Ireland beat England 32-18 on the final day of the Six Nations

England finished this year’s Six Nations with a humbling defeat to Ireland, closing out a tournament played in the shadow of coronavirus and marked by an absence of fans.  

Ireland ran riot in Dublin tonight and beat Eddie Jones’s visitors 32-18, despite having only 13 men on the pitch at the end of the game, courtesy of a red and yellow card.

It means England, who were defending champions, will finish the competition in a sobering fifth place after conceding a record amount of points. 

Ahead of kick-off at the Aviva Stadium just before 5pm, several England players took the knee in support of the Rugby Against Racism campaign.

All Ireland players remained standing. The gesture had divided players and teams across the sport, with some distancing themselves because of its association with the Black Lives Matter political movement.

Ahead of kick-off at the Aviva Stadium just before 5pm, several England players took the knee in support of the Rugby Against Racism campaign

Ireland ran riot in Dublin tonight and beat Eddie Jones’s visitors 32-18, despite having only 13 men on the pitch at the end of the game, courtesy of a red and yellow card (Ben Youngs pictured)

At the Aviva this evening Ireland edged ahead courtesy of a superb opportunistic score from Keith Earls, who crashed over the whitewash after breaking through the defensive line

First place was out of reach for both sides because undefeated Wales have racked up too many points – and hope to clinch a Grand Slam victory against France tonight.

Only a thumping defeat for the Welsh would take the tournament into another week when France play Scotland in a rescheduled match.

Today was meant to be the tournament’s finale but the France v Scotland fixture was postponed earlier in the competition because of a Covid outbreak.

As has been the case throughout this year’s tournament, the teams played in an empty stadium as spectators remain banned.

Profession sport has been permitted to continue but fans will not return to stadiums until May 17 at the earliest when 10,000 people or 25 percent of total seated capacity, whichever is lower, will be allowed.

Tonight was veteran Irish back row CJ Stander’s last Six Nations match before retirement and was visibly emotional at the end of the match. 

It means England, who were defending champions, will finish the competition in a sobering fifth place after conceding a record amount of points

Ireland players line up for the national anthems before the Guinness Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium

Ireland’s Jacob Stockdale is tackled by England’s Ben Youngs (right) during the Guinness Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin

The team in green took first blood courtesy of a superb opportunistic score from Keith Earls, who crashed over the whitewash after breaking through the defensive line.

Jack Conan outjumped Tom Curry to knock down Rob Herring’s line-out throw, allowing Earls to burst forward and sidestep Jonny May before crossing wide on the right.

Sexton added the conversion but England skipper Farrell quickly kicked a penalty to become only the third player to reach 500 Six Nations points – after Ronan O’Gara and Jonny Wilkinson.

Conan later got himself on the score sheet after scoring Ireland’s second try. Bundee Aki was sent off with a red card for a  dangerous high tackle in 64th minute.

England quickly took advantage of their extra man, with Ben Youngs clinching a quick try. A last-gasp try by Jonny May was little consolation for the men in white. 

Earlier Scotland crushed lowly Italy in a 52-10 rout in Edinburgh. Italy have lost all five of their matches for a total of 239 conceded and ending in a disappointing performance with three yellow cards.

Conan later got himself on the score sheet after scoring Ireland’s second try. Bundee Aki was sent off with a red card for a dangerous high tackle in 64th minute