England A 28 Ireland A 12
England’s next generation of rugby talent took centre stage at Ashton Gate, showcasing their potential in a promising performance against Ireland in an A fixture that highlighted the depth of the national side’s future.
With a blend of youthful exuberance, plus a sprinkling of those used to the full Test arena, Lee Blackett’s side seized their opportunity, delivering a 28-12 victory that underlined their readiness for the next level.
Ollie Hassell-Collins, Jack van Portvliet, Greg Fisilau provided the key highlights, alongside a late penalty try, against an Irish outfit who, hindered by a number of in-match injuries, never really caused too much of an issue.
The visitors started brightly enough, props Jack Aungier and Tom O’Toole, both adjudged to have been held up on the line, before Blackett’s side broke the deadlock on 13 minutes.
Northampton hooker Curtis Langdon caused the initial damage, powering his way to within inches of the line, after which the ball was worked out across the back division to Hassell-Collins, who raced over in the left corner for the score converted by Charlie Atkinson.
English cheers proved short-lived, however, as back roared the visitors, cutting the deficit when Shayne Bolton was able to round off a sustained spell of pressure with a simple finish off a pass from Evan O’Connell.
That would be the main highlight for the Irish who, despite plenty of hustle and bustle, struggled to contain England’s expansive style, which was rewarded with a second score from skipper van Portvliet, who sniped clear of the cover inside his own half for a wonderful individual score.
Sadly, the second half delivered little in terms of added entertainment as conditions worsened by the minute. England were held up twice over the line, while George Hendy had an effort chalked off, before Fisilau added a brilliant third.
Ireland refused to go quietly grabbing a late consolation from centre Hugh Gavin, but their misery was compounded in the final minute when captain Max Deegan was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on that was doubly punished with a penalty try.
Match details
Scoring sequence: Hassell-Collins try (5-0), Atkinson con (7-0), Bolton try (7-5), van Portvliet try (12-5), Atkinson con (14-5), Fisilau try (19-5), Shillcock con (21-5), Gavin try (21-10), Doak con (21-12), Penalty try (28-12)
England A: J Carpenter; T Elliott (G Hendy 49), M Ojomoh, W Butt, O Hassell-Collins; C Atkinson (J Shillcock 59), J van Poortvliet (c, W Porter 67); P Brantingham (T Haffar 49), C Langdon (G Oghre 49), G Kloska (L Green 49); H Tizard (R Capstick 58), T Lockett; T Pearson, J Kenningham, A Barbeary (G Fisilau 26-38, 58).
Ireland A: S Daly (H Byrne 21, F Gunne 26); T O’Brien, J Postlethwaite, H Gavin, S Bolton; C Frawley (B Gleeson 55), N Doak; T O’Toole (P McCarthy 55), D Barron (S Smyth 6), J Aungier (O Jager 45); E O’Connell (C O’Tighearnaigh 45), D Murray; M Deegan (c), A Kendellen, S Jansen (A Soroka 69).
Yellow card: Deegan.
Referee: B Breakspear (WRU).
Attendance: 9,500.
02:51 PM GMT
Full time
There is the final whistle and England have beaten Ireland 28-12 at a wet and soggy Ashton Gate.
02:50 PM GMT
PENALTY TRY!
England are awarded a penalty try. Deegan deliberately knocked on the pass from Kenningham looking for Hassell-Collins, so he is sent to the bin and a penalty try is given as England would have scored had the pass not been deliberately knocked on.
02:50 PM GMT
79 mins: England A 21 Ireland A 12
England think they have scored again but the try is disallowed. Carpenter’s final pass to Hassell-Collins went forward but Ireland are in trouble here. Before that forward pass, Kenningham’s pass trying to find Hassell-Collins is knocked on and we could be looking at a penalty try...
02:46 PM GMT
TRY! Gavin keeps Ireland in the game
It looked like it was game over when Fisilau scored but maybe not quite yet. Ireland are just inches away from the England line and it is the inside centre Gavin who powers over from short range. Doak gets the conversion and the England lead is down to nine points with just over three minutes left.
