Ireland XV v England A live updates: Irish side 10 behind at half-time at Thomond Park

Ireland XV 14 England A 24

Half-time: Ireland XV 14 England A 24

One last attack for England as a kick in behind requires Frawley to cover well, Ireland will be happy enough to be only 10 behind as they were second best for most of that. England’s halfbacks stood out in particular. Plenty of time left to launch a comeback though.

39 mins: Try for Ireland! That’s more like it, a bit of luck after England misplay a pass, well kicked on by Kelly on the fly and Joshua Kenny shows his pace to finish very well. Farrell watching on. Frawley converts.

Ireland XV 14 England A 24

35 mins: Ireland win a penalty and another decent chance to see how their lineout and attack is functioning. Wycherley takes a long lineout, just about, then a great carry by Bryn Ward, but Roots smashes into Gunne to turn it over. Then England go immediately, Searle carries through several metres then kicks and Zach Ward covers, but it’s a five-metre scrum.

Try for England! Randall gets England’s fourth try after intense pressure on the Irish defence. Randall gives the defence the eyes, smartly touches it down. No bonus points in a one-off game but it’s a hammering so far.

Ireland XV 7 England A 24

29 mins: Try for England! Hassell-Collins with it, great pass by Randall after Bailey had almost carried to the line. Good play by England as they edged up the field in several phases of high quality. Ireland struggling here. Searle just misses the conversion.

Ireland XV 7 England A 17

23 mins: England penalised for a high tackle on Gunne by Haffar, chance for Ireland from an attacking lineout. Well taken and the maul gains another few metres. Gunne goes a few more, but Wycherley is held up. Back for a penalty, Ireland touch and go, almost at the line. Gunne tries a crossfield kick, back for another penalty.

25 mins: Try for Ireland! From this one, it’s Brian Gleeson who gets it. Bryn Ward and Deegan help out and Gleeson gets it over. Frawley’s conversion is scored.

Ireland XV 7 England A 12

18 mins: Frawley kicks it out on the full as the ball kicks off the wet ground. Back for the England scrum. Ireland give away a penalty straight away from the scrum and Searle kicks it for a five-metre lineout. England win the lineout and try to maul to the line. Deegan is penalised and Ireland are struggling to hang on. Another lineout, well taken by England.

Try for England! Searle scores as they broke from the maul, Randall to Searle, who dummied, picked his moment and finished. He misses his own conversion.

Ireland XV 0 England A 12

15 mins: The rain is pouring now in Limerick as Ireland give away a lineout. Some kick tennis between the two teams before Kenny kicks it to touch on halfway.

Ireland under serious pressure again after some quick passing and rucking by England and then a dangerous kick towards the corner by Murley. Kenny covers well. Ireland survive in the next play after a knock on by Dombrant.

9 mins: Superb tackle by Shane Daly prevents a try, Ireland try a high ball but a similar to the failures against France yesterday. Carpenter fields it well and it comes to Randall and he’s almost through but a last-ditch tackle by Daly. Scrum to England though.

Try for England! Ethan Roots shows his strength after finding a gap and powers it over. Converted by Searle.

Ireland XV 0 England 7

6 mins: Eye-catching run from Gus McCarthy after turning over the lineout, but a sloppy pass from a team-mate gives the ball away.

3 mins: England win a scrum penalty early on and kick safely for touch, early pressure on the Irish defence. Clean lineout. Ireland survive though with a turnover and Gunne clears well.

Some big Irish names spotted in the crowd - Andy Farrell, Johnny Sexton and Paul O’Connell at Thomond. Kick-off is approaching.

John O’Sullivan says there is a lot of intrigue in tonight’s game given the team selected, and it will be of interest to the main team’s coaching staff

“Some of the Irish senior coaching group are expected to step off the flight from Paris to Dublin after Thursday’s opening Six Nations match and head straight to Thomond Park, Limerick, to watch the game.

“There’s plenty to unpack in the team. Wings Joshua Kenny and Zac Ward are enjoying superb seasons and there will be a frisson of excitement if they get possession in a meaningful way going forward. There is another player in the three-quarter-line, Munster’s summer signing Dan Kelly (24), whose performance will be scrutinised closely."

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Ireland XV v England A, which kicks off at Thomond Park at 7.15pm. After Ireland’s troubling defeat to France last night, there is a chance for some fringe players, young stars too, to make an argument for future selection against England. Joshua Kenny and Zac Ward in particular on the wings are two to watch out for.

IRELAND XV: Shane Daly (Munster); Joshua Kenny (Leinster), James Hume (Ulster), Dan Kelly (Munster), Zac Ward (Ulster); Ciarán Frawley (Leinster), Fintan Gunne (Leinster); Billy Bohan (Connacht), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Scott Wilson (Ulster); Charlie Irvine (Ulster), Fineen Wycherley (Munster); Max Deegan (Leinster, capt), Bryn Ward (Ulster), Brian Gleeson (Munster).

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron (Munster), Sam Crean (Ulster), Jack Aungier (Connacht), Harry Sheridan (Ulster), Paul Boyle (Connacht), Matthew Devine (Connacht), Cathal Forde (Connacht), Sean Jansen (Connacht).

ENGLAND A: Joe Carpenter (Sale); Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Luke Northmore (Harlequins), Orlando Bailey (Leicester), Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester); Billy Searle (Leicester), Harry Randall (Bristol); Tarek Haffar (Leicester), Jamie Blamire (Leicester), George Kloska (Bristol); Ben Bamber (Sale), Joe Batley (Bristol); Ethan Roots (Exeter, capt), Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins).

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