England Names Team for Six Nations Opener Against Ireland

England head coach Steve Borthwick has announced his team for the Six Nations opener against Ireland, featuring a mix of experienced players and newcomers.

History will be made in England's Six Nations opener against reigning champions Ireland on Saturday, as Tom Curry (26) and Ben Curry (26) become the first twin brothers to play for England. The 26-year-old twins, who both play for English Premiership club Sale, will occupy the flanker positions on either side of number eight Ben Earl. This milestone moment is a testament to the brothers' hard work and dedication to the sport.

The Curry twins will be joined in the starting lineup by Harlequins wing Cadan Murley, who will make his debut after being selected ahead of Ollie Sleightholme. Alex Mitchell has recovered from a knee injury and will start at scrum-half, with Marcus Smith at fly-half and Freddie Steward at full-back. England's head coach, Steve Borthwick, has opted for a six-two split between forwards and backs on the bench, with Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South, and Tom Willis poised to provide significant reinforcements in the second half.

Maro Itoje, who has taken over as captain from Jamie George, will lead England for the first time. Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie will make his first England start in over two years, having overcome a career-threatening nerve issue in his neck. He replaces Jamie George, who is sidelined with a hamstring strain. The Curry brothers' only previous appearance in an England matchday 23 came against New Zealand in November, although they did not share the pitch at the same time, as Ben replaced Tom in the second half.

Tom Curry, who became the youngest player to start an international for England in 90 years when he debuted against Argentina in 2017, now has 56 caps to his name. Ben, on the other hand, has won six caps, with his first coming against the United States in 2021. Ben, the older brother by 90 minutes, described the occasion as “very special.” “When you go back home and you look in your room and there is artwork that you have made at primary school and high school - there is one of me in an England shirt,” he told the BBC.

England head coach Steve Borthwick is undaunted by the challenges facing his team as they prepare to take on reigning Six Nations champions Ireland in Dublin. “Everything has led up to this moment,” Borthwick acknowledged, as he readies his squad for the tough encounter ahead.

Borthwick's preparations have been disrupted by a string of withdrawals, including Jamie George, Alex Coles, Alex Dombrandt, and Jack van Poortvliet, all of whom have been forced to drop out of the squad due to injury. Despite these setbacks, Borthwick remains focused on the task at hand, as England seek to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw them win just five of their 12 Tests.

England's recent form has been inconsistent, with five consecutive defeats and three losses in a row at Twickenham. However, they did manage to beat Ireland in last year's Six Nations, although their last victory in Dublin dates back to 2019. Undaunted by the challenge ahead, Borthwick said, “We're looking forward to the challenge of facing the tournament favourites. We know it'll be a tough contest against a team that's very familiar with each other.”

Borthwick emphasized the importance of discipline and hard work if England are to succeed in Dublin. “We'll need to work tirelessly and maintain our discipline from the first whistle to the last,” he stressed, as he urged his team to rise to the occasion and produce a strong performance against the reigning champions.

Your England team to face Ireland 👊

Steve Borthwick has named his 23-player squad for our #GuinnessM6N opener on Saturday.@O2 | #WearTheRose | #IREvENG

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) January 28, 2025

England's Starting Lineup and Replacements

England's team for their Six Nations opener against Ireland has been announced, with Freddie Steward starting at full-back and Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, and Cadan Murley forming the backline. Marcus Smith and Alex Mitchell will pair up in the half-back positions, while Ben Earl, Ben Curry, and Tom Curry will form the back row. The front row consists of Will Stuart, Luke Cowan-Dickie, and Ellis Genge, with George Martin and Maro Itoje (captain) in the second row.

Replacements:

 Theo Dan

 Fin Baxter

 Joe Heyes

 Ollie Chessum

 Chandler Cunningham-South

 Tom Willis

 Harry Randall

 Fin Smith

Coach: Steve Borthwick (ENG)