02:45 PM GMT
75 mins: England A 21 Ireland A 5
Ireland have a five-metre line-out and they are now inches away...
02:43 PM GMT
TRY! Fisilau scores great solo effort
England finally have their third try! They are in possession on the Ireland 10-metre line and Fisilau spots a gap from the base of the ruck. He runs through that gap, goes round O’Brien and goes over for the try. The Exeter number eight showed great athleticism there. The conversion is landed and England lead 21-5.
02:42 PM GMT
72 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
You guessed it, another England chance wasted. They keep picking and going and end up getting held up over the line. Why are England in that position not getting the ball out into the hands of the backs? The conditions are not easy but when the defence is narrow you earn the right to go wide.
02:40 PM GMT
70 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
England are inches from the Ireland line...
02:38 PM GMT
69 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
The TMO has stepped in to give England a penalty as McCarthy did not wrap in a tackle on Shillcock as the England replacement put a kick ahead, gifting England a penalty inside the Ireland half.
England kick towards the corner but the line-out is stolen. Another opportunity spurned by England in this second half.
02:36 PM GMT
68 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
Porter is on for van Poortvliet at scrum-half for England. England win a scrum penalty on the Ireland feed and kick downfield.
It’s been a slugfest of a second half in which neither side have really clicked into gear. England replacement George Hendy had the majority of the crowd on their feet, waking them from their slumber, but his kick-and-chase score is chalked off for an earlier knock on.
We go back for a scrum and, guess what?
It’s a mess and yet another penalty
02:35 PM GMT
67 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
England think they have their try of the match but will it stand? Ireland have possession inside the England half and the ball goes to ground. Hendy streaks away after the loose ball before kicking the ball ahead a few times. He dots the ball down and England celebrate but those celebrations do not last long as a quick TMO check confirms a knock-on from Butt in the build-up, which led to the ball going to ground before Hendy kicked ahead.
02:33 PM GMT
66 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
Ireland’s line-out lets them down and England steal possession before clearing their lines.
02:32 PM GMT
65 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
After they win a penalty inside their own half as England are caught sealing off, Ireland kick towards the England 22. The line-out is messy but they maintain possession. They are then awarded a penalty just outside the England 22 which they try to take quickly but are stopped from doing so, which is probably a good thing for the visitors.
Ireland kick to the corner.
02:27 PM GMT
61 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
Ireland have a scrum not far outside the England 22 but a great defensive set from the hosts ends up with a scrum for England in pretty much the same position Ireland had the scrum a minute or so before.
02:25 PM GMT
59 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
Shillcock is now on for Atkinson for the home side.
02:24 PM GMT
58 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
England are awarded a penalty on the edge of the Ireland 22 for playing the nine and they have yet another shot inside the Ireland 22. England take it quickly but a few phases later they knock on. How many chances do England want to waste?
Double change for England as Fisilau and Capstick have replaced Barbeary and Tizard.
02:20 PM GMT
55 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
England get closer and closer to the Ireland line but the Irish defence steps up under pressure again, stealing possession and then clearing their lines. England will be annoyed at themselves that they have wasted so many chances in this second half.
Another blow for Ireland as fly-half Frawley is going off for an HIA. More disruption for the visitors, with Gleeson replacing him.
02:19 PM GMT
53 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
It is probably accurate to describe the weather as thoroughly miserable in Bristol at the moment, with the rain hammering down. England win another scrum penalty and you can sense referee Ben Breakspear is growing more and more frustrated.
England will have a line-out in the Irish 22.
02:17 PM GMT
52 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
Another wasted opportunity for England as Gavin wins Ireland a penalty at the breakdown inside his own 22. England have spent a lot of this second half so far inside the Irish 22 but have yet to come away with anything in the first 12 minutes after half time.
