Jones names team to face 'smart' Ireland
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England coach Eddie Jones named his 23-man squad to play Ireland in the third round of the Six Nations at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday.
In the front row Joe Marler, Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler are named – with George Kruis and Maro Itoje in partnership in the second row.
Courtney Lawes is named at blind side flank with Sam Underhill at openside and Tom Curry at No.8.
Ben Youngs starts at scrumhalf, with Willi Heinz named as a replacement.
Youngs will be making his 100th international appearance this weekend, with his 98th England cap adding to two Tests for the British and Irish Lions.
George Ford and captain Owen Farrell will play flyhalf and inside centre.
Manu Tuilagi is named at outside centre, returning to the side after missing the Scotland match through injury.
Elliot Daly is selected at fullback with Jonathan Joseph, who will win his 50th cap this weekend, and Jonny May on the wings.
Charlie Ewels is named as a replacement alongside hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, props Ellis Genge and Will Stuart and lock Joe Launchbury.
Ben Earl, who made his England debut against Scotland is also named in the matchday 23, as is Henry Slade – who returns from injury.
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“We’ve had a really good training week with Thursday probably our best session of the Six Nations,” Jones said.
“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.
“[Conor] Murray and [Jonathan] Sexton, who have played 170 Tests between them, at No.9 and No.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.”
England: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Jonny May, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Owen Farrell (captain), 11 Jonathan Joseph, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Tom Curry, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 George Kruis, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 Charlie Ewels, 21 Ben Earl, 22 Willi Heinz, 23 Henry Slade.
Date: Sunday, February 23
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 15.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
