There is a new look to the Ireland midfield and back row as debutants Stuart McCloskey and Josh van der Flier come in for Saturday’s big RBS 6 Nations clash with England at Twickenham.
2016 RBS 6 NATIONS: Saturday, February 27
ENGLAND (1st) v IRELAND (4th), Twickenham, 4.50pm (live RTÉ Two/ITV/RTÉ Radio 1/IRFU Live Blog)
Team News: Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has named the matchday squad that will take on England in the RBS 6 Nations on Saturday. There are three uncapped players included for the trip to Twickenham.
There are five changes in personnel to the side that lost 10-9 away to France last time out, with Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey and Josh van der Flier from Leinster set for their Ireland debuts in the centre and back row respectively.
There is a third international newcomer on the bench in the form of Connacht youngster Ultan Dillane (22) as Ireland aim for their first win of the 2016 Championship in London.
Hooker Rory Best leads the team and is joined in the front row by Jack McGrath and fit-again tighthead Mike Ross, who was last involved in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash with Argentina.
With Mike McCarthy sidelined through concussion, Munster’s Donnacha Ryan comes in to partner Devin Toner in the second row. It will be the Tipperary man’s first Six Nations start since the 2013 tournament.
The aforementioned van der Flier (22) will take the reins from his injured provincial colleague Sean O’Brien at openside flanker, and CJ Stander and Jamie Heaslip complete the back row combination.
The starting half-backs are Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton once again, with Robbie Henshaw – a try scorer in this equivalent fixture last year – shifting to outside centre and 23-year-old new cap McCloskey filling the number 12 jersey. Jared Payne is nursing a hamstring injury.
Keith Earls is back to full fitness and joins Andrew Trimble and Rob Kearney in the back-three, while Cian Healy and Simon Zebo are two other notable inclusions on the bench. The Leinster prop has recovered from the minor knee operation he had last month.
Meanwhile, young lock Maro Itoje will make his first start for England after being named in the team to face reigning champions Ireland in London.
England head coach Eddie Jones has made two changes to his starting line-up for the RBS 6 Nations game, with Saracens clubman Itoje replacing Courtney Lawes and loosehead prop Joe Marler being preferred to Mako Vunipola. Lawes is named as a replacement having coming into the squad for injured Wasps forward Joe Launchbury.
“Joe Launchbury is unlucky to miss out through injury; Maro Itoje is selected as result and we’re pleased for him,” said Australian Jones.
“Joe Marler made a big impact off the bench in Rome and will start the game with Mako Vunipola finishing the match.”
Wasps centre Elliot Daly is also named among the replacements and is in line for his debut with Jones reverting back to a 5-3 split on the bench.
“Elliot Daly has worked hard this week and is now ready for a place in the 23. He can provide cover in several positions in the back line,” he added.
Scrum half Ben Youngs keeps his place ahead of Danny Care and England will be led by hooker Dylan Hartley with Marler and Dan Cole completing the front row.
England have won their opening two fixtures in the tournament and Jones is expecting a stern test from the back-to-back champions.
“Playing our first game at Twickenham after two away fixtures will be huge for us. We’re determined to put in a strong performance against a clever Irish side who are the benchmark of European rugby.”
Chris Robshaw, James Haskell and Billy Vunipola again form the back row, while George Ford and Owen Farrell continue their partnership at out-half and inside centre respectively.
ENGLAND: Mike Brown (Harlequins); Anthony Watson (Bath), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs); George Ford (Bath), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints) (capt), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), James Haskell (Wasps), Billy Vunipola (Saracens).
Replacements: Jamie George (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Paul Hill (Northampton Saints), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Jack Clifford (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Alex Goode (Saracens).
IRELAND: Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster); Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht), Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster); Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster); Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (capt), Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster).
Replacements: Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Nathan White (Connacht), Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht), Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster), Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster).
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant Referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Television Match Official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): England to win: 2/7; Draw: 25/1; Ireland to win: 7/2
Pre-Match Quotes: Joe Schmidt (Ireland) – “I think it would be huge, any time you get a win at Twickenham. Before France we had one training (session) really and we made a number of changes. And then we had to make a change at the 20-minute mark and at the 30-minute mark.
“I just think our continuity into the game is much better. Much as we have made changes and there are some personnel not available, we are really excited about going.
“There would be a touch of euphoria if we got the result because you have a little bit of breathing space before you have to get back up for Italy and Scotland at the end of it with that week to rebuild yourself.
“Luke (Marshall) has been robust and had a really good season, but Stu (McCloskey) spent last week training at 12 with us and we felt he might be a little bit more comfortable in there.
“He has some important elements in his game which we want to get the most out of and it’s a great opportunity for him to express himself.
“It’s also a responsibility to make sure that we are as watertight as we can be in what will be a tough area to defend. The bottom line is we have confidence in Stu and Robbie (Henshaw) in there.
“We are all excited by something new. Josh (van der Flier) has an opportunity to go and really capture that seven jersey in what will be a really tough test for him.
“This is a step up that they haven’t been to before and you never know how quick it’s going to be, how physical it’s going to be. That’s always a challenge for players coming in for the first time and these guys have been rewarded with the opportunity.”
Rory Best (Ireland) – “There is a bit of a buzz around the new caps, it’s a great thing and for the more experienced players it’s about us helping them through to a certain extent. Experiencing Test rugby is one thing, but there is no better feeling in the game than winning in Test rugby.
“To play against Josh is a real handful, he is very combative, carrying the ball but also in the tackle. You can tell with these players, when Conor Murray first came into the Ireland squad you could just tell there was something about him, and it’s the same with Josh.
“There’s just something about him that you know he is going to be a quality player. I think to have trained with, he’s just a player that’s very easy to train with because you know that if you ask him to do something, he’ll do it.
“Whenever we talk about getting our detail right, you know he’s going to be one of the guys that very, very rarely makes a mistake. For somebody that young, it’s a great trait to have and I think?,? for me personally?,? I’m really looking forward to playing alongside him (on Saturday).”
Pre-Match Links –
Advice For Supporters Travelling To Twickenham
Head-To-Head: Ireland v England
Ireland v England: Facts & Figures
Irish Rugby TV: Rory Best On His Advice For The New Caps
Recent Meetings –
2013: RBS 6 Nations: Ireland 6 England 12, Aviva Stadium
2014: RBS 6 Nations: England 13 Ireland 10, Twickenham
2015: RBS 6 Nations: Ireland 19 England 9, Aviva Stadium; Rugby World Cup Warm-Up: England 21 Ireland 13, Twickenham
Support Ireland on www.irishrugby.ie/facebook or search #ShouldertoShoulder or #ENGvIRE on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
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