6 Nations
Big Calls Cause a Stir; Ireland vs England Preview
The teams have been named and there are some interesting calls on both sides as Ireland and England collide once more
It’s getting closer and closer to 16:45 on Saturday when two old foes clash at the Aviva as Ireland host England in the 6 Nations.
Both teams have been named and they have caused some debate, but will the changes pay off?
The hosts and reigning Grand Slam champions have called on their big players, however Robbie Henshaw has been selected at full-back ahead of veteran 15 Rob Kearney.
Kearney has been recovering from an injury and returned to playing duties last weekend with Leinster as they hosted the Scarlets, but made a massive mistake leading to a try and isn’t ready in Schmidt’s eyes.
Instead, his Leinster team-mate, Henshaw, usually at centre, comes in and has opened up the selection battle for the World Cup later in the year.
Elsewhere on the park, captain Rory Best starts alongside Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong in a formidable front-three.
Behind them, Leinster duo Devin Toner and James Ryan partner up once more. While Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander and Josh van der Flier make up the pack, with van der Flier being preferred to Sean O’Brien at seven.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton are the half-backs, with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose continuing their championship winning partnership in the centre.
Last year’s top try scorer and player of the tournament, Jacob Stockdale, will be looking to continue his fine form at 11, with Keith Earls on the opposite wing, and Henshaw at 15.
The bench sees Dave Kilcoyne picked over Jack McGrath, and Quinn Roux gets a seat ahead of Ultan Dillane. Elsewhere, John Cooney is in line for his championship debut, and Jordan Larmour is selected as the 23rd man.
#GuinnessSixNations
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) January 31, 2019
Here's the Ireland team to play @EnglandRugby on Saturday.#TeamOfUs #IREvENG #ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/JkUqun7IIj
If Ireland’s selection turned a few heads, England’s certainly raised some eyebrows with some debate as players battled for places.
Like Ireland, they have decided to pick a different full-back, with Elliot Daly starting ahead of Mike Brown, who, like Kearney fails to make his team’s 23.
The visitors have had a few boosts since their November series and none more so then having both Vunipola brothers at their disposal.
Mako Vunipola is joined in the front-row by Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler.
In the second-row Maro Itoje is partnered by George Kruis, who wins his place over the likes of Joe Lauchbury and Courtney Lawes.
The back-row is made up of Mark Wilson, Tom Curry, and Billy Vunipola. While Ben Youngs comes in at scrum-half alongside captain and fly-half Owen Farrell.
In the centre, Manu Tuilagi is in line for his first 6 Nations start in over five years, with Henry Slade by his side.
Jack Nowell has been rewarded for his impressive form at Exeter with a starting role at 11. Jonny May occupies the No 14 jersey, with Daly finishing the starting XV.
Their bench will have a significant role to play with the likes of Courtney Lawes, Nathan Hughes, George Ford, and Chris Ashton to call upon. Wasp’s Dan Robson is also in line for his test debut.
BREAKING | Your England team to face Ireland on Saturday in the #GuinnessSixNations
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) January 31, 2019
➡ https://t.co/OvATMGPtYw#IREvENG #CarryThemHome ? pic.twitter.com/CoiwYTZsTj
Speaking ahead of the match both coaches are confident and explained their decisions.
Ireland head coach, Joe Schmidt, has predicted an exciting match and believes the two teams will go toe to toe on Saturday.
“It will be exhilarating and edge of the seat. I don’t think there will be a huge amount between the teams. People are going to be entertained,” he said.
Schmidt will have made a few players sweat with his logic behind the Henshaw selection too, admitting this may become a permanent position for the Athlone native.
“Maybe even as a longer-term option with only 31 going to the World Cup you need guys who can be versatile. There is probably a little bit of that as well as Robbie being a good player and recognised fullback anyway,” he said.
His opposite number, Eddie Jones, has told the media that his team is ready for Ireland and claim a first win in the Aviva since 2013.
“It is well documented no one thinks we can win but I can tell you everyone inside our camp believes we can win,” he said.
He added to Schmidt’s views on how the game will plan out too, as his team look to end a three-game losing streak in the competition and thinks the final minutes will be crucial.
“Traditionally England and Ireland games are always very close, they are tough affairs, there is a lot of emotion in the games so our ability to finish the game strongly is going to be vital,” he said.
Last year, this fixture saw Ireland claim a 24-15 victory and the Grand Slam with it, but it will be a different beast this time around.
So, the teams have been named, the coaches have had their say, players have been dropped, others have been given an opportunity to impress in battle.
All that is left to do is wait and watch, as these two old foes are set to light up the Aviva on Saturday, with the winner gaining bragging rights and possibly the 6 Nations this year.
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.
Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.
Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.
Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.
A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.
The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.
25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.
Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.
Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.
Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.
The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.
Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.
Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
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