Cadan Murley will make his England debut against Ireland in this weekend’s Six Nations opener, while both Curry twins have been named in the back row.

Harlequins star Murley has been picked on the left wing by head coach Steve Borthwick as he faces a baptism of fire for Saturday’s trip to face defending back-to-back champions Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, with Ollie Sleightholme missing out.

It is the first time that Sale’s Curry brothers Tom and Ben have been selected in the same England starting team, with Tom at blindside flanker and Ben lining up on the openside with Ben Earl at No8.

Borthwick has been handed a timely boost with first-choice scrum-half Alex Mitchell back fit after injury forced him to miss the entire autumn series, and he resumes his half-back partnership with Marcus Smith, who has seen off competition from namesake Fin and George Ford to retain the No10 shirt.

Luke Cowan-Dickie starts at hooker for England with vice-captain Jamie George ruled out with a hamstring injury suffered playing for Saracens, joined in the front row by props Ellis Genge - vice-captain in George’s absence - and Will Stuart.

Maro Itoje begins his captaincy in the second row with George having been replaced as skipper by Borthwick after only a year, partnering Leicester’s George Martin.

Freddie Steward gets the nod at full-back with George Furbank sidelined with a fractured arm sustained with Northampton in the Champions Cup last month, while Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade resume their centre partnership as Tommy Freeman lines up on the opposite wing to Murley.

Borthwick has gone with a bench split comprised of six forwards, with scrum-half Harry Randall and fly-half Fin Smith the only back cover.

Saracens’ in-form No8 Tom Willis is among the replacements as he looks to build on his solitary England cap to date, along with hooker Theo Dan, props Fin Baxter and Joe Heyes, lock Ollie Chessum and flanker Chandler Cunningham-South.

Along with George and Furbank, England - who have been preparing for the Six Nations with a training camp in Girona - are also without the likes of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Jack van Poortvliet, Alex Dombrandt and Alex Coles against Ireland due to injury.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge of facing the tournament favourites,” said Borthwick.

"We know it’ll be a tough contest against a team that’s very familiar with each other. We’ll need to work tirelessly and maintain our discipline from the first whistle to the last.

“England versus Ireland in Dublin is a huge occasion, and we’ll be ready to face it head-on.”