7 mins: Bright from Sam Prendergast, a couple of sharp interventions but then watches a garryowen drift long. England have been the more threatening side. The ball-in-play time is huge.
Ireland 0 England 0
3 mins: A blow for Ireland as Mack Hansen limps off. Robbie Henshaw is on, Garry Ringrose moves to the wing. It’s Henshaw and Bundee Aki in the centre
Ireland 0 England 0
1 min: Both teams have taken the aerial route early on but then Marcus Smith with superb break and link with his wing Tommy Freeman. Smith then goes for a cross-kick to Ben Curry but overcooks it.
Ireland 0 England 0
We’re under way. Marcus Smith kicks off and England win the ball. Ireland have the first lineout and in the ball.
An official rendition of the Fields of Athenry after the anthems is something of a departure.
Eight of the Ireland team that started the defeat to England in Twickenham are in the run-on team while the visitors have seven from that match.
Teams are out and the anthems are next.
Teams have gone back into the dressing room, the crowd haven’t heeded the IRFU’s plea to take their seats early.
A big day for Sam Prendergast. Former England and Lions scrumhalf Matt Dawson likes the look of the young Irish pivot.
[ Gerry Thornley's previewOpens in new window ]
England are going after the Ireland breakdown today. Much of the focus has been on the Curry twins, Tom and Ben – their dad and mum David and Susanne will appear on the big screen at some point today – along with Ben Earl, three essentially openside flankers but Maro Itoje and hooker Luke Cowan Dickie are no slouches when it comes to pilfering ruck ball.
The visitors have gone all-in when it comes to stopping Ireland, borrowing from other countries who have managed to stymie them by slowing down Irish ruck ball. If it doesn’t work, then England will be in real trouble. They lack big ballast ball carriers in the run-on team although there are a few on the bench.
The Scots have accelerated away with a brace of tries in quick succession from Huw Jones. The centre has claimed a hat-trick today.
I should have pointed out that there’s a cracking game going on in Murrayfield. Scotland raced into a 14-0 lead but Italy have staged a stunning rally and it’s 19-19 going into the final quarter.
Shane Horgan unflinchingly honest.
A little bit salty from the French born, London based, Michelin starred chef. N’est pas?
The fact that the incident took place 10-minutes from time meant that France were down a man for that period, but had it occurred in the first half Fabien Galthié would have been able to replace Ntamack. There are and will be instances when a collision is a slight misjudgment in timing, but this wasn’t one. Williams should have shown a straight red card.
It will be interesting to note the punishment for the two players. We can play a form of suspension bingo here. Hands up who has got six-match entry point, 50 percent reduction for being a paragon of virtue normally and then a further week off for attending tackle school. Anyone?
Last night at the Stade de France, French outhalf Romain Ntamack first received a yellow card on 70-minutes from match referee New Zealand’s Paul Williams for hitting Ben Thomas in the face with a tucked shoulder. Williams crossed arms gesture meant that the tackle went for review. Word came back that it merited an upgrade to a red card.
First things first. It was a nailed on red card. Williams’ decision was basically saying this is above my pay grade, someone else can sort it out. If this becomes commonplace, then the sport will be poorly served. I’m all for speeding up the game but not at a cost to ensuring player safety.
Last night at the Stade de France, French outhalf Romain Ntamack first received a yellow card on 70-minutes from match referee New Zealand’s Paul Williams for hitting Ben Thomas in the face with a tucked shoulder. Williams crossed arms gesture meant that the tackle went for review. Word came back that it merited being upgraded to a red card.
First things first. It was a nailed on red card. Williams’ decision was basically saying this is above my pay grade, someone else can sort it out. If this becomes commonplace, then the sport will be poorly served. I’m all for speeding up the game but not at a cost to ensuring or preserving player safety.
RED CARDS
For the first time in a Six Nations, players sent off for technical offences can be replaced after 20-minutes. However, referees can still award full and permanent red cards for deliberate and dangerous acts of foul play.
