IRELAND TEAM TO FACE ENGLAND
Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Iain Henderson, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Robbie Henshaw.
Six Nations weekend main points
- All you need to know about Ireland v England
- Gerry Thornley on why the odds of a three-peat are stacked against Ireland
- Gordon D’Arcey on why rugby must tread carefully as another Six Nations rolls around
- Gerry Thornley’s view of Ireland’s team to face England
- Sign up to The Irish Times weekly rugby digest to stay up to date on the latest Six Nations news
And with that it’s finally time for me to say goodbye.
We’ll have plenty of Six Nations coverage throughout the tournament, including a live blog of Saturday’s game at the Aviva Stadium, so be sure to follow along.
Just two more sleeps. Until then, all the best.
And the comments we’ve all been waiting for. Simon Easterby had this to say about his decision to start Sam Prendergast at outhalf while Jack Crowley takes a seat on the bench:
“They are going to play a lot of rugby and compete for a long time, I think. This decision has gone Sam’s way. We felt like he did really well in November. He got a taste for international rugby. He went away and played really well for Leinster in a good period for them, but he was a big part of the successes across the December window and into the new year.
“We feel like he’s the right man this weekend to lead the team. He’s a lot of experience around him and even though the way Jack has trained and played coming into the Six Nations means that Sam knows he’s got to keep raising his game and keep getting better.
“Jack played really well in Northampton in the week prior to camp and he also comes in with a lot of credit in the bank, in terms of what he’s done in the last 18 months, two years. Also, in the back end of that Australia game, he came on and finished the game really strongly and saw out the game.
“So yeah, one of the tough calls but there was probably six or seven of those decisions throughout the team selection that we would have been happy to go either way with players.”
Gerry Thornley has more from Easterby here:
Here’s Gerry Thornley’s view on Ireland’s team to face England:
“The decision to start Ryan Baird is the most eye-catching of Simon Easterby’s first Ireland selection for next Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against England at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 4.45pm) and it has the interim head coach’s imprint all over it.
“Number six was, after all, predominantly Easterby’s position. In 67 internationals, he made all but one of his 58 starts at blindside flanker, including two Tests for the Lions.
“Baird’s selection is clearly influenced by his exceptional lineout skills, both to counter England’s vaunted defensive lineout and provide more of a threat to the visitors’ throw, given their choice of three loose forwards in the backrow.
“Aside from Baird’s height (6’ 6”) and athleticism, he is a skilled operator in the air who has plenty of experience of calling lineouts from his underage career.”
Read his full analysis piece below:
New Zealander Ben O’Keeffe will man the whistle for Ireland v England this time around.
Our resident refereeing mind Owen Doyle focused on all things scrummaging in his latest piece, putting out a wish that “vital, arguable scrum decisions do not influence the outcome of any match.”
“Rugby is not, and should never become, all-singing and all-dancing, at the expense of key characteristics, such as the scrum. We should implore (Dr Brett) Robinson (World Rugby’s new chair) to give the scrum back its true identity, its purpose.
“Too often it is a chaotic shambles, leaving referees with the unenviable task of deciphering what the hell is going on, doing their utmost to come up with the right answers.”
Read Doyle’s latest column below:
Back to business.
Simon Easterby’s been thrown to the wolves media. He’s been speaking at a press conference at the Aviva Stadium.
Gerry Thornley’s there and will have all the goss for us shortly.
On a completely different note, when I went in search of an image of Paul O’Connell for the below update I stumbled across this work of art. Enjoy.
Apologies to Paddy Wallace and Leo Cullen for dragging them into this, but that image couldn’t be left in the archive.
Compare that to the super-suave 2025 Six Nations launch images, which used the Colosseum as a backdrop:
We’ve lost our sense of whimsy. Bring back the berets. Give the people what they want.
I must say I got a kick out of this one from Johnny Watterson earlier in the week:
One of Munster’s proudest sons having to deny he has a pro-Leinster bias. Funny how time changes things.
Of course, what Paulie was getting at is that Ireland’s coaching set-up as a whole isn’t biased in favour of Leinster when it comes to team selection.
Ulster, with just one player set to tog on Saturday (Iain Henderson on the bench), might have a different view on the matter, as may Connacht and Munster.
Anyway, hear Paulie out..
“The 50/50s (calls in player selection) are really hard, there’s always a bit of gut on it,” said O’Connell, speaking in Portugal last week.
“A 50/50 is never decided on ‘oh, he plays with such and such a player with his province’. We’ve never had that conversation.
