Billy Vunipola was despatched off as England’s stuttering Rugby World Cup preparations have been thrown into additional disarray by a expensive 29-10 defeat to Ireland amid Owen Farrell’s ongoing disciplinary saga.
The No 8 is prone to miss the beginning of the event in France after his 53rd-minute yellow card for making contact with the pinnacle of Andrew Porter was upgraded to crimson.
Steve Borthwick’s males have been comfortably dispatched in a disjointed Dublin affair, which influential captain Farrell sat out following the fallout of his dismissal in opposition to Wales final weekend.
Vunipola’s untimely departure compounded a meek show and he’ll now be part of Saracens team-mate Farrell in dealing with a disciplinary panel with England’s World Cup opener in opposition to Argentina on September 9 quick approaching.
Keith Earls marked his a centesimal cap by claiming the fifth of Ireland’s tries, including to scores from Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe and Mack Hansen, because the hosts retained their place on the prime of the world rankings courtesy of a twelfth successive win.
Andy Farrell’s dominant facet have been removed from their free-flowing finest however nonetheless had an excessive amount of for his or her depleted rivals, though the first-half departure of hooker Dan Sheehan is a priority.
Replacement prop Kyle Sinckler claimed a late attempt shortly earlier than Earls stylishly celebrated his milestone look but it surely was little comfort for the guests.
Keith Earls might rejoice a attempt in his milestone recreation
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England crossed the Irish Sea searching for the best win of the Borthwick period to this point to ignite their World Cup build-up however they have been in unconvincing type particularly with the state of affairs surrounding skipper Farrell dominating headlines.
Replacement fly-half Ford slotted an early penalty earlier than the away group have been swiftly placed on the again foot as an excellent break from Peter O’Mahony allowed Aki to cost past Ben Youngs and contact down below the posts, leaving Ross Byrne with a easy conversion.
While England have endured a tumultuous time since ending runners-up on the 2019 World Cup in Japan, Six Nations champions Ireland have loved a formidable interval of development masterminded by head coach Farrell.
The Englishman fielded the majority of his star names for the primary time since clinching the Grand Slam in opposition to Borthwick’s males in March, which maybe defined irritating ranges of rustiness in a fragmented opening interval affected by stoppages.
Ford missed the possibility to cut back England’s deficit with a second penalty earlier than Ireland’s Sheehan hobbled off resulting from an obvious harm.
Ireland have been dominant in Dublin
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There appeared like being no additional inroads on the scoreboard earlier than the break till Hansen’s intelligent cross-field kick uncovered the opposition’s defence, with Ringrose inadvertently propelled over the try-line by a mixture of Elliot Daly and Freddie Steward.
England, who’re anticipated to be taught the destiny of Farrell in midweek, supplied little or no from an attacking perspective in a reasonably forgettable first half which they ended 12-3 behind.
Their night shortly took a flip for the more severe when Vunipola ploughed into Porter. Referee Paul Williams initially deemed the sin-bin to be ample punishment however the England back-rower, whose trudge from the sphere coincided with Farrell flashing up the massive display to a refrain of boos, wouldn’t return.
Ireland wasted little time in capitalising on their numerical benefit as Lowe was afforded yards of house to catch Byrne’s move and cross large on the left, earlier than Hansen added to their distress by diving over on the opposite flank.
England’s makes an attempt to keep away from a drubbing have been helped by Sinckler bulldozing over.
But they have been powerless to forestall Ireland registering a fourth consecutive win on this fixture, with veteran wing Earls elevating the roof because of a spectacular diving end on his landmark outing.