Wallace converted but England survived by the skin of their teeth at times before Shane Geraghty landed his sde's only score of the second half with a last minute penalty.

The Northampton Saints out-half scored an opening half try and in the 72nd minute got a vital ankle tap on the flying Fionn Carr as he raced for the Saxons line.

Ireland 'A' : G Duffy; F Carr, F McFadden (I Humphreys 68 min), K Matthews (D Cave 54 min), I Dowling; P Wallace, P Stringer (I Boss 62 min); M Horan, R Best ( Fogarty ht), T Buckley (M Ross 62 min); M O'Driscoll capt (R Caldwell ht), D Toner; S Jennings, S O'Brien, J Muldoon (C Henry 55 min).

England Saxons: A Goode (Saracens); D Strettle (Harlequins, D Waldouck (Wasps), B Barritt, N Cato (both Saracens); S Geraghty (Northampton), B Youngs (Leicester); N Wood (Gloucester), D Paice (London Irish), P Doran-Jones; D Attwood (both Gloucester), G Skivington (Wasps, capt); T Wood (Worcester), A Saull (Saracens), P Dowson (Northampton). Reps: T Mercey (Saracens), R Webber (Wasps), G Parling (Leicester), L Narraway (Gloucester), M Young (Newcastle), J Clarke (Northampton), M Benjamin (Worcester).