02:15 PM GMT
50 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
England have a scrum just inside the Ireland half and the new front-row, only just onto the field, wins the hosts a penalty, which causes a bit of a scuffle. England can now kick into the Ireland 22.
02:14 PM GMT
49 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
England are changing their entire front-row as well as Elliott on the wing. Oghre, Haffar, Green and Hendy all on.
02:12 PM GMT
48 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
England knock on just a few metres from the Irish line and they waste a great chance deep inside the Ireland 22.
02:11 PM GMT
47 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
England are held up over the line but we go back for another penalty. England go quickly again.
02:11 PM GMT
46 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
This time England are awarded the scrum penalty and Barbeary takes it quickly. England are not far from the Irish line as they are awarded a penalty for a high tackle. Langdon is going to take the tap and go.
Referee Ben Breakspear is getting increasingly frustrated with the actions of both front-rows. England’s Phil Brantingham and Ireland’s Oli Jager are the men clearly in his sights.
The scrums started poorly, got better as the first half progressed, but have started in much the same way as the outset. Warnings have been delivered from the Welshman that things need to improve.
02:09 PM GMT
45 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
Ireland have a line-out just inside their own 22 but the throw is not straight as England threw two men up so the hosts have a scrum inside the Ireland 22.
Ireland have made a double change as Jager replaces Aungier and O’Connell is replaced by O’Tighearnaigh.
02:06 PM GMT
43 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
Ireland are awarded the penalty at the scrum as Brantingham concedes another penalty at scrum-time, which gifts Ireland an easy escape.
02:05 PM GMT
42 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
This is going to be a great attacking chance for England right at the start of this second half. Ireland do not deal with a van Poortvliet box-kick and then Barbeary hacks ahead. Gavin cannot gather properly just before his own line and the ball goes dead so England will have a scrum five metres out from the Irish line.
02:03 PM GMT
Second half
We are back under way at Ashton Gate.
02:00 PM GMT
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01:54 PM GMT
Van Poortvliet’s solo try
01:49 PM GMT
Half time
Ireland knock on and that will bring the first half to an end. At the break England lead 14-5 courtesy of tries from Hassell-Collins and van Poortvliet.
01:43 PM GMT
37 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
Ireland have good momentum into the England half but Kenningham does brilliantly at the breakdown, winning England a penalty which allows them to kick towards the Ireland 22.
Barbeary has passed his HIA and is back on. England have possession just outside the Ireland 22 but the visitors are awarded a scrum after stealing possession and then the ball is unplayable.
01:40 PM GMT
34 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
England think they might have their third try of the match but it will not count. They work it down the left touchline and Langdon tries an audacious offload in-field to Hassell-Collins, who ends up scoring, but the pass clearly went forward so the try is chalked off. It looked like England knew it was forward but they played to the whistle in case it had not. A good effort from Langdon but ultimately to no avail.
News from the Ireland camp and Byrne, who had not long been on as a replacement, will no return after failing his HIA.
01:37 PM GMT
32 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
England make good progress into the Ireland 22 but at the crucial moment they knock on as Fisilau and van Poortvliet both go for the ball and it ends up on the floor.
01:34 PM GMT
29 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
England have possession once again inside the Ireland 22 but the move is stopped as Kloska has the ball ripped from his possession and Ireland clear.
01:32 PM GMT
27 mins: England A 14 Ireland A 5
There has been plenty of disruption in terms of injuries so far and we have more to update you on. Barbeary has gone off for England, replaced by Fisilau and Byrne, who had only just come on for Ireland, has already gone off to be replaced by Gunne. Both of those are HIA’s so we might see them again.
Ireland have already lost three players inside the first 30 minutes, the latest being Harry Byrne to a HIA.
Watching Bristol Bears Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, will have real concerns as his options at playmaker are already limited with AJ McGinty and Max Malins sidelined, so the sight of the on-loan Leinster man going off will certainly be a concern.