In the Ireland-England Under-20 match, French referee Jeremy Rozier in consultation with the television match official Tual Trainini, reviewed the footage of Joel Kpoku’s hit; it was late, high, and dangerous delivered with a tucked shoulder to the jaw. What it definitely wasn’t in any shape or form was an attempt to tackle.
Rozier sent the player off and after the allotted time, Kpoku was replaced by George Timmons. The 20-minute sanction wasn’t appropriate for a player who made no effort to produce a legal ‘tackle.’
This blog is a one-stop shop for everything, pre-and-post-match, including Gerry’s match report. Johnny Watterson will be marking the Ireland team’s individual exam papers at game’s end. We’ve asked him not to use too much of the red biro. Mary Hannigan’s television column is a must read for anyone with a sense of humour, while Malachy Clerkin, will tackle the game’s primary talking point with the cold-eyed tenacity of a corner back.
There will be audio and video and reaction from both camps.
In terms of two legged pundits, the Irish Times rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley has plumped for (checks notes), Ireland. The ‘outro’ to his preview reads: “It could well be a very tricky, taut, tight game but the memories of losing both last year’s meeting and the autumnal opener against New Zealand should focus Irish minds.”
Irish Times columnist and part-time rugby psychiatrist Matt Williams counsels against Irish arrogance, a collective weakness that he asserted cost Ireland dearly in one or two high-profile matches. It is funny conceit coming from an Aussie.
Paul the Octopus, unfortunately, passed away in October 2010, just a few months after the tournament ended. He was buried on the grounds of his home at the Sea Life Centre, and a modest shrine was built in his memory.
As a concept it grew tentacles, Paul was followed by Nelly (elephant), Sitje (cow), Cabecao (turtle), Shaheen (camel), Aochan (penguin), Norman (armadillo), Khan (tiger), Ying Mei (Giant Panda), Chippu (otter), Madam Shiva (guinea pig), Zabiyaka (goat) and Achilles a hearing-impaired cat who lives in St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum.
Perhaps the most famous animal soothsayer was Paul the Octopus who rose to fame during the 2010 soccer World Cup hosted by Germany. A resident of the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, Paul made headlines after correctly predicting Germany’s matches.
After Germany was defeated in the semi-finals, Paul correctly predicted Spain’s win over the Netherlands for the 2010 World Cup title. He would predict the winner of the matches by selecting between two clear boxes containing a mollusc treat, each having the flags of the competing teams.
Tadhg Furlong may not be playing today but in his honour.........
Hello and welcome to the Irish Times rugby blog. John O’Sullivan here and I will be taking you through the afternoon on the opening Saturday of the 2025 Six Nations Championship. France hammered Wales 43-0 in Paris, but the victory was soured slightly after outhalf Romain Ntamack received a yellow card upgraded to red in the bunker for a head shot.
I’m going to tease out a few thoughts later on about the 20-minute red cards because England flanker Joel Kpoku received one during his side’s 19-3 victory over Ireland in the Under-20 Six Nations game at Musgrave Park on Thursday night. Did the punishment fit the crime, no would be the short answer in both cases.
In match terms England Under-20s were deserving winners in Cork because they were resilient under pressure and ruthless in taking the few chances that came their way.
First though to today’s contest. To paraphrase what the Colonel Kilgore character said in one of the all-time great films, “I love the smell of an Ireland-England match in the morning.” But for whom will it be Apocalypse Now this evening at the Aviva Stadium.
The bookies have Ireland as six-point favourites. Down through the years people have turned to the animal kingdom to predict the outcome of matches but apparently Dublin Zoo don’t have an octopus, and engaging with the Chinese stripe-neck turtle is strictly off limits.
Ireland and England will begin their Six Nations campaigns this evening at the Aviva Stadium as Simon Easterby’s side look to start their pursuit of a historic three championships in a row with a win.
Follow all the build-up, action and post-match reaction in our live story below.
Ireland v England key info
- Kick off time: 4:45pm
- Venue: Aviva Stadium
- Weather update: Cloudy but dry
- Full team news as Sam Prendergast starts at 10
- Sign up to The Irish Times weekly rugby digest to stay up to date on the latest Six Nations news