“We’re aware of it, that Leinster are very strong and win a lot of their games. We always talk when we’re giving a player a chance that we want to give him a chance in a good team to perform. Generally when you get a chance with Leinster at the moment you get a chance in a good team.”
The former Munster and Ireland captain continued: “We’ve never actually not selected a Leinster person because we’re worried that we’ve too many Leinster players in the squad, and we’ve never selected a player because we felt that ‘he’s playing with Leinster and he has a combination’, you know?
“We’re trying to pick the best players for the team, the best players that I suppose play the best for us and make the team feel good, prepare well and be in the best place to perform. I understand the perception but it’s never entered the conversation.”
On Ireland’s outhalf debate, Nathan Johns has been crunching some numbers.
“Do we talk about outhalves too much?” he ponders. Probably, but do go on.
Johns writes that we must cast our minds back to the great O’Gara v Sexton debate for Irish rugby’s last “family-splitting, interprovincial discussion”, and just as was the case back in 2011, “everyone has their view.”
“Can data tell us who is right? Not unequivocally. There is no cure-all stat, no single figure which says one is playing better than the other. But, we can combine a number of recent trends and make an educated guess on how Crowley and Prendergast’s recent statistical output matches what Ireland want from their outhalf.”
Read the full story below to see where the data led him:
[ Can Crowley and Prendergast share Ireland’s No 10 load with telling effect?Opens in new window ]
Despite last year’s blip, Ireland are understandly favourites going into Saturday’s game.
Simon Easterby’s side current sit second in the world rankings, behind just South Africa, while Steve Borthwick’s men are seventh.
Here’s how the last five meetings between Ireland and England have ended:
2024 Six Nations – England 23 Ireland 22
2023 World Cup warm-up – Ireland 29 England 10
2023 Six Nations – Ireland 29 England 16
2022 Six Nations – England 15 Ireland 32
2021 Six Nations – Ireland 32 England 18
Out of office:
Andy Farrell seems to be enjoying his sabbatical. He’s in Australia with the rest of the Lions coaching staff.
Wonder what he makes of Simon Easterby’s choices?
Handy little graphic from the official URC Twitter/X account:
Eleven Leinster starters, three Connacht, one Munster, no Ulster. On the bench it’s five Leinster, two Munster, one Ulster, no Connacht.
Is someone in the URC’s social team trying to sow discontent among the provinces...
We’ll have some comments from the post-team announcement press conference shortly.
While we wait on those, let’s venture to sunny Portugal, at least in spirit.
The Irish squad travelled to Quinta do Lago last week for their pre-tournament training camp. Wouldn’t it be nice.
While there, Johnny Watterson spoke to Jamison Gibson-Park, who starts at scrumhalf on Saturday.
“Talk of winning three Six Nations in a row has been tamped down. But Gibson-Park knows that a win in the first match, reversing last year’s defeat in Twickenham, would be an energy giver and momentum swing. The week spent in the Algarve at Quinta do Lago was largely geared towards getting the first match right,” Watterson writes.
“I wouldn’t say massive,” Gibson-Park told him of three-in-a-row conversations. “It’s been mentioned but we’re pretty week-to-week focused in here. It’s a cliche answer that you’re used to getting. But it’s an incredible opportunity to get after, so we’ll get stuck in.”
Take a read of the full story below:
[ Jamison Gibson-Park and Ireland sensing huge opportunityOpens in new window ]
As opening fixtures in the Six Nations go for Ireland, having England at home is right up there.
A bank holiday weekend, the rain expected to stay away – does it get much better than this?
Gordon D’Arcy took a trip down memory lane for his latest column.
“...before our Grand Slam in 2009, I remember Declan Kidney’s words ahead of that campaign. He spoke about how the recession was crippling people and that we were in a unique position to offer a little window of respite from the daily grind, that we could give our supporters something to enjoy.
“He spoke about how we had obligations to fulfil when representing Ireland, that we weren’t just playing for ourselves or each other. It was the right message at the right time for us, and a timely reminder in the midst of professionalism that we were playing for more than the money.”
Take a read of the full piece below:
So young Sam Prendergast starts at outhalf while Jack Crowley lies in wait. Don’t worry, I doubt this debate is over.
Dan Sheehan makes a welcome return to the green jersey, and Robbie Henshaw misses out as Easterby opts for a Garry Ringrose/Bundee Aki centre pairing.
How are we feeling? Fancy it as a team that can put manners on England?