01:31 PM GMT
TRY! Van Poortvliet scores stunning solo try
England get their second and it is individual brilliance from the England A captain. He picks up from the base of the ruck inside his own half, dummies and spots the gap, which he sprints through. He shows great pace to go around Frawley and not even the tackle from Bolton can stop the Leicester scrum-half from dotting down. Atkinson lands the conversion and England lead 14-5.
01:28 PM GMT
24 mins: England A 7 Ireland A 5
England steal possession at the line-out and can clear their lines. England gave Ireland a let-off a few minutes ago and now it is vice-versa.
Just watching replays on the big screen of a rampaging Alfie Barbeary bulldozing his way through the Ireland midfield.
In these parts Ellis Genge is known as the ‘Baby Rhino’, such is his destructive ball-carrying prowess, perhaps Barbeary should get a nickname of his own.
Certainly, Ireland’s Hugh Gavin will testify just how forceful that latest carry was.
01:28 PM GMT
23 mins: England A 7 Ireland A 5
Moments ago, England had a line-out on the Ireland five-metre line. Now England concede a penalty at the breakdown inside their own half and Ireland will have the chance to kick into the England 22.
01:24 PM GMT
20 mins: England A 7 Ireland A 5
A sublime offload from tighthead prop Kloska on halfway sends Hassell-Collins through a gap and it looks like he might go all the way but he is brought down inside the Ireland 22. England are then awarded a penalty at the breakdown and Ireland are slightly fortunate not to see a yellow card there as that wasa rather cynical offence. A terrific offload from Kloska, especially considering he is a tighthead prop.
Ireland are being forced into a second injury change in this first half as full-back Daly is being helped off and he is in some pain. Byrne is going to replace the Munster man, so Frawley will move to full-back to allow Byrne to slot in at fly-half.
England go to the corner but Langdon’s throw is not straight. Big let-off for Ireland.
01:21 PM GMT
TRY! Bolton responds for the visitors
This time England cannot stop Ireland. England do a good job initially to repel the Ireland maul but the visitors then move the ball out to the left, where flanker Deegan throws a long pass out to Bolton to score in the left corner. England were appealing for a forward pass but the TMO is happy with Deegan’s pass. Frawley cannot land the conversion so England’s lead is down to two points.
01:19 PM GMT
16 mins: England A 7 Ireland A 0
England are penalised for playing the nine and Ireland have another chance to kick into the corner.
01:18 PM GMT
15 mins: England A 7 Ireland A 0
England steal the Ireland line-out but the visitors win a penalty at the subsequent breakdown and kick towards the corner.
01:15 PM GMT
TRY! Hassell-Collins gives England A lead after sublime Atkinson offload
They can! After a few phases with the forwards, England shift it into the hands of the backs and a sublime tip-on pass from Atkinson onto Elliott results in a try on the left for Hassell-Collins. Atkinson, after his superb offloads, nails the conversion and England lead 7-0.
01:15 PM GMT
12 mins: England A 0 Ireland A 0
England work it well down the blindside just inside the Ireland half and have made great progress into the Ireland 22. On this occasion can they take advantage of a a visit into the Ireland 22....
01:13 PM GMT
11 mins: England A 0 Ireland A 0
England disrupt the Ireland line-out on the visitors’ 22 and then drag the visitors into touch to win themselves a line-out in a great attacking position.
England shift it out to the right but Elliott is tackled brilliantly before Ireland win the turnover at the breakdown. The steal was not particularly legal from the Ireland winger O’Brien as there is no way he kept his feet when getting over the ball.
Irish coaches to my right are questioning a couple of the calls from Welsh referee Ben Breakspear.
Not only did they think loosehead prop Tom O’Toole crossed for an early try, but they screamed ‘forward pass’ just seconds ago as England looked to attack.
On both occasions, it looked like their appeals were valid calls
01:09 PM GMT
8 mins: England A 0 Ireland A 0
England have their first proper period of possession and they have it inside the Ireland 22, making good progress until Ireland win a penalty at a crucial moment at the breakdown 10 metres out from the Ireland line.
