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England lock Charlie Ewels red carded just 82 seconds in at Twickenham
The pre-match headlines ahead of England and Ireland’s Six Nations Round 4 match revolved around the availability of Maro Itoje, yet his second row partner took just over a minute to steal the show in Twickenham.
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England suffered a major blow inside two minutes when Ewels was shown a red card having clattered into Ireland vice-captain Ryan.
Ryan was left bloodied and forced off the field for assessment after Ewels ploughed into him, causing head on head contact.
Iain Henderson replaced Ryan, with Sexton kicking the resultant penalty to put the visitors 3-0 ahead.
82 seconds ?#ENGvIRE | Credit: @RTErugby pic.twitter.com/JRPw6SI38O
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 12, 2022
The Irish swiftly made the most of their numerical advantage as James Lowe scored the opening try of the afternoon.
England receive a red card just 82 seconds into the match with Ireland ?
Charlie Ewels is sent off for a high tackle on James Ryan.#ENGvIRE #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/FICVsGYicc
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 12, 2022
Neat interplay from Dan Sheehan and Josh Van Der Flier released Lowe on the left flank and he capitalised on plenty of space to charge over unchallenged.
Red card!
Game-changing moment inside two minutes as Charlie Ewels is sent off for foul play after an upright hit on James Ryan#ITVRugby pic.twitter.com/qw4eY9XdeQ
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) March 12, 2022
Sexton was off target with the conversion, leaving Ireland 8-0 in front.
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England were given a reprieve when a Caelan Doris try was chalked off due to a knock-on from Garry Ringrose in the build-up.
The hosts then suffered a further setback, with flanker Tom Curry limping off injured to be replaced by Dombrandt.
England fly-half Marcus Smith kicked a penalty to put the hosts on the scoreboard at 8-3 down just before the midway point of the first half.
Meanwhile, Ireland lock Ryan failed his head injury assessment, leaving Ulster captain Henderson to continue in his place.
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Itoje was passed fit to start England’s Guinness Six Nations showdown with Ireland.
The influential lock was doubtful after missing Friday’s captain’s run due to illness but has recovered to continue alongside Charlie Ewels for a crunch clash which will result in the losing team being eliminated from title contention.
England head coach Eddie Jones, who has declared Ireland “red-hot favourites” for the Twickenham contest, has made three alterations to his starting XV following the round-three win over Wales.
Hooker Jamie George has been recalled in place of the injured Luke Cowan-Dickie, while Alex Dombrandt has dropped to the bench following a bout of coronavirus to be replaced by Sam Simmonds at number eight, while Joe Marchant is preferred to Elliot Daly at outside centre.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has made six changes, including the return of captain Johnny Sexton.
Fly-half Sexton, who this week announced he will retire following next year’s World Cup, has been restored alongside James Ryan, Bundee Aki, Andrew Conway and Hugo Keenan, while Cian Healy has taken the place of injured prop Andrew Porter.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments