Injury-hit Ireland A no match for English in Bristol

England A 28-12 Ireland A

Andy Farrell was a keen observer in Bristol as Ireland A were no match for a powerful English side at Ashton Gate.

Lee Blackett's England A led from start to finish in a deserved 28-12 win, as Ireland paid a heavy price for a poor lineout and a selection gamble that backfired.

Ireland A had gone with a 6:2 split of forwards to backs on the bench, and they were left to rue that with injuries to their two out-halves, Ciarán Frawley and his replacement Harry Byrne, both of whom departed for head injury assessments.

An attritional game took its toll on Ireland, and head coach Mike Prendergast will be left dealing with the fallout back at Munster – with Diarmuid Barron leaving for an early HIA, while Shane Daly and Oli Jager also had to depart injured.

An early Ollie Hassell-Collins try gave England a 7-0 start, but they were pegged back when the impressive Shayne Bolton crossed for Ireland.

The home side were dominating the gainline, and it eventually broke the Irish defence down when captain Jack van Poortvliet pierced a gap to extend the English lead on 27 minutes, converted by Charlie Atkinson to make it 14-5 at the break.

England dominated the second half, and while Ireland defended relentlessly in the third quarter, their resistance was finally broken when Greg Fisilau took advantage of some loose defending at the fringe of a ruck. And while Ireland did reply with a late Hugh Gavin try, England had the final say with a penalty try to close out a deserved win.

Farrell (above) was seated with the Irish senior management at Ashton Gate and there were plenty of individual performances to be impressed with. Gavin and Jude Postlethwaite kept Ireland in the game with their defensive efforts, while Jack