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| Venue: Twickenham Date: Saturday, 9 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMT |
| Coverage: Listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live (first half also on Sports Extra) & Radio Ulster; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app; watch on ITV1. |
A bonus-point win over England would see Ireland retain their title and set up the chance to seal successive Six Nations Grand Slams for the first time.
A victory would also help the Irish become the first side to win 12 matches in a row in this championship.
They are understandably big favourites to beat an England side still smarting after their heavy defeat by Scotland.
After they began with two victories, the Red Rose will be desperate to stop another campaign grinding to a halt.
Should they lose against Ireland and away to France they would finish on two wins for a fourth successive Six Nations, a damaging backwards step after coming third at the World Cup.
In the aftermath of the Scotland loss, coach Steve Borthwick has been criticised by pundits for being too reliant on data after their attack again failed to fire.
No such problems for Andy Farrell’s free-scoring Ireland, who are just two wins away from becoming the only side to record back-to-back Grand Slams in the Six Nations era.
Team news
England: Head coach Steve Borthwick has made three changes to his starting XV, headlined by Immanuel Feyi-Waboso being given his first Test start in place of Elliot Daly, who drops to the bench. Scrum-half Danny Care is set to win his 100th cap as a replacement with the fit-again Alex Mitchell given his starting berth.
Lock George Martin comes in for Ethan Roots, with Ollie Chessum switching to blind-side flanker and Alex Dombrandt replacing Martin on the bench. George Ford keeps his place at fly-half ahead of the returning Marcus Smith, who is named among the replacements.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan returns at full-back after a knee injury in the only change from the starting XV against Wales.
As a result, Ciaran Frawley moves to the bench with Stuart McCloskey dropping out of the squad altogether.
Second row Iain Henderson has recovered from a toe problem to take James Ryan’s place among the replacements after he was ruled out of their last two matches with a bicep injury.
Prop Oli Jager is not fit enough to make the squad so Finlay Bealham comes in. Centre Garry Ringrose is not included in the matchday 23 despite returning to fitness.
Commentator’s notes
Andrew Cotter: Despite recent form there is a feeling that England might be able to cause Ireland some problems, but to do so they at least have to match the power of the visitors – hence the selection of Martin at lock with Chessum moving to blindside.
A direct, simple game plan orchestrated by Ford may well be the best chance for a home win.
Ireland, though, have such clarity in their style of play and their execution. They also have continuity of selection.
Twickenham will hope that England at least rattle the visitors, but odds are heavily on another Irish victory on their way to the championship.
View from both camps
England head coach Steve Borthwick on Danny Care potentially winning 100 caps: “Danny has been a tremendous servant to English rugby and reaching this milestone is an incredible achievement. He’s a wonderful player and someone who always puts the team first.
“I’m sure Saturday will be an emotional and memorable day for Danny and his family, and the team couldn’t be prouder of his accomplishment.”
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell on England: “I look at the individuals the way that they’re playing, the coaching staff that they got, the plan that they’ve got, a fantastic side that is going to be preparing to give it everything they’ve got at the weekend.
“That makes them unbelievably dangerous, we just prepare for them to be at their best and if that’s the case it’s going to be one hell of a battle.
“If they’re at their best, you expect them to be as hard as anyone in world rugby to beat.”
Line-ups
England: 15-Furbank, 14-Feyi-Waboso, 13-Slade, 12-Lawrence, 11-Freeman; 10-Ford, 9-Care; 1-Genge, 2- George (capt), 3-Cole, 4-Itoje, 5-Martin, 6-Chessum, 7-Underhill, 8-Earl.
Replacements: 16-Dan, 17-Marler, 18-Stuart, 19-Dombrandt, 20-Cunningham-South, 21-Care, 22-Smith, 23-Daly.
Ireland: 15-Keenan, 14-Nash, 13-Henshaw, 12-Aki, 11-Lowe, 10- Crowley, 9-Gibson-Park; 1-Porter, 2-Sheehan, 3-Furlong, 4-McCarthy, 5-Beirne, 6-O’Mahony (capt), 7-Van der Flier, 8-Doris.
Replacements: 16-Kelleher, 17-Healy, 18-Bealham, 19-Henderson, 20-Baird, 21-Conan, 22-Murray, 23-McCloskey.
Match facts
Head-to-head
- Ireland are the only side to have won over half of their Six Nations games versus England, with a record of 14 victories in 24 matches.
- The Irish are aiming to win five consecutive Tests against England for the first time since 1972-76.
England
- England need to win one of their last two games to avoid finishing a fourth successive Six Nations with only two victories from five matches.
- They have been behind at half-time in each of their last five Six Nations fixtures for the first time.
- Danny Care could become the sixth man to win 100 England caps after Jason Leonard, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Dan Cole and Courtney Lawes.
- Ben Earl has made more carries than any other player so far (42).
Ireland
- Since the start of the 2022 tournament they have conceded just 13 tries in 13 Six Nations matches.
- Ireland (95%) and England (92%) are the only teams with a line-out success rate above 85% so far.
- Dan Sheehan’s four tries is the joint most by a forward in a single edition of this championship (level with Imanol Harinordoquy in 2004).
Match officials
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Touch judges: Andrea Piardi (Italy) & Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
