England go with tried and tested for 'semi-final'

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Eddie Jones has named his England side for their Six Nations match against Ireland on Saturday.

England will look to make it three wins in a row when they take face Ireland at Twickenham Stadium.

Courtney Lawes will continue to captain the side at the blindside flank. Vice-captain Tom Curry, who has completed his return to play protocols, will join at open-side flank and Sam Simmonds will be No.8.

Props Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler join hooker Jamie George in the front row. Locks Maro Itoje and Charlie Ewels complete the tight five.

Harry Randall is at scrumhalf and Marcus Smith is flyhalf while vice-captain Henry Slade (outside) and Joe Marchant (inside) are at centre.

Jack Nowell is at left wing, Max Malins is at right wing, while Freddie Steward is full back.

Alex Dombrandt has rejoined the squad following a period of isolation due to a positive COVID test and is named as finisher, alongside Joe Launchbury who is in line to make his first international appearance since England’s win over France in the Nations Cup final in December 2020.

Jamie Blamire, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Ben Youngs, George Ford and Elliot Daly make up the finishers.

Jones said: “We’ve been looking at this game as a semi-final. Ireland are the most cohesive side in the world right now and it will be a good test this weekend.

“We’ve prepared really well for this game. We did some good team togetherness work in Bristol and had a solid week of training on the pitch here.

“We are looking forward to going after them in front of a great home crowd at Twickenham. It’s been special having 82 000 supporters back in for our Six Nations games and it will be a great Test match for them.”

England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Max Malins, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Jack Nowell, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Courtney Lawes (Captain), 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 Alex Dombrandt, 21 Ben Youngs 22 George Ford, 23 Elliot Daly.

Date: Saturday, March 12
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 16.45 (16.45 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)