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Don’t be fooled, this defeat was more damaging than any England suffered in autumn

kieran crichard
·44-min read
Maro Itoje being upended in Dublin
Maro Itoje, the new England captain, was upended as Ireland began to assert themselves in the second half - Getty Images/Charles McQuillan

This was a defeat far more damaging than any of the last-gasp anguishes of last year for England. There were no ifs or buts or maybes about this one. Don’t be fooled by the five-point margin of victory, it was merely a consequence of Ireland starting their celebrations early, allowing late tries by Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman. The game was long gone before that.

It feels a long time since that victory over Ireland at Twickenham last year, one that breathed life into Steve Borthwick’s post-World Cup reset. Ireland’s response was ruthless and put to bed any notion that England had their number as they opened the defence of their Six Nations title in ultimately ruthless fashion, even without the guidance of Andy Farrell, who was sitting in the stands now in his role as head coach of the British and Irish Lions.

The new professional game partnership between the Rugby Football Union and the Premiership clubs was supposed to improve the conditioning of the players but they could not match Ireland’s power in the final quarter, with the sight of conditioning guru Aled Walters, this time last year in England colours, adding to the frustration. His replacement, Phil Morrow, does not start until the summer tour of Argentina. His appointment cannot come soon enough.

It was Ireland’s bench, with Jack Conan and Dan Sheehan outstanding, who also outmuscled their opponents, with England curiously staggering the introduction of their six forwards into the contest instead unleashing them at once in the South African fashion.

When the pressure came on, England lacked direction at fly-half, and the side’s senior players did not stand up. The cloud of gloom that hangs over the display was darkened by the contrast of what had been a promising first half, when Ireland were forced into the kind of mistakes that had littered their autumn campaign, with Six Nations debutant Sam Prendergast enduring several nervy moments.

England had been worthy of their five-point lead, thanks to a converted eighth-minute try by Cadan Murley and a penalty by Marcus Smith. The tone had been set in the first quarter, as England edged the breakdown, with the Curry brothers and Maro Itoje in destructive form while the visitors were able to generate speed of ball to enable Alex Mitchell and Smith to attack space and keep Ireland pinned in their own half. The midfield partnership of Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade also looked as effective as it has been.

There were moments of fortune too. Ronan Kelleher saw his try disallowed because of an infringement by Tadhg Beirne, but England defended stoutly again while Smith was in the sin-bin and on his return he immediately tested Ireland with his kicking and then put Ben Earl through a hole that culminated in him kicking his penalty.

What we didn’t know was that the energy expended in holding Ireland at an arm’s length would prove fatal in the second half. There were signs during the first half when England looked like they were hanging on.

The concession of the first-half try by Jamison Gibson-Park looked the result of heavy legs, as Ireland moved the ball wide, Mitchell was bundled over by James Lowe and Freddie Steward was exposed by the Ireland scrum-half’s step.

What was not predictable was the alarming manner in which England’s high-tempo game plan fell away after the break. Murley was increasingly exposed by Ireland’s kicking game, and it was a fumble from a high ball by Gibson-Park that invited Ireland to pound England’s defence in the opening minutes of the second half, sapping more energy from their opponents.

With a dominant line-out, Ireland were happy to kick penalties to the corner, and their scrum held firm despite the absence of Tadhg Furlong. A tactical switch which saw Prendergast move into the midfield off some phase ball eased the pressure on him and allowed him to find his wide targets with greater aplomb.

England’s philosophy to overcome their final-quarter blues of last year was to start the first 60 minutes with more gusto. Yet as they entered in the final 20 minutes, they trailed 13-10, after Bundee Aki had powered over from a long-range pass by Prendergast, who then landed a long-range penalty. Once again England faced questions of their mental resolve to deliver with the game on the line, and once again there were no answers.