Confirming Saturday’s team, Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby commented: “We’ve come off the back of a good week’s training in Quinta do Lago and I have been hugely impressed by the effort of the squad. We’ve enjoyed some competitive sessions and it wasn’t easy selecting a squad for this week’s game given the quality of those who haven’t made the final 23.
“Credit to those who missed out on selection for this game, there was obvious disappointment but they all stepped up brilliantly to help prepare the team this week.
“England are a talented squad with quality across their panel and we know that we will need to hit the ground running to deliver a winning performance.
“The atmosphere will be electric come kick off and I know how excited the Irish public will be to see their team perform. That opportunity to represent the Irish people is something that always motivates the players and there has been real intent in how they have approached this week’s training. We’re ready for the challenge and excited to get going.”
Quick as ever, Gerry Thornley has this for us:
Simon Easterby has made two changes in personnel to the Ireland starting XV in his first game as interim head coach for Saturday’s opening Guinness 2025 Six Nations match against England at the Aviva Stadium (KO 4.45pm).
Garry Ringrose returns at outside centre while Ryan Baird is chosen at blindside flanker, with Tadgh Beirne reverting to the secondrow.
Ringrose, a replacement against Australia, will renew his partnership with Bundee Aki as Robbie Henshaw, who started at outside centre against the Wallabies, is named on the bench. Beirne will partner James Ryan in the secondrow as Joe McCarthy has been ruled out.
The back three of Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan and the fit-again James Lowe are retained, as are Jamison Gibson-Park and Sam Prendergast at halfback and the frontrow trio Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Finlay Bealham.
Dan Sheehan is among the replacements and so back in an Irish match-day squad for the first time since injuring his ACL in the opening Test against South Africa in Pretoria last July. Thomas Clarkson, who won his first two caps off the bench against Argentina and Fiji last November, is back on the bench again, as is Jack Conan, who missed both the summer tour and Autumn Series due to injuries.
Conor Murray is also restored on the bench alongside Jack Crowley in a conventional 5-3 split.
Ireland’s team to face England in their Six Nations opener has landed.
Here’s Simon Easterby’s starting XV and replacements:
15 – Hugo Keenan
14 – Mack Hansen
13 – Garry Ringrose
12 – Bundee Aki
11 – James Lowe
10 – Sam Prendergast
9 – Jamison Gibson-Park
1 – Andrew Porter
2 – Rónan Kelleher
3 – Finlay Bealham
4 – James Ryan
5 – Tadhg Beirne
6 – Ryan Baird
7 – Josh van der Flier
8 – Caelan Doris (capt)
Replacements: 16 – Dan Sheehan, 17 – Cian Healy, 18 – Thomas Clarkson, 19 – Iain Henderson, 20 – Jack Conan, 21 – Conor Murray, 22 – Jack Crowley, 23 – Robbie Henshaw
We’re nearly there. Any last predictions?
We’re getting closer. We should have the team in the next half-hour all going well.
Let’s have a reminder of how last year’s tournament panned out. Here’s how the table looked when all was said and done on Super Saturday 2024.
Ireland – 20 pts
France – 15 pts
England – 14 pts
Scotland – 12 pts
Italy – 11 pts
Wales – 4 pts
Ireland opened their campaign with a big win away to France, following it up a week later with an even bigger win at home against Italy. Wales put up little fight in the third round, but then it was on to that painful defeat in Twickenham before a win against Scotland at the Aviva that was closer than many would have anticipated.
At the other end, it might be a bit over an understatement to say 2024 was an annus horribilis for Wales, five straight losses landing them with the wooden spoon.
Meanwhile, Italy made good headway. As well as their away win over Wales in the final round, the Azzurri also beat Scotland in Rome and got a shock draw against France in Lille. After years of being wooden-spoon recipients, second from the bottom likely never felt so good.
This season marks 25 years of the Six Nations.
Since the turn of the millennium Ireland have won the tournament six times – 2009, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2023 and 2024 – three of which were Grand Slams.
Over the same spell, England lead the way with seven championship wins. France and Wales both have six, while poor Scotland and Italy have none.
Ireland came agonisingly close to adding another Grand Slam last year, denied only by a one-point loss to England at Twickenham in the penultimate round.
Marcus Smith nailed a drop goal to break Irish hearts last March. He starts at 10 on Saturday.
We’re an hour out from the announcement now.
Let’s take a look at the weekend’s agenda.
The tournament gets under way on Friday night as France host Wales at the Stade de France (KO 8.15pm Irish time).
Saturday’s action kicks off with Scotland v Italy at Murrafield (KO 2.15pm) before the big one, Ireland v England at the Aviva Stadium (KO 4.45pm).