01:07 PM GMT
6 mins: England A 0 Ireland A 0
Ireland are being forced into an early change as their hooker Barron is having to go off, with Smyth coming on for him.
01:04 PM GMT
4 mins: England A 0 Ireland A 0
Ireland are held up over the line but we go back for a penalty to the visitors, which they will take quickly.
On a few occasions Ireland come so close but they are held up. Great defensive set by England there.
01:03 PM GMT
3 mins: England A 0 Ireland A 0
Brantingham is adjudged to have brought the scrum down and Ireland win the penalty. Looked like the right call to penalise England’s loosehead prop, who went straight to ground. Ireland kick to the corner...
01:02 PM GMT
1 min: England A 0 Ireland A 0
Ireland A gets us going with the kick-off but they regain possession straight from the kick-off. They go through a few phases outside the England 22 but Doak knocks on at the base of the ruck. First scrum of the match incoming.
01:00 PM GMT
Kick-off
We are under way at Ashton Gate.
12:57 PM GMT
Tough conditions
Wet and wild here in Bristol with a strong wind blowing around Ashton Gate. Interesting to see what today’s game brings with lots of rising stars littered across both sides, many of whom will ultimately be hoping to step onto the big stage in the full Test arena in the future.
12:56 PM GMT
Reminder of the teams
England:
15. Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks), 14. Tobias Elliott (Saracens), 13. Max Ojomoh (Bath), 12. Will Butt (Bath), 11. Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps), 10. Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), 9. Jack van Poortvliet (captain) (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps), 1. Phil Brantingham (Saracens), 2. Curtis Langdon (vice-captain) (Northampton Saints, 2 caps), 3. George Kloska (Bristol Bears), 4. Hugh Tizard (Saracens), 5. Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints), 6. Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints, 1 cap), 7. Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), 8. Alfie Barbeary (Bath)
Replacements:
16. Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears), 17. Tarek Haffar (Northampton Saints), 18. Luke Green (Northampton Saints), 19. Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs), 20. Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs), 21. Will Porter (Harlequins), 22. Jamie Shillcock (Leicester Tigers), 23. George Hendy (Northampton Saints).
Ireland:
15. Shane Daly (Munster, 2 caps), 14. Tommy O’Brien (Leinster), 13. Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), 12. Hugh Gavin (Connacht), 11. Shayne Bolton (Connacht), 10. Ciaran Frawley (Leinster, 8 caps), 9. Nathan Doak (Ulster), 1. Tom O’Toole (Ulster, 16 caps), 2. Diarmuid Barron (Munster), 3. Jack Aungier (Connacht), 4. Evan O’Connell (Munster), 5. Darragh Murray (Connacht), 6. Max Deegan (Leinster, captain, 2 caps), 7. Alex Kendellen (Munster), 8. Sean Jansen (Connacht).
Replacements:
16. Stephen Smyth (Leinster), 17. Paddy McCarthy (Leinster), 18. Oli Jager (Munster, 1 cap), 19. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (Leinster), 20. Alex Soroka (Leinster), 21. Fintan Gunne (Leinster), 22. Harry Byrne (Leinster, 4 caps), 23. Brian Gleeson (Munster).
12:54 PM GMT
Wins for the senior sides
Both England and Ireland were victorious in the Six Nations yesterday. Back-to-back champions Ireland were given a scare in Cardiff yesterday but eventually overcame Wales 18-27 to maintain their 100% start. England then ended Scotland’s four-game winning run in the Calcutta Cup, narrowly winning 16-15 at Allianz Stadium.
