5.15 Good afternoon and welcome to the coverage of England's last visit to Croke Park before Ireland are due to return to their home at Landsdowne Road. Croke Park has not been a happy venue for the English, having been roundly thumped on their previous visit here in 2007 43-13.

England are looking to continue from their improved performance against the Welsh but will be desperate to win to build some momentum. Indeed, after France's victory in last night's game against the Welsh, England have a chance to get right back in contention for this tournament, and even take the lead if they win by 11 points!

However, they are facing an Irish side full of talent and riding high who select the same side for the third successive game. Their performance last week was not as fluent as they may have hoped and they did not demonstate their full attacking potential but with the likes of O'Driscoll, Wallace, Kearney et al they may have too much for England if they manage to impose themselves on the game.

5.30 Toby Flood is in for Andy Goode as England once again make a change in the vital number 10 shirt.

There is a lively crowd in, with a large English contingent, and you can feel the expectation. Rousing anthems and a tremendous noise and reception for the Irish in particular, hopefully the game will live up to the build-up and we will be in for a cracker.

Flood to start proceedings off.

England win a penalty for an Irish infringement at the ruck and Flood puts the ball into the home 22 for the first attacking opportunity

O'Gara puts the clearance kick straight out, although he was in his own 22 the pass had come back from outside and England have another attacking lineout, which they lose as O'Connell steals. O'Gara puts the ball a long way upfield and Cueto is nobbled by Bowe, who chases well and forces him to concede a penalty. Attacking lienout now to Ireland on the English 22.

A series of drives from the Irish lack penetration, and eventually a penalty is conceded for holding on. Flood misses touch though, bad mistake that.

Scrappy and dangerous as the ball is dropped in the Irish midfield, couldn't see who that was, Flutey collects and takes the ball upfield, moves to Tindall, whose pass goes behind Sackey but fortunately not to Irish hands. Ireland clear and we engage in a sustained passage of kicking back and forth.

Lovely chip from O'Leary after O'Connell's neat ball off the top. Cueto has the pace to just beat Bowe to touch the ball down over the line.

England slow down the Irish attack until they try another chip over the top , which Ellis has to collect running back and concede the penalty as the chasers bear down on him. O'Gara has another kick from a similar position, maybe a bit shorter. Drives this one past the right upright and that's a terrible miss.

England run a couple of phases and again a hint of overlap. Sackey is sheperded towards the line and an inside pass in knocked by an Irish hand into touch. Good from the English though.

3-0 Bowe knocks on an Ellis box-kick and England run it back. Flood makes half a brak but his pass goes astray and a tap-tackle from Borthwick is required to negate the chance of the break-away. Looked like England had a great chance there but could have also gone against them. As it is, England concede the penalty trying to retrieve the ball. O'Gara makes no mistake with this one and it's theird time lucky, first points to the home side.

No joy for England running the ball so Ellis tries the little chip, easily cleaned up by O'Leary. The clearance goes straight to Sackey, who has another chance to run it, but Vickery is caught on the ball and gives the penalty. He has a few moments on the ground after that tackle.

Long raking kick from Ellis skips and rolls through the gap and into touch to put some pressure on an Irish defensive lineout. O'Connell, who has been immaculate so far, collects but drops it. England turn over, drive the ball forward in numbers and win the penalty under the posts.

Cueto slices a kick from the restart to give the Irish a handy chance to attack just before the break.

The sides are coming out. Who is going to grab hold of this game- it is there for the taking for whoever does.

Ireland keep the pressure on but dive in at the ruck to give Flood the chance to clear upfield. The kick is not long but the lineout is theirs.

Armtage collects an up-and-under but it is an unfair contest when he is enveloped by both the Irish second rows. Penalty advantage to the Irish and O'Gara has a pop at the Drop Goal which is successful, to regain the lead.

Again we're failing to break out of the midfield and after a couple of phases O'Gara kicks aimlessly and Cueto clears. Kearney tries to inject some pace by running it back and chipping, but gives the penalty away when he takes Ellis in the air. Nothing to get the crowd involved at the moment.

Again England have numbers when they run the ball. but fail to use them. Again, they are turned in they ruck, the Irish come back and this time they manage to get behind the English. Armitage makes a key tackle but the Irish recylcle and O'Driscoll chips ahead down the blindside. Armitage blocks him and concedes the penalty.

The lineout is won cleanly and they drive for the line. O'Leary is held up just short as Ireland press having the penalty advantage. They plump for the attacking lineout option again.

England under real pressure here, they have been defending their line for several minutes, and now have to do it with 14 men. White comes into the front row for Haskell and having the extra man, Ireland opt for the scrum. They will have to come away with some points here, because they have really committed themselves by not taking any kicks at goal.

O'Gara missed the kick and the chance to extend the lead. Again English discipline costing them as it is desperately difficult to defend your line with 14 men. A long way back into this for them now.

England reduce numbers at the lineout and work a fantastic move straight from the training ground. Tait, on for Sackey, cuts in from the wing onto a lovely inside pass and breaks the Irish line, but is unable to get round the rearmost defence of Kearney.

An O'leary box kick goes straight into touch, so England have a lineout. They duly win this and run it up; There is an Irish player playing the ball on completely the wrong side and England have a first kickable penalty in this half. Armitage it is to take the kick, probably due to his extra range. He puts it straight though the middle to get the English back within one score.

The chip over the top is attempted to break the deadlock, but the Irish collect and Heaslip scythes through the loose play. A tap-tackle brings him down, which is fortunate for England, otherwise they would have been struggling to scramble back.

O'Gara slots this one easily and gives the Irish that cushion back going into the last 10. England's disciplinary woes continue to undermine them.

The replacement Goode kicks for touch from the base of the scrum but it's not a great start from him as it goes straight out into touch. He is reprieved when the Irish throw is not straight.

Man of the Match has been declared already, and it is Brian O'Driscoll. He was the try scorer and in a game where there hasn't been consistent quality across the field, he really has been the one to pull Ireland towards a slightly scrappy, but ultimately vital win.

TRY Tindall runs onto an offload from Andy goode and charges down the middle. He doesn't have the pace to make it himself, but recycles the ball quickly. Goode chips through and Armitage races onto the ball to touch down.

The forwards drive the ball up and the backs take it further, however, a knock on from Cueto brings an end to proceedings.

The scoreline makes it look like a close and exciting game but in reality it was pretty turgid. The first half lacked decisive action from either side. In the second, Ireland gained the lead through the will of O'Driscoll and the failure of England to maintain the discipline or 14 men on the field for more than an hour.

Not the greatest game, but the Irish won't mind a bit and are now the only side on for the grand slam and are now clear leaders in the points table. The English players will be disappointed at how they lost this one, but I imagine at the moment, their primary emotion will be fear at having to face Jonno in the changing rooms.

Thanks for joining me, Jamie Allaway, and I hope you enjoyed our coverage and that you can be with us in a fortnight's time for the next round of games.