Bundee Aki
Bundee Aki shrugged off England’s defence to score and level the match - Shutterstock/Billy Stickland

Once Ireland had finally got themselves in front England completely lost their shape and discipline. With England’s guard defenders out of position Gibson-Park isolated Ellis Genge before putting Lowe into a hole, with Beirne racing over and the game all but done and dusted.

Dan Sheehan made certain by finishing off the move of the match. Sheehan has made a remarkable recovery after tearing his ACL against South Africa last July, and his cameo here was a huge boon for Ireland. He started the move by putting Conan through a gap and, after finding Lowe with a long pass, then ran the support line to score the try, with the conversion by Jack Crowley taking Ireland’s second-half total to 22 points, and to that point, without reply.

The alarm for England is that this young and inexperienced side were given a template to go after Ireland with pace and intensity, and having come up short, one wonders where they can go now. And with France, fresh from their mauling of Wales, rolling into the Allianz Stadium next Saturday, England’s championship campaign could be derailed before it has got off the ground.

With the backdrop of the grass-roots rebellion against the RFU executive, the brave new world that was promised at the start of the season looks a long way off.

Match details

Ireland: H Keenan; M Hansen (R Henshaw 3-16), G Ringrose, B Aki (R Henshaw 57), J Lowe; S Prendergast (J Crowley 58), J Gibson-Park (C Murray 74); A Porter (C Healy 73), R Kelleher (D Sheehan 49), F Bealham (T Clarkson 58), J Ryan (I Henderson 61), T Beirne, R Baird (J Conan 49), J Van der Flier, C Doris

England: F Steward (F Smith 64); T Freeman, O Lawrence, H Slade, C Murley; M Smith, A Mitchell (H Randall 64); E Genge (F Baxter 70), L Cowan-Dickie (T Dan 55), W Stuart (J Heyes 37-40, 49-59, 70), M Itoje, G Martin (O Chessum 59), T Curry, B Curry (C Cunningham-South 59), B Earl (T Willis 55).

Yellow card: M Smith 24.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe.

07:10 PM GMT

Got a question for James Haskell and Mike Tindall?

Ask it here and come back on Monday lunchtime for the answer.

07:09 PM GMT

Who gets your vote?

07:07 PM GMT

Winning start for Ireland in their quest for a third straight Six Nations title

07:04 PM GMT

Matt Dawson on BBC Radio 5 Live

“That was a hard-fought contest, a very physical, very fast game. That was top-level rugby. Ireland showed with their experience, how to utilise their experience. That was a bit of a wake-up call for England today.”

07:02 PM GMT

Defeat for Steve Borthwick’s men

06:57 PM GMT

Ireland vs England player ratings: Cadan Murley wilts under Dublin lights

Which two England players did Daniel Schofield give 4/10 ratings? You can find out all the ratings right here.

06:53 PM GMT

Maro Itoje speaking post-match

06:48 PM GMT

The thoughts of Jamison Gibson-Park

06:46 PM GMT

Eddie Jones on ITV

“The second half was almost the opposite of the second. Ireland used the ball better and England fell off their line speed.

“For England to go forward they need a couple of their senior players to step up and take the younger players with them.”

06:41 PM GMT

Data insights with Sage

06:40 PM GMT

Full time

That is the final act of the match and Ireland start their quest for an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title with a 27-22 win. England do leave Dublin with a point.

06:40 PM GMT

TRY! Freeman gets England a losing bonus point

England will leave Dublin with something. Freeman escapes the tackle of Henshaw and goes over under the posts. M Smith gets the conversion.

06:38 PM GMT

80 mins: Ireland 27 England 15

England win a penalty as the clock goes into the red. England still have a chance of a losing bonus point and kick to the Ireland 22.

06:36 PM GMT

78 mins: Ireland 27 England 15

England attempt to attack from deep but lose possession and Ireland have it inside the England 22. Conan has it down the right touchline but Murley does enough to force Conan into touch.