12:47 PM GMT
Ireland A gearing up
12:42 PM GMT
England A in the house
12:37 PM GMT
Ireland A team
15. Shane Daly (Munster, 2 caps)
14. Tommy O’Brien (Leinster)
13. Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster)
12. Hugh Gavin (Connacht)
11. Shayne Bolton (Connacht)
10. Ciaran Frawley (Leinster, 8 caps)
9. Nathan Doak (Ulster)
1. Tom O’Toole (Ulster, 16 caps)
2. Diarmuid Barron (Munster)
3. Jack Aungier (Connacht)
4. Evan O’Connell (Munster)
5. Darragh Murray (Connacht)
6. Max Deegan (Leinster, captain, 2 caps)
7. Alex Kendellen (Munster)
8. Sean Jansen (Connacht)
Replacements
16. Stephen Smyth (Leinster)
17. Paddy McCarthy (Leinster)
18. Oli Jager (Munster, 1 cap)
19. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (Leinster)
20. Alex Soroka (Leinster)
21. Fintan Gunne (Leinster)
22. Harry Byrne (Leinster, 4 caps)
23. Brian Gleeson (Munster)
12:33 PM GMT
England A team
15. Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks)
14. Tobias Elliott (Saracens)
13. Max Ojomoh (Bath)
12. Will Butt (Bath)
11. Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
10. Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (captain) (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps)
1. Phil Brantingham (Saracens)
2. Curtis Langdon (vice-captain) (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
3. George Kloska (Bristol Bears)
4. Hugh Tizard (Saracens)
5. Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints)
6. Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
7. Jack Kenningham (Harlequins)
8. Alfie Barbeary (Bath)
Replacements
16. Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears)
17. Tarek Haffar (Northampton Saints)
18. Luke Green (Northampton Saints)
19. Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs)
20. Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
21. Will Porter (Harlequins)
22. Jamie Shillcock (Leicester Tigers)
23. George Hendy (Northampton Saints)
12:29 PM GMT
Match preview
Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of England A’s encounter with Ireland A from Ashton Gate. England’s senior side lost in Dublin in round one of the 2025 Six Nations so the A side will be seeking revenge in Bristol today. With a British and Irish Lions tour in Australia to come this summer, this is a great opportunity for players on both sides to stake claims for summer tours with England and Ireland. England will travel to Argentina in July whilst Ireland will tour Georgia and Romania.
16-cap England international Jack van Poortvliet will captain the England A side, which also features capped internationals Ollie Hassell-Collins, Tom Pearson and Curtis Langdon. Bath attack coach Lee Blackett has been chosen as the head coach for England A this week and has waxed lyrical about the experience of working with these players this week.
“Players and staff from across the RFU and Premiership Rugby have embraced the challenge of working with three training days and implementing the brand of rugby we want to play. It has been a pleasure to work with this talented and varied group this week. It is the kind of test you savour as a coach.
“Nine of the squad involved against Australia A have since been involved in England senior camps, with four of them going on to achieve further caps. The opportunity in front of players this Sunday is clear.
“It will be great to take the Men’s A side to another big rugby city in Bristol following on from Leicester and London in 2024, and we are all excited for a strong, physical test against Ireland A this weekend.”
England A were last in action back in November, when they beat Australia A 38-17 at the Twickenham Stoop. Cadan Murley, Joe Heyes and Tom Willis all started that day and have featured for England during the ongoing Six Nations. Heyes and Murley were both on the scoresheet that day as were Curtis Langdon, Greg Fisilau and Will Muir.
Meanwhile Ireland A have named six capped internationals for this afternoon’s game, including Leinster Ciaran Frawley and Harry Byrne as well as Ulster’s Tom O’Toole.Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast has been handed the reins this week as Ireland A head coach and is excited ahead of today’s match.
“There has been a good edge to training this week and I have been really impressed by the application of the squad since meeting up on Monday. It is an exciting challenge merging players from all four provinces for a one-off game and we know that we are facing a real test against an England side who have a lot of Premiership experience in their ranks.
“Every time you get to pull on the green jersey it is a special moment and there are some players who have experience of being involved in the senior international set-up before. With a summer tour to Georgia and Portugal coming up, Sunday presents another chance to impress. The players are primed and ready to go.”
Kick-off from Ashton Gate is at 1pm.
