England and Ireland go head to head in a huge Six Nations clash at Twickenham. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the game from 2:00am (AEDT).
This is one of the great match-ups of the Six Nations, and this looks set to be another titanic struggle between a strong, settled Ireland and an English team down on form.
Their last meeting at HQ was a Rugby World Cup warm-up match, resulting in a 57-15 thrashing by England. However, the last Six Nations match between the teams at this ground in 2018 was an Irish victory 24-15. England did get their revenge at Lansdowne Road in 2019 with a dominant display.
Paul O’Connell and Bono have joined the Irish preparation this week. There is never any shortage of motivation for the Irish in a game against England. No doubt O’Connell is telling them to take it easy. Ireland are the more settled side and are slowly building into the Six Nations with victories over Scotland and Wales.
Both matches were at home, so like the French, this is the first away game for the Irish and it doesn’t get any more challenging than England at Twickenham.
This game will be won up front, and the key indicators of the Irish pack going well will be if Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan and Peter O’Mahony get on top of their opposite numbers. Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray’s kicking game will be crucial if conditions are as predicted.
The Irish media has shown some concern during the week at the appointment of Jaco Peyper as referee. They have not enjoyed having him in charge of their matches with two losses out of three games.
Iain Henderson is a late withdrawal from the match. Devin Toner will take his place in the starting line-up and Ultan Dillane comes onto the bench.
The most surprising thing about England’s week so far is how quiet Eddie Jones has been in the build-up. He will be confident of springing an ambush on the Irish this week, but how his team transfers that energy onto the park is the question.
This is England’s first home game for a while, and they will be looking forward to feeling the familiar embrace of Twickenham.
England have a point to prove this week. Many pundits have been quick to criticise the team after the loss to France and the scrappy win over Scotland. This English team is still very good and they don’t have too many bad matches at Twickenham.
Jones will be pulling out all the stops to get the team firing this week and will look to blow Ireland away in the first quarter. Ireland can be plucky and won’t go away easily, so the English forwards will look to dominate proceedings and remind the faithful that all is well at the home of rugby.
The big change is the addition of Manu Tuilagi in the midfield. Jonathan Joseph comes into the team at wing for the injured George Furbank, which sees Elliot Daly move to fullback. Mako Vunipola is unavailable to play and is replaced by Joe Marler. Other changes see Courtney Lawes starting at blindside flanker, and Ben Youngs at starting halfback.
The weather conditions will be slightly wet and windy.
Peyper looks to reward scrum dominance. He likes a clean, crisp breakdown and relies heavily on his TMO to flag foul play, which for this match is fellow South African Marius Jonker. Romain Poite and Alexandre Ruiz are the assistant referees.
Prediction
If England turn up with some swagger, this could be a long day for the Irish. If Ireland hold on and are within reach with 20 to go, it’s anyone’s game and Sexton may win it for them.
England by seven.
Kick off: 2:00am (AEDT)
Venue: Twickenham
Coverage: Fox Sports, Telstra, Kayo
Odds: England $1.26, Ireland $3.20
England squad
15. Elliot Daly, 14. Jonny May, 13. Manu Tuilagi, 12. Owen Farrell (c), 11. Jonathan Joseph, 10. George Ford, 9. Ben Youngs, 1. Joe Marler, 2. Jamie George, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. George Kruis, 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Tom Curry. Replacements: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Ellis Genge, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Joe Launchbury, 20. Charlie Ewels, 21. Ben Earl, 22. Willi Heinz, 23. Henry Slade
Ireland squad
15. Jordan Larmour, 14. Andrew Conway, 13. Robbie Henshaw, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 10. Jonathan Sexton (c), 9. Conor Murray, 1. Cian Healy, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Devin Toner, 5. James Ryan, 6. Peter O’Mahony, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. CJ Stander. Replacements: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Dave Kilcoyne, 18. Andrew Porter, 19. Ultan Dillane, 20. Caelan Doris, 21. John Cooney, 22. Ross Byrne, 23. Keith Earls
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Think maybe they did that at half time.
Harry Jones
Expert
Excellent tactic by England, and well executed, especially by Ben Youngs. But Ireland will watch it on Monday and cringe.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Easily explained Harry. You Identify a thin backfield, earn territory through dominance and put in decent end over end kicks using fast chasers. As well worked as any try.
Harry Jones
Expert
It was an arm-wrestle, with two inexplicable bouncing ball-watching tries. Unbelievable at this level to see two tries in one test, like that. Do anything! But don’t jog, watch, get shouldered aside.
mused6
Roar Rookie
The first half set the tone for Englands domination in this game. Line speed in defence and good aggressive carries set up a powerful performance from England. They kicked well tactically and put Ireland under pressure. Ireland were poor, but England made them that way. The Irish forwards were dominated but their set piece held its own at times. They made a lot of mistakes at crucial moments and their halves didn’t play well behind a beaten pack. The second half was a grinding affair, with a bit of Irish resistance at the end. England clearly were the better team and Eddie Jones will be pleased about his sides improvement as well as denying Ireland the triple crown. Courtney Lawes named man of the match. Tuilagi was very good as well.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
But it was a pretty boring Test overall. England clearly better, one wonders were Irelands big boy pants are now? Were they just for rent or are they hidden away somewhere?
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Saffa TMO... :silly: :silly: :silly:
Harry Jones
Expert
Well done, England, staying in the 6N hunt. Well done, Ireland, for fighting in the last quarter, to rob the bonus point. Well done, refs.
mused6
Roar Rookie
FULLTIME- England 24 Ireland 12
mused6
Roar Rookie
Ireland 1 metre out- England holding strong- Ireland TRY! Porter gets the score
mused6
Roar Rookie
Ireland looking for a consolation try- clock is at fulltime- phase play from the lineout
mused6
Roar Rookie
Ireland with the ball- English defence holds firm and another turnover- Ford kicks it away and Ireland have it again inside their own half- so they kick it in turn. Ireland penalty for not releasing at the ruck- kick to the corner...
mused6
Roar Rookie
77' England scrum- Heinz clears to near halfway- great kick
mused6
Roar Rookie
Ireland form another maul off the line-out- Turnover England- good play in the forwards again- they get the scrum feed.
mused6
Roar Rookie
Irish with the ball and Cooney again looks dangerous on the left- good metres and they press the English line. Another cross kick, but it ends with Peyper going back for an earlier advantage
Harry Jones
Expert
I’d replace Irish 9-10 going forward. Cooney much better form. Good kicker too.
mused6
Roar Rookie
Ireland maul it from the lineout- they try a cross kick that goes backwards- and they press inside the English 22 eventually, after some good play from Cooney. It all ends with another turnover at the breakdown after England counter ruck and get the penalty.
Harry Jones
Expert
France is winning this match.
mused6
Roar Rookie
Kicked away by England- now Ireland with the ball. They have advantage- for offside- and will kick to the corner.
mused6
Roar Rookie
Ireland muff the lineout- not straight- so England get the scrum