06:34 PM GMT

TRY! T Curry keeps England’s hopes alive

Faint hopes they may be but England are still alive. Lawrence is the man who creates it, offloading brilliantly to Murley on the left touchline. He then passes inside to T Curry, who goes over untouched. The cameras pan to the stands to the Currys’ parents on the day their twin sons made history for England. The conversion is missed though and England have an uphill task with just a few minutes remaining.

06:33 PM GMT

75 mins: Ireland 27 England 10

A few more changes for Ireland as Healy and Murray are on for Porter and Gibson-Park.

06:29 PM GMT

TRY! Sheehan secures Ireland’s bonus point

That is probably game, set and match. Sheehan starts it and finishes it as he initially sends Conan through a gap and Ireland are moving forward into the England half. They shift it out to the left and Lowe gets some space down the touchline. He offloads inside to Sheehan, who cannot be stopped. The conversion is successful and Ireland now lead by 17 points. Ireland have scored 22 points in this second half, England have zero.

06:28 PM GMT

71 mins: Ireland 20 England 10

Smith, under huge pressure inside his own 22, takes a great catch to call the mark. He was perhaps a little unlucky not to be given a penalty for being taken out in the air. This game is getting away from England and I am not really sure how that has happened.

Double England change in the front-row as Baxter and Heyes replace Genge and Stuart.

06:26 PM GMT

69 mins: Ireland 20 England 10

Huge sigh of relief for England. Ireland are just a few metres out from the England line but T Curry, who has been outstanding today, wins his side a crucial penalty at the breakdown.

06:25 PM GMT

68 mins: Ireland 20 England 10

Ireland put the kick through and Murley makes a massive error for the second time in this half. He allows the ball to roll beyond the try line but, instead of dotting down and giving England a goal-line drop-out, he picks up and is then bundled into touch to give Ireland a five-metre line-out.

06:22 PM GMT

65 mins: Ireland 20 England 10

England have made a double change as Randall and F Smith are on for Mitchell and Steward, which suggests M Smith will move to full-back.

06:20 PM GMT

TRY! Beirne extends Ireland’s lead

Ireland have their third try and now have a two-score advantage. The hosts have possession just inside the England half. Gibson-Park spots England’s guard defenders are not properly in position and he isolates Genge before sending Lowe through the gap. The Ireland winger passes to Beirne to his left and he cannot be stopped. It is a simple conversion and Ireland now lead by 10 points.

England’s philosophy to overcome their final quarter blues of last year was to start the first 60 minutes with more gusto. Yet as they entered the final 20 minutes, they trailed 13-10, once again questioning their mental resolve to deliver with the game on the line. Tadhg Beirne’s try may have given us the answer.

England have emptied their bench in an attempt to reclaim the momentum. A huge challenge here: can they curb their time-honoured habit to lose all shape and discipline in the final quarter? The portents are not encouraging, with Freddie Steward’s abortive clearance one early telltale sign they are tiring. Just to confirm that impression, Chandler Cunningham-South gives away a careless penalty, James Lowe spots a giant hole in the defence, and Tadhg Beirne darts clear to send the Aviva into raptures.

06:19 PM GMT

62 mins: Ireland 13 England 10

Cunningham-South slightly mis-times the hit on Keenan just before he lands and then Lowe causes a scuffle. The tackle was mis-timed but it was only a penalty yet Lowe has escaped punishment for escalating matters.

06:15 PM GMT

60 mins: Ireland 13 England 10

Lowe makes a big error as he kicks out on the full to give England a line-out not far outside the Ireland 22.

England continue to unload their bench as Chessum and Cunningham-South come on for Martin and B Curry.

England knock the ball on though and Ireland clear downfield. The TMO surely has to step in for a high shot from Doris on T Curry but we are playing on. The replay we saw showed Doris making contact with T Curry’s head but he has got away with it.

06:13 PM GMT

59 mins: Ireland 13 England 10

Double change for the hosts. They are changing their fly-halves as Crowley replaces Prendergast. Also a substitution in the front-row as Clarkson comes on for Bealham.

06:12 PM GMT

58 mins: Ireland 13 England 10

Ireland make a change in the backs as Henshaw is on for Aki.

