England v Ireland RWC Warm Up Match - Review
By Kath
August 27 2015
Well this was the third and final warm up game for England and they now head into the Rugby World Cup with morale-boosting victory over Ireland, which was much needed after the last game against France.
England 21 v 13 Ireland
QBE International - Twickenham Saturday 5th September 2015
The call from England forwards coach Graham Rowntree to treat this match as the start of the Rugby World Cup seemed to work as England came out of the blocks charged up high. From the very start of the match England put huge pressure on Ireland.
England's Joe Launchbury claims a line out ball - all Pictures PA/Images
The intensity from England led to Ireland full back Simon Zebo slicing a kick in to touch. Parling managed to scramble the lineout ball back to Ben Youngs and after some burly carries up-field by Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler and Brad Barritt, Youngs spun a beautiful flat pass out to May. May, usually known for his pace, this time deployed brute strength to brush off opposite man Tommy Bowe and dash into the corner to cap a superb opening for the home side. George Ford kicked the touchline conversion for a 7-0 advantage.
Ireland's Simon Zebo (right) in action with England's Jonny May during the World Cup Warm up match
May was involved again, this time penalised for taking out a jumper in the air, to give Jonny Sexton the chance to slot a penalty for Ireland and reduce the deficit.
England's Anthony Watson crosses over to score a try during the World Cup Warm up match
But England were soon back on the attack and after a rumbling rolling maul from a lineout out on the left, Ford sent an inch-perfect cross field kick towards Anthony Watson, who caught the ball turned and dropped to touch for a perfectly executed try.(12-3)
England were on fire and could have more points on the board but two forward passes denied in the game by the TMO and at this point I would like to add that Ref., Nigel Owens had a great game and I think he is now one of the best, if not the best referee in the UK. England extended their lead with Ford nailing a long penalty off the cross bar to make it 15-3 at half time.
As you would expect Ireland came back to challenge Paul O'Connell crawled over the try line putting them within two points 15-13
Second half saw plenty of replacements Owen Farrell on for Ford kicked an important penalty on 73 minutes to extend England's lead to 18-13. The game was closed out a few minutes later when Lawes and Billy Vunipola forced a penalty at the ruck and Farrell booted the three points over.
England's Owen Farrell kicks a penalty during the World Cup Warm up match
England head into the RWC2015 with the victory over the RBS 6 Nations Champions Ireland and look in far better shape than they did a week ago. Maybe the fact the squad in now finalised has galvanise them all? Who knows but a far better performance all round, which satisfied the 80,138 Twickenham crowd.
England: Brown; Watson, Joseph, Barritt, May; Ford, B Youngs; Marler, T Youngs, Cole, Lawes, Parling, Wood, Robshaw, Morgan.
Replacements: Burgess for Barritt (69), George for T Youngs (59), Wigglesworth for B Youngs (59), M Vunipola for Marler (55), Brookes for Cole (61), B Vunipola for Morgan (55), Launchbury for Parling (60), Farrell for Ford (60).
Ireland: Zebo; Bowe, Payne, Henshaw, D Kearney; Sexton, Murray; J McGrath, Best, Ross, Toner, O'Connell, O'Mahony, O'Brien, Heaslip.
Replacements: Furlong for Zebo (69), Madigan for Henshaw (59), Cave for D Kearney (59), Reddan for Murray (18), Strauss for Best (60), White for Ross (59), Ryan for O'Connell (65), Henry for O'Brien (60).