Ireland’s fixtures in the later rounds are as follows:
Round Two – v Scotland, Murayfield; Sunday, February 9th (KO 3pm)
Round Three – v Wales, Millennium Stadium; Saturday, February 22nd (KO 2.15pm)
Round Four – v France, Aviva Stadium; Saturday, March 8th (KO 2.15pm)
Round Five – v Italy, Stadio Olimpico; Saturday, March 15th (KO 2.15pm Irish time)
One of the big talking points of the day will be who is chosen at outhalf.
Jack Crowley stepped up last year following Johnny Sexton’s retirement, but now Sam Prendergast has entered the fray.
In the latest episode of The Counter Ruck, Nathan Johns and Gordon D’Arcy debated the topic as well as the wider selection questions facing Simon Easterby.
Have a listen to their chat below:
Who will start at 10 for Ireland during the Six Nations?
And what of the old foe?
England head coach Steve Borthwick named his team on Tuesday. A bit eager, but okay.
Here’s how they’re looking:
ENGLAND (v Ireland): Freddie Steward; Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Cadan Murley; Marcus Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Will Stuart; Maro Itoje (capt), George Martin; Tom Curry, Ben Curry, Ben Earl.
Replacements: Theo Dan, Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Willis, Harry Randall, Fin Smith.
England are without Jamie George, Alex Coles, Alex Dombrandt and Jack van Poortvliet.
Are we feeling brave enough to make a team prediction?
Well, Gerry Thornley has done the hard work for us.
Here’s his predicted team for Saturday:
IRELAND (possible) v England: Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); James Ryan (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Ryan Baird (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, Capt).
Replacements: Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster).
Let’s see if Simon Easterby agrees.
[ Ireland v England: Sam Prendergast set to get the nod against EnglandOpens in new window ]
Before the team announcement at midday, let’s remind ourselves of who Easterby has at his disposal.
This is the full 36-man squad named a fortnight ago:
Forwards: Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Leinster)*, Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt), Jack Aungier (Connacht), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).
Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciarán Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster).
Development players: Hugh Cooney (Leinster)*, Cathal Forde (Connacht)*, James McNabney (Ulster)*, Ben Murphy (Connacht)*.
*Uncapped players
Tadhg Furlong was initially named in the squad but following his injury Connacht’s Jack Aungier has been called up to the squad in his place.
It’s a big day for Simon Easterby, who takes charge of Ireland while Andy Farrell is off on his Lions sabbatical ahead of their tour of Australia this summer.
Easterby, a former Ireland backrow, has earned his stripes under Joe Schmidt and Farrell, so it would appear the squad is in good, and familiar, hands.
And it’s not the first time an impending Lions tour has shaken up a coaching ticket for the Six Nations.
Robert Kitson writes of a similar situation for Warren Gatland and Wales in 2013, which made for a very happy Rob Howley.
Of success under an interim head coach, Kitson writes: “History shows it can be done.” Let us hope he’s right.
Take a read of the full story below:
[ Simon Easterby: Welcome to the precarious world of the backroom bossOpens in new window ]
The feel around Irish rugby is good as we entre into this Six Nations campaign.
Ireland are reigning champions, they have two key games at home (England and France), and are largely injury-free. But is all as well as it seems?
Gerry Thornley isn’t convinced a third successive title is a done deal.
“Ireland approach this year’s Championship seeking to become the first team to win the title outright three times in a row,” he writes. “This year’s Six Nations offers this team a chance to cement its claims to being Ireland’s greatest team of all time.”
But he adds that history suggests the odds are against Ireland, forecasting a championship win for France.
Take a read of his full forecast below:
Simon Easterby will announce his starting team for the visit of England shortly before lunchtime as Ireland kick off a Six Nations campaign where they look to make history as the first side to ever win three championships in a row.
One thing we know, Ireland will be without Tadhg Furlong, who misses out due to a calf strain recurrence.
But who will get the nod at outhalf? Munster’s Jack Crowley or Leinster’s Sam Prendergast? Could Dan Sheehan’s return from injury shake things up in the frontrow? Will it be Bundee Aki or Robbie Henshaw at inside centre?
We’ll have live updates on the team announcement as well as some reaction and analysis.
Here’s some suggested reading/listening to get us started:
Six Nations weekend main points
- All you need to know about Ireland v England
- Gerry Thornley on why the odds of a three-peat are stacked against Ireland
- The Counter Ruck podcast: Who should start at 10 for Ireland on Saturday?