England have a line-out just outside the Ireland 22. Smith puts up a high kick which Ireland manage to gather after the ball went down to ground.

06:10 PM GMT

Data insights from Sage

06:09 PM GMT

56 mins: Ireland 13 England 10

England, with six forwards on the bench, have made a double change in the pack with Willis and Dan replacing Earl and Cowan-Dickie.

Ireland’s set piece pressure finally tells, culminating in Aki’s try. Since Cadan Murley’smistake in mis-fielding a high ball from Gibson-Park, Ireland have taken control. They have switched to a pick and go from close range and taken Prendergast out of first receiver for some plays, allowing him to make long passes off second or third phase. England look like they are beginning to tire and their discipline is starting to wobble, with Itoje twice giving away penalties for shoves. Borthwick has turned to his bench for fresh legs but it is critical they wrestle back momentum or this game could get away from them.

06:08 PM GMT

PENALTY IRELAND!

Prendergast missed the two conversions but makes no mistake from this penalty and he gives Ireland the lead for the first time this evening.

Sam Prendergast kicks for goal for Ireland
Ireland nudge ahead in Dublin - Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

06:07 PM GMT

55 mins: Ireland 10 England 10

Sheehan overthrows the line-out and England have it but the referee’s whistle has gone as England are penalised for making contact as Ireland lifted the jumper at the line-out. Not sure there was any contact there but Ireland have the chance to take the lead for the first time tonight as they go for the posts.

06:05 PM GMT

54 mins: Ireland 10 England 10

Smith puts a kick through into the Ireland 22 but Slade is penalised for pushing Hansen in the back.

06:03 PM GMT

TRY! Aki powers his way over in the corner

How did he score there? The ball is whipped out to the left wing by Prendergast into the hands of Aki. He smashes through the tackle of Smith, bats off Mitchell and Freeman cannot stop him from going over. Prendergast misses the touchline conversion and we are level at 10-10. England will feel with both Ireland tries that they should have prevented them with better tackling.

06:02 PM GMT

50 mins: Ireland 5 England 10

Lawrence bulldozes into Prendergast, who is knocked back a few metres and is a little unsteady to get back to his feet. That carry was brutal.

Changes for both sides. Ireland bring on Conan and Sheehan for Baird and Kelleher. England bring on Heyes to replace Stuart.

06:00 PM GMT

48 mins: Ireland 5 England 10

Ireland are just inches from the England line but the visitors steal it and are then awarded a scrum as the ball is deemed unplayable. Cowan-Dickie was the man who stole the ball at the breakdown for England.

The first refrains of ‘Swing Low’ swell among the England supporters as the defence holds firm once more. Quickly drowned out by howls of Irish derision.

05:59 PM GMT

47 mins: Ireland 5 England 10

Ireland have a penalty advantage but England do well defensively out wide, with Mitchell redeeming himself for missing the tackle on Lowe in the first half that led to Ireland’s try. Tensions boil over and a scuffle ensues. Referee Ben O’Keefe talks to both captains and expresses his sentiments towards that behaviour; he is having none of it.

Back to the penalty we go and Ireland kick to the corner.

05:56 PM GMT

46 mins: Ireland 5 England 10

Ireland have the free-kick for a pre-engage so they will take the tap.

05:55 PM GMT

45 mins: Ireland 5 England 10

Murley makes an absolute mess of a kick from Gibson-Park. He gets fingertips to it and it rolls towards the dead ball line. He just about gets away from his try line but from the next phase England are shoved back behind their own line and Ireland have the scrum five metres out. If Murley had not got fingertips to it he could have allowed it to roll dead.

05:53 PM GMT

43 mins: Ireland 5 England 10

Smith makes a little break in centre field after bouncing off Ringrose’s tackle and England are into the Ireland 22. Mitchell’s pass is then adjudged to have gone forward to Genge, which looked a harsh call.

