Ireland have won eight of their last 10 away matches in the Men’s Six Nations though one of those defeats came on their most recent trip to Allianz Stadium.

They also lost their last away game in the Championship but have not suffered back-to-back road defeats in the tournament since 2019-21.

England are on a nine-match home winning run, their best sequence since 2015-18 a streak that was ended by Ireland.

At the set-piece England remain perfect on their own scrum feed (8/8) and have even claimed four against the head. Ireland’s strength has been at the breakdown with a joint-high 13 turnovers, including seven jackals.

Ben Earl leads the carry count after two rounds, while Stuart McCloskey has assisted 60 per cent of Ireland’s tries so far.

England’s clash with Ireland could hinge on a handful of decisive contributions and few players embody that better than Henry Arundell.

The winger leads this year’s Championship try charts with four, underlining his sharp finishing and game-breaking speed. Yet his campaign has also featured a costly red card in the Calcutta Cup.

Ireland arrive with their own form man in midfield. Stuart McCloskey, now 33, is enjoying a late-career surge at Test level and has emerged as one of the tournament’s most effective creators with three try assists.

But beyond the headline acts, the battle up front may prove decisive. Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan has been flawless at the lineout so far, marginally outpacing England’s reliable Luke Cowan-Dickie. In a contest where territory and possession will be fiercely contested that precision could make all the difference.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)

Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (Fra) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)

Television Match Official: Matteo Liperini (Ita)

Foul Play Review Officer: Mike Adamson (Sco)

There were plenty of friendships forged between Lions Irish and English last summer with the two nations providing so much of Andy Farrell’s squad. Ellis Genge and Finlay Bealham, who could lock horns later, have even started a podcast together.

An area of particular interest today might be in the back five of the pack. Nine of the 10 starters on show toured Australia, with the exception being Caelan Doris – who may well have led the Lions if not for injury. This could be very tasty indeed.

A first start for Henry Pollock comes with plenty of anticipation here at Twickenham, with plenty of headbands among his legion of young fans around the ground. Earlier this week, Steve Borthwick recalled his first memories of a teenage talent with a real steeliness who feels ready for this opportunity:

The return of Tadhg Furlong to the Irish starting side comes with the visitors in need of improvement after some frailties were shown up in striking fashion by Italy. England have been going well in that area, though:

Jack Crowley starts at fly half for Ireland with Sam Prendergast left out of the matchday squad entirely after a difficult day against Italy. Experienced figures Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier and Jamison Gibson-Park all return to the starting side, while Garry Ringrose is fit to feature despite an injury scare last week and resumes his midfield partnership with Stuart McCloskey.

Somewhat surprisingly, there are just five forwards on the bench with no place for last week’s debutant Edwin Edogbo or Cormac Izuchukwu, impressive on the flank. Ciaran Frawley provides fly half, centre and full-back cover with Tommy O’Brien a wing option among the replacements.

There is a late change, too – Cian Prendergast steps in for an ill Jack Conan

Ireland XV: 1 Jeremy Loughman, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong; 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan; 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (capt.); 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Jack Crowley; 11 James Lowe, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 13 Garry Ringrose, 14 Robert Baloucoune; 15 Jamie Osborne.

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Tom O’Toole, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Nick Timoney, 20 Cian Prendergast; 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Tommy O’Brien.

Henry Pollock will make his first Test start for England as part of a reshuffled back row that also includes Tom Curry, similarly promoted from the bench. With Pollock at No 8, Ben Earl slides across the openside, while there is a positional switch in the backline, too: Tommy Freeman moves out to the wing and Ollie Lawrence is brought into midfield.

Captain Maro Itoje will win his 100th cap for his country, becoming the ninth Englishman to reach the mark. Jack van Poortvliet and Marcus Smith provide backline cover on a six/two bench.

England XV: 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Joe Heyes; 4 Maro Itoje (capt.), 5 Ollie Chessum; 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Henry Pollock; 9 Alex Mitchell, 10 George Ford; 11 Henry Arundell, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Tommy Freeman; 15 Freddie Steward.

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Sam Underhill; 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Marcus Smith.

Need a reminder of all the Six Nations action so far and the fixtures to come in this campaign? We’ve got you covered.

Freeman started all three Tests in the 2-1 series victory over Australia that concluded on August 2 – alongside Maro Itoje and Tom Curry one of only three Englishman to do so – and still felt the effects when the new season began.

While physically he was recharged by the mandatory five-week rest period that followed the tour, Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson and head coach Sam Vesty spotted that his “mental state wasn’t in the best spot”.

A reduction in training and matches enabled the 24-year-old to negotiate the early part of 2025-26 and he went on to take part in England’s autumn campaign until he was affected by a hamstring niggle.