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Billy Stickland / @ Inpho / Photosport
Ireland’s midfielder Bundee Aki in action against England. He was later given a red card for a dangerous tackle in Ireland’s 32-18 win in Dublin.
A red card to New Zealander Bundee Aki did not stop Ireland from inflicting a resounding victory over England in Dublin.
Aki was sent off in the 64th minute for hitting England number 8 Billy Vunipola on the head in a strong tackle on Saturday (Sunday New Zealand time).
But the understaffed Ireland, who also lost running back Connor Murray to a yellow card in the 76th minute, held firm for a well-deserved 32-18 win.
Match officials ruled that there were no mitigating factors in the Aki incident, and the Ireland midfielder was found to have touched Vunipola’s head with his shoulder, an automatic red card infraction under World Rugby rules.
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Niall Carson / Pool via AP
Jack Conan of Ireland stretches to score a try.
Ireland built up a 20-point lead at halftime after two attempts and some pinpoint kicks from captain Johnny Sexton.
Veteran winger Keith Earls, 33, scored Ireland’s first try in a lineout win for eighth Jack Conan.
Niall Carson / POool via AP
Irish winger Keith Earls smashes through to score the first try in a win over England in Dublin.
The ball was passed to Earls, who deflected England marker Jonny May to score in the 24th minute.
Ireland were the most enterprising team in the first period and were rewarded in the 38th minute when Conan stretched out a long arm after a ruck to score points.
Conan’s try came after 23 fast phases with momentum gained after fullback Hugo Keenan jumped high to secure a kick.
Jacob Stockdale, retired by Kiwi wing James Lowe, put Ireland on the front foot with a blunt dart before Conan crashed in the next phase.
England only had two penalties from Owen Farrell to show in their first 40 minutes of work. The England captain surpassed 500 points in the Six Nations championship.
Sexton’s third penalty, early in the second half, gave Ireland a 23-6 lead after Earls had a second try disallowed after television replays saw an Irish knock-on in the run-up.
Niall Carson / Pool via AP
Keith Earls of Ireland after attempting to score a try, which was disallowed by a previous knock-on.
Another penalty to Sexton pushed the lead to 20 points, forcing England to score three converted attempts for the victory.
England hit straight after Aki’s red card with a blind side attempt to running back Ben Youngs, but fullback Elliot Daly, kicking Farrell out of bounds for a concussion control, failed to make the throw-in conversion.
However, the 14-man Irish team returned to the attack and Sexton scored his fifth penalty after England was penalized for a ruck infraction.
Sexton’s sixth goal extended the lead to 21 points before England, with Ireland reduced to 13 men, scored a consolation attempt at the end of Jonny May.
Sexton scored 22 points, center Robbie Henshaw was man of the match and wing CJ Stander marked his final test for Ireland with a memorable victory over England.
TAKE A LOOK
Ireland 32 (Keith Earls, Jack Conan tries; Johnny Sexton 2 scam, 6 pens) England 18 (Ben Youngs, Jonny May tries it; Owen Farrell 2 pen; Elliot Daly scam). HT: 20-6. At Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