To compound that Ireland then win a penalty at the scrum. Genge is the man penalised but Bealham was perhaps fortunate to be given that penalty rather than concede it.

05:51 PM GMT

41 mins: Ireland 5 England 10

T Curry steals the ball fantastically at the breakdown on halfway and then England win a penalty for offside. England kick to the Ireland 22.

05:49 PM GMT

Second half

We are back under way in Dublin. After his HIA, Stuart is back on.

05:46 PM GMT

Data insights from Sage

05:44 PM GMT

Your thoughts

05:43 PM GMT

Murley’s dream start on his debut

England winger Cadan Murley scoring the first try of the match
Harlequins winger Cadan Murley scored inside the first 10 minutes of his England debut - Dan Mullan/Getty Images

05:42 PM GMT

Former Ireland winger Tommy Bowe on BBC Radio 5 Live

“Marcus Smith has been really electric when he gets the ball in his hands. He looks so dangerous when he is running around on the arc.

“He is finding spaces in this Irish defence which we are not used to seeing.

“There is a real lack of accuracy from Ireland. They are making a lot of mistakes and have had a huge number of opportunities in England’s 22.

“It is not the silk Irish performance that we are used to seeing.”

05:40 PM GMT

Eddie full of praise for England

ITV’s big addition to the squad for this Six Nations is Eddie Jones and he has been praising the side he once coached for their first-half performance. He says they have really manned up.

05:37 PM GMT

Got a question for James Haskell and Mike Tindall?

Ask it here and come back on Monday lunchtime for the answer.

05:34 PM GMT

Half time

That is the final act of the first half and England lead by five at the break.

05:34 PM GMT

PENALTY ENGLAND!

Smith nails the kick from in front and extends England’s lead to five points.

05:33 PM GMT

39 mins: Ireland 5 England 7

A terrific Smith pass sends Earl through a gap and now England have it inside the Ireland 22 with a penalty advantage. Slade drops it so we go back to the penalty. We are inside the final minute of the half and, in front of the posts, England take the sensible option and are going for three.

05:31 PM GMT

38 mins: Ireland 5 England 7

England are being forced into a HIA as Stuart heads off for the assessment so Heyes is on for him.

05:29 PM GMT

37 mins: Ireland 5 England 7

England are now back to 15 men as Smith returns.

05:27 PM GMT

TRY! Gibson-Park gets Ireland on the board

England will be so disappointed with that one. Lowe shrugs off Mitchell down the left wing and then passes inside to Gibson-Park. The Ireland scrum-half steps inside Steward and goes over. Prendergast hits the left upright and misses the conversion. Mitchell should have made the tackle on Lowe and Steward could have done better to deny Gibson-Park.

05:25 PM GMT

34 mins: Ireland 0 England 7

Another good defensive shift from England and yet another Ireland visit into the England 22 brings no reward. Remember as well England are down to 14 at the moment as Keenan knocks on and England clear downfield.

05:24 PM GMT

32 mins: Ireland 0 England 7

England are offside again and Ireland have another penalty. We have our first real scuffle of the match but it blows over fairly quickly. England need to be a little bit careful that they do not get another yellow. No thought of three for the hosts as Prendergast goes to the corner.

05:22 PM GMT

30 mins: Ireland 0 England 7

After England lose a line-out on halfway, Ireland make great ground down the left after the typical Ireland loop around play into England’s 22 but they knock on as England’s scramble defence is coping so far.

A fourth visit into the England 22 for Ireland but they are yet to score a point. Two England players are down receiving some treatment as B Curry and Itoje are being tended to. Both are fine to continue.

05:20 PM GMT

29 mins: Ireland 0 England 7

Hansen has space on the right wing and makes his way towards the edge of the England 22 but T Curry steps up with a crucial penalty at the breakdown for the visitors. Superb jackaling from T Curry.

England’s defensive shift away from the blitz is working. Ireland have been limited to a handful of line breaks and England’s scramble defence has held up, even with Marcus Smith in the sin bin, with Tom Curry winning a brilliant penalty turnover. England’s game management has been superb so far.

