By RugbyFan
February 19 2020
England take on Ireland this weekend at Twickenham, their first match in this year's Championship at home. Ireland are looking for a win as they are unbeaten and chasing the Triple Crown Trophy. England however, are chasing the Chamionship and lots of points.
Guinness Six Nations Championship 2020
England v Ireland
Twickenham Stadium - Sunday, 23 February - 15:00 GMT - Live on ITV1
England, will be without prop Mako Vunipola after he returned to Tonga for family reasons. We wish him and his family well!
Centre Jonathan Joseph is on the wing for his 50th cap as Eddie Jones changes the backline. Elliot Daly moves to full-back as George Furbank is injured. Centre Manu Tuilagi is back after recovering from a groin problem. Joe Marler replaces Mako , with Ben Youngs returning at scrum-half and Courtney Lawes starting on the flank.
Jones said: “We’ve had a really good training week with Thursday probably our best session of the Guinness Six Nations.
“Ireland are a very good team, extremely well-coached. They are a team we respect a lot. They will bring their usual physicality and under Andy Farrell they’ve opened up their game a little bit.
“They are a tactically smart team. Murray and Sexton, who have played 170 Tests between them, at nine and 10 will manage the game well. We’ve got to make sure we match their physicality and their emotion on the weekend.
“We trained at Twickenham Stadium in front of 10,000 fans last Friday and we can’t wait to get back out there in front of 80,000 people on Sunday.” |
Ireland are unchanged to face England, the only change is on the bench as Leinster forward Caelan Doris returns to the squad after being ruled out of the win over Wales.
England: Daly; May, Tuilagi, Farrell (capt), Joseph; Ford, Youngs; Marler, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Kruis, Lawes, Underhill, Curry.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Stuart, Launchbury, Ewels, Earl, Heinz, Slade.
Ireland: Larmour; Conway, Henshaw, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Herring, Furlong, Henderson, Ryan, O'Mahony, van der Flier, Stander.
Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Porter, Toner, Doris, Cooney, Byrne, Earls.
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