GILBERT Ireland International Replica Rugby Ball , 5 - Ireland

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They have earned the right to start," said Farrell. "And, from what we have seen so far, it's been a good start to the week. We’re obviously very pleased to come away with a bonus point win,” he concluded. “I thought we showed great character because we were under the cosh a little bit.

Despite being tested by a resilient English side, Ireland - as they have so often done under Andy Farrell - found a way to win as they gave talismanic captain Johnny Sexton the perfect send-off in his final Six Nations match, even though his day ended early because of injury. Ireland: H Keenan; M Hansen, B Aki, S McCloskey (J O'Brien 73), J Lowe; R Byrne (J Crowley 78), C Casey (C Murray, 65); A Porter (D Kilcoyne 65), R Kelleher (D Sheehan 56), F Bealham (T O'Toole 36); I Henderson (R Baird 53), J Ryan; C Doris, J Van der Flier, J Conan (P O'Mahony 56) And what do they need to seal the grand slam? “I think an overall performance … definitely on the discipline side of things … that’s one big thing we talked about the whole week … I can certainly say I was one of them who wasn’t disciplined.” Italy: Ange Capuozzo, Edoardo Padovani, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Pierre Bruno; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone. I’m 100 per cent sure there are some individuals that will take the field saying to themselves that this a big chance and big opportunity for me,” said Farrell during the week. “You’ve got to surround those people with good enough experienced players as well to be able to judge them properly, so we’re looking forward to that.”Here are the teams for tonight’s game in the Aviva. Several Irish players playing for a spot on the World Cup squad. Some win. Cue Zombie by the Cranberries, which will be how many will have already felt by then and certainly by later into the Parisian night. It was both draining and emotional. Welcome to the Aviva Stadium for our live blog of Ireland’s opening game in the Bank of Ireland Nations Series – the first of three warm-up matches on the road towards next month’s World Cup in France.

Leaving aside the young fellas, this Ireland squad and coach are under no illusions regarding their ability and potential. Grand Slam Champions, unbeaten in 17 matches and a purring, brutal engine in which all know their role and perform it brilliantly. Andy Farrell apologised to his mum after being caught biting his nails during the second half of this see-sawing and highly entertainnig game. “Was I?” asked Ireland’s head coach, laughing. “I shouldn’t do that. My mother's going to be mad.” Ultimately, Ireland’s Grand Slam bid goes on. A five-try bonus point win making it three from three for the men in green. But this was far squeakier than anyone really expected. The Ireland Rugby union team are currently ranked 2 nd in the world and have won the Six Nations Championship 4 times and are yet to win a World Cup title. Sometimes the Boks threw two men into the air, and including a crooked throw and two more which eluded James Ryan, Ireland effectively lost five of their first eight throws.The absence of Sexton hands James Ryan the captaincy, and Garry Ringrose misses his chance to win his 50th cap with a late injury.