05:17 PM GMT

26 mins: Ireland 0 England 7

Huge moment for England’s defence as they are awarded a penalty for obstruction. Ryan is the man at fault for the hosts and that is now two occasions where England were under pressure and have survived.

I sometimes wonder whether the Aviva Stadium atmosphere is everything it could be for Ireland. It has felt unusually quiet for the first half an hour, as if the crowd can hardly believe England have the temerity to be leading. Croke Park proved more Colosseum-like on the two occasions it hosted Ireland versus England in the Six Nations, with the hosts winning both times. When England succumbed there by 30 points in 2007, then coach Brian Ashton reflected: “We were blown away by the fervour of the Irish. We weren’t ready.”

05:16 PM GMT

25 mins: Ireland 0 England 7

England are going down to 14 men here. Ireland make great ground down the right wing through Baird into the England 22. They are just a few metres out from the England line and the arm is out for a penalty advantage. Smith is the guilty man and referee Ben O’Keefe shows him a yellow card for offside.

Ireland kick into the corner...

05:14 PM GMT

Data insights from Sage

05:13 PM GMT

23 mins: Ireland 0 England 7

England will be pleased with the way they have started this match. They have quietened down the home crowd and the defence, which has come in for some criticism over the last year, has so far kept out the hosts.

05:10 PM GMT

20 mins: Ireland 0 England 7

England work it well down the right and a neat offload from Lawrence sets Freeman free. He puts a littler grubber kick through but it rolls into touch inside the Ireland 22.

05:07 PM GMT

18 mins: Ireland 0 England 7

Hansen is now coming back on with what is being deemed a blood reversal. Some explaining needs to be done here. Hansen limped off after just four minutes yet is returning to the pitch. Not sure how much blood there was in the first place when he initially went off.

England then think they are about to score but the whistle is blown after a knock-on from Itoje in the tackle before England intercepted and ran through.

05:05 PM GMT

NO TRY! Ireland’s response disallowed

This try is not going to stand. At the ruck just before Kelleher scored, Beirne was holding Itoje’s leg on the ground and so the try is chalked off. England are awarded a penalty and can clear their lines.

05:03 PM GMT

TRY! Ireland hit back through Kelleher

The pressure pays off for the hosts and Ireland respond. Or will it stand? The TMO has stepped in...

05:02 PM GMT

15 mins: Ireland 0 England 7

England push Ireland back and it looks like being a great defensive set but referee Ben O’Keefe has given another penalty to Ireland. O’Keefe is having a chat with Itoje and given England a warning.

The penalty is five metres out and Ireland go for the quick tap again.

05:01 PM GMT

14 mins: Ireland 0 England 7

England are offside and Ireland have another penalty. Ireland are opting this time for a quick tap.

05:00 PM GMT

13 mins: Ireland 0 England 7

Lawrence is caught not rolling away and Ireland have the penalty on the edge of the England 22. They turn down the chance of three points and go to the corner, much to the crowd’s delight.

04:58 PM GMT

11 mins: Ireland 0 England 7

That is what you call a coach killer. A pod goes up in front of Earl to receive the kick-off but it goes over them. Earl then drops it on the edge of his 22, which gifts Ireland a scrum in a good attacking position.

England are looking superior in the kicking exchanges here and a lot of that is down to little ripple effects. They are competing hard at the breakdown and Ben Curry is pressurising Sam Prendergast, who has looked seriously shaky, at every opportunity. It was the Ireland fly-half’s long kick to Marcus Smith there that sparked the try.

Just as I type, Ben Earl spills the restart – exactly the sort of error that shifts momentum.

04:56 PM GMT

TRY! Murley scores on his debut

The Harlequins winger takes just nine minutes on debut to register his first try! Lawrence makes good ground on the initial carry towards the Ireland 22. The visitors then go down the blindside and Slade puts a cut little grubber kick through, which Murley gets on the end of and dot down in the corner. Smith lands the conversion and England have the first score of the match.

