| Venue: Twickenham Dates: Saturday, 12 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMT |
| Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live; textual content commentary on BBC Sport web site and app. |
Sam Simmonds will start at number eight for England in Saturday’s must-win recreation in opposition to Ireland at Twickenham.
The Exeter ahead takes Alex Dombrandt’s beginning spot, with the Harlequins again row having just lately returned from Covid-19 isolation.
Joe Launchbury replaces Nick Isiekwe on the bench and is ready to make his first England look since December 2020.
Joe Marchant is at 13 and can associate Henry Slade within the midfield, whereas Harry Randall once more begins at 9.
With Luke Cowan-Dickie injured, Jamie George begins at hooker and Jamie Blamire – who has 5 England caps – is on the bench.
Tom Curry is included at flanker having accomplished return-to-play protocols following a concussion sustained in victory in opposition to Wales, and captain Courtney Lawes completes the again row.
Launchbury brings 69 caps-worth of expertise to the aspect, having missed most of 2021 due to a leg fracture and knee ligament injury.
England: Steward; Malins, Marchant, Slade, Nowell; Smith, Randall; Genge, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Ewels, Lawes (capt), Curry, Simmonds.
Replacements: Blamire, Marler, Stuart, Launchbury, Dombrandt, Youngs, Ford, Daly.
Both England and Ireland want victory to maintain alive their hopes of difficult Grand Slam-chasing France for the title.
Captain Johnny Sexton has been restored to an experienced Ireland line-up, with full-back Hugo Keenan, wing Andrew Conway and centre Bundee Aki additionally included.
England head coach Eddie Jones says he sees the match “as a semi-final” provided that, if England win, they’ll play for the title in France on the final weekend.
“Ireland are essentially the most cohesive aspect on the planet proper now and it will likely be an excellent check this weekend,” Jones mentioned.
“We are trying ahead to going after them in entrance of a fantastic house crowd at Twickenham. It’s been particular having 82,000 supporters again in for our Six Nations video games and it will likely be a fantastic Test match for them.”
Simmonds ‘highly effective’ and ‘extra direct’
Jones advised BBC Sport that Dombrandt, who impressed in England’s opening three video games, had missed too many essential coaching classes to be picked within the beginning line-up.
The head coach added Simmonds would provide a “rather more direct” choice, however admitted England could be lacking the bond constructed between Dombrandt and fly-half Marcus Smith at their membership Harlequins.
“Sam is a strong ball provider and an aggressive defender,” Jones mentioned.
“The means Ireland assault, he shall be essential round that 10 space.”
In the midfield, Jones mentioned Marchant would provide “extra direct carrying” than Daly, whereas he additionally celebrated Launchbury’s return within the pack.
“We’re actually happy with Joe Launchbury’s progress,” Jones mentioned.
“In specific along with his work across the maul, I do not assume there’s a greater participant within the UK than him. He provides us a selected benefit in that space.”
