Ireland will feel much better after enjoying a period of possession at the start of the half. Plenty of phases and a brief moment of quick hands from Devin Toner. Simon Zebo loses patience and tries to kick through, but it's in English hands.

Meanwhile, Geoff Parling is off and Joe Launchbury is on in the second row for England.

Image source, Reuters

Former Ireland captain Keith Wood on BBC Radio 5 live: "It took Ireland 30 minutes to wake up. At half-time, the scoreboard wrongly said 22-3, but it felt like that could have been the score. I think Ireland got away with it in the first half."

Johnny Sexton gets us under way. Ireland should have kept possession but knock on.

Paddy: "England looking good...but so would any team playing this awful Irish team. Ireland are an aged, flat, mistake-stricken team. Back to the wooden spoon days on the horizon."

Former Ireland captain Keith Wood on BBC Radio 5 live:  "I'm a bit of an old grump at the best of times. I don't expect everything to be slick, but I do expect a level of intensity. The intensity on the defensive line is central to everything Ireland do. They weren't quick enough off the line, and it exposes a lot of other flaws in their game.

"What concerns me is that Ireland will then focus on working on those flaws. I don't want them to work on those flaws, I want them to work on their speed off the line."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's Richard Williams in Cardiff: "Much quieter in Cardiff than a normal match day. But there are still two hours for the patriotic charity collectors to fill their buckets before the match kicks off at the Millennium Stadium. Oh, and before anybody asks, the roof will be closed."

You can watch the game by the way on BBC Two Wales - or right here at the top of this text commentary from 1655 BST.

Right. It seems a load of you are on your holibobs somewhere wonderful. I'm not jealous at all of course. And in fact I'm delighted you're tuning in with us. Feel free to  keep your poolside pics coming.

Matt Dawson
Former England Scrum Half on BBC Radio 5 live

"I thought England were a little bit lucky with that last move of the first half. Anthony Watson came out of his line, and had the pass gone in front of Dave Kearney, he may well have scored."

Tom Court, ex-Ireland prop on BBC Radio Ulster:

"There’s a lot of tired big boys out there, it’s been a fast-paced game and a lot of boys are trying to catch their breath."

Former Ireland captain Keith Wood on BBC Radio 5 live:  "I'm struck by the lack of sharpness in the Ireland side. Tommy Bowe and Jamie Heaslip are puffing a bit. They don't seem to be up to the top level of fitness - although they did have a tough match a week ago."

Image source, Reuters

Ireland give the England defence its most thorough test just before half-time.

There's a lovely quick show of hands from Peter O'Mahony, I believe, as the ball courses out to Dave Kearney. But the wing is slightly hesitant and as Ireland try to build again, Sean O'Brien knocks on.

Time for a breather.

Mike Brown is sublime and messy in one breathe there. He snaps in to take a Johnny Sexton kick, but his offload to Jonny May forces a knock-on and an Irish scrum in a good position.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Youngs - top kicking, sir. His effort to the corner is a deep as you can get. Ireland retain possession from the line-out and Simon Zebo clears his lines well.

Before that Jonny May showed why he should run more and pass less - charging 20 yards before messing up his throw to Anthony Watson.