for Wally.

Well done England.

Cari, i hate to say this but first reports are that Wally has done his cruciate and will miss the RWC

first choice centre partnership is now sorted. Both centres played well.Solid performance from England & well deserved victory forwards were very impressive & bullied the Irish.
hopefully the injuries aren't too bad.

Eirebilly - oh fecking hell! The exact same thing happened to my fave hurler this season too and he missed their first semi final in 60 years! He done his through a motorbike accident though. Poor Wally.

Please keep me updated on Wally Watch.

Thank god we won that. I really don't like Owen's as a ref. I think the high tackles that were called were fair (arms around the neck) but there was at least one by England that was missed (and probably more from both sides).

I would take this to mean much in the World Cup. England were shocking just before the one in 2007 (the Welsh team was about as good as Connacht) and they did alright. When are you playing Australia? Is there time to get the momentum going?

Ireland will be ranked below Scotland in the irb rankings going into the World Cup.

Very flat performance from Ireland today, they look like they have no confidence and in a losing rut.
England look ok, but their ball is too slow and they lack pace and energy, when compared to australia, and New Zealand. Power and brute force alone wont cut it against better teams.

A little off track, does anyone know what that music is SKY play as they go to adverts? Sounds like Depeche Mode

Right.

England were not impressive but they did the work that was required. They looked alot more solid in defence and their attack was decent. Their indiscipline is still a major concern for them.

Ireland, not good at all. Declan really has to be asked the questions about his constant selection of D'Arcy. He is a shadow of his former self and has been given more than enough opportunities but has failed time and time again. Earles looked scarily out of depth and was often wastefull.

I still feel confident that Ireland will come out of their group but they will be done the very 1st game of the knockouts.

HammerofThunor wrote:Thank god we won that. I really don't like Owen's as a ref. I think the high tackles that were called were fair (arms around the neck) but there was at least one by England that was missed (and probably more from both sides).

I'm not sure that's totally fair.
Granted the guy does seem to think he's terribly important, but the worst thing you can do is argue with a guy who's up his own áss, and O'Connell seemed to annoy Owens early on, while I actually saw Tindall laughing in Owens face on several occasions while he was giving warnings. How much sympathy do you expect from a ref when you argue, or worse still laugh at him?
Anyone sensible would listen to the ref, give your point of view and walk away, after accepting the referee's view point. If you conduct yourself like O'connell and Tindall did today you get a cheesed off ref, and little sympathy.

Good game for England, can't help but think Ireland really suffered the loss of some of their big names- especially Wally, he started like a firework-fantastic to watch. Really liked the Tindall-Manu partnership, who knew Tinds had such a great little boot?! Thought Sexton played well when he came on, and was impressed with Trimble and Earls.
Anyone else really impressed with Haskell at 8? I thought he was very good, bar a few hiccups at the back of a reversing scrum. He was rushing up in defence and put some great tackles in. Prefer him at 8 more than Easter I think