England will be looking to bounce back a chastening, error-strewn defeat by Scotland whilst Ireland will be looking to keep themselves in the championship picture when they meet at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
Until the defeat at Murrayfield, England had gone on a 12-match winning streak but it was ended abruptly after an error-strewn display.
This is everything you need to know about the Six Nations fixture which is always a highlight of the rugby calendar.
Date and kick-off time How to watch on TV Who is the referee? Latest team news What happened last year? Odds When is England v Ireland in the Six Nations? Saturday, February 21, on the third Six Nations weekend. Kick-off is at 2.10pm.
Where is England v Ireland taking place? At the Allianz Stadium, the traditional home of English rugby, more popularly known as Twickenham.
This is England’s last home fixture in the 2026 Six Nations.
How to watch England v Ireland on TV All of the Six Nations matches are on free-to-air television in the UK, and England v Ireland will be shown on ITV1. Expect adverts on your screen while players prepare for scrums.
Who is the referee? Andrea Piardi
The name of Andrea Piardi will not have meant much to rugby fans two seasons ago but the Italian has grown into one of rugby’s most trusted officials. Piardi had an excellent match as England defeated New Zealand at Twickenham last November while he received plaudits for the way in which he handled the decisive second Test of last summer’s British and Irish Lions tour in Australia.
What is the latest team news? England Henry Pollock will make his first start for England after coach Steve ​Borthwick named a ‌team showing three changes from the lineup beaten by Scotland.
The dynamic 21-year-old Northampton forward has seven caps from the bench and will start at No 8, with Tom Curry coming in at blindside flanker. Ben Earl moves to openside in a highly mobile back row.
Ollie Lawrence starts at outside centre with Tommy Freeman moving to the right wing in place of Tom Roebuck. Henry Arundell keeps his place on the left wing after being cleared to play following his red card in the 31-20 Murrayfield defeat that ended England’s 12-game winning run.
Scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet and fly-half/full-back Marcus Smith are named among the ‌replacements on a ‌6-2 split bench.
Starting XV: Steward; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Pollock
Replacements: George, Rodd, Davison, Coles, Pepper, Underhill, Van Poortvliet, M Smith
Ireland Sam Prendergast has been left out of Ireland’s matchday squad, with Jack Crowley named at fly-half.
Prendergast struggled during last weekend’s unconvincing 20-13 win over Italy, including missing two straightforward conversions, before being replaced by Crowley.
Crowley impressed from the bench against the Azzurri, albeit he missed touch with a late penalty as Andy Farrell’s side failed to claim a bonus point.
Ciaran Frawley, who has not featured at international level since last summer’s 106-7 win over Portugal, will provide back-up for the No 10 role. Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park is recalled to partner Crowley at Twickenham in the only other alteration to Ireland’s backline.
In three changes to the forward pack, Tadhg Furlong replaces Thomas Clarkson at tighthead prop, while Tadhg Beirne and Josh van der Flier come in for Cormac Izuchukwu and Jack Conan in the back row. Captain Caelan Doris reverts to No 8, with Beirne selected at blindside flanker and Van der Flier at openside.
Starting XV: Osborne; Baloucoune, Ringrose, McCloskey, Lowe; Crowley, Gibson-Park; Loughman, Sheehan, Furlong, Ryan, McCarthy, Beirne, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).
Replacements: Kelleher, O’Toole, Bealham, Conan, Timoney, Casey, Frawley, O’Brien
When did England and Ireland last win the Six Nations? England last won the tournament in 2020. England last won the Triple Crown in 2020.
Ireland’s last Grand Slam was in 2023. They won the Triple Crown last year.
What was the score last year? Ireland dominated in Dublin last year, winning 27-22. Defeat meant England had won only two of their previous nine games.
What are the latest odds? To win the Six Nations:
France 2/9 England 6/1 Scotland 20/1 Ireland 40/1 Italy 100/1 Wales 500/1