England’s game plan is working a treat so far. With Sam Prendergast kicking too long to Smith, England have struck from deep with rapier instinct, a bust by Ollie Lawrence and Slade chipping a kick through for Murley to score the opening try after just eight minutes.

Debuts scarcely come more dramatic than that of Cadan Murley, justifying his surprise call-up with supreme composure as he races on to Henry Slade’s chip through to become an England try-scorer after just 10 minutes. Marcus Smith looks in the mood here, choreographing everything for England and reproaching himself when his attempted crossfield kick to Tom Curry sails just fractionally long. He manages a fine conversion from an acute angle, too. A Harlequins symphony so far.

04:51 PM GMT

4 mins: Ireland 0 England 0

Ireland are being forced into a very early change. Hansen is limping off and is going to be replaced by Henshaw, which is going to cause a reshuffle in the Ireland backline.

04:50 PM GMT

3 mins: Ireland 0 England 0

Smith makes a terrific break through a gap on halfway and then sends a long pass out to the right wing to find Freeman, who makes his way into the Ireland 22.

Smith then attempts to find T Curry on the right wing with a crossfield kick but it is slightly overhit and goes into touch.

Impressive start by England. Their bid to get Marcus Smith into space on quick transition ball yields early dividends as he makes a break into the Ireland 22, and twice he has nudged crossfield kicks to attempt to stretch the Ireland defence.

04:48 PM GMT

1 min: Ireland 0 England 0

Marcus Smith kicks off and England win it straight back. Smith then puts a kick through to try and find Murley but it rolls into touch before he can get to it.

04:46 PM GMT

Kick-off

We are under way in Dublin for the final game of the first round of the 2025 Six Nations.

04:40 PM GMT

Anthem time

Both sides emerge from the tunnel and it is time for the national anthems in Dublin. A special moment for Maro Itoje, who leads the England senior side out as captain for the first time. “God Save The King” followed by the two Irish anthems, “Soldier’s Song” and “Ireland’s Call”.

04:36 PM GMT

Reminder of the teams

England starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Maro Itoje (c) 5 George Martin, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Curry, 8 Ben Earl.

Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Tom Willis, 22 Harry Randall, 23 Fin Smith.

Ireland starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 James Ryan, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Ryan Baird, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom Clarkson, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Connor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Robbie Henshaw.

04:34 PM GMT

The thoughts of the coaches

04:32 PM GMT

Pitch nice and firm

It’s dry here for the moment but there are dark clouds coming over the opposite stand. We had a chance to get pitch-side yesterday during the captains’ runs and the surface is immaculate – nice and firm.

Both teams are just finishing up their warm-ups, with England’s starters being given a thorough work-out by a team of replacements and those outside the match-day 23 such as Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Curtis Langdon, George Ford and Elliot Daly.

Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley were practising some steepling high kicks towards their right, which would be England’s left. That suggests to me that debutant Cadan Murley is about to get an aerial examination.

04:30 PM GMT

Marcus Smith gearing up

04:27 PM GMT

Six Nations 2025: Fixtures, squads and how to watch on TV

From the full schedule to the latest odds to all the squads, we have you covered.

04:24 PM GMT

More from Eddie on Maro

04:18 PM GMT

ITV’s special guest, Eddie Jones

04:12 PM GMT

Itoje will be an upgrade as England captain, according to referees

It is an irony of rugby union that the captain of a team, tasked with engaging officials in delicate conversations that can shape any given game, is often one of the players pushing their luck the most.

Richie McCaw, the All Blacks icon who infuriated opponents and was said to don an invisibility cloak around the breakdown, is probably the best case study. The appointment of Maro Itoje as England captain sets up another disruptor-diplomat dynamic. And many believe it could benefit the team over this Six Nations and beyond.

Head coach Steve Borthwick has insinuated that a lack of endurance was the major reason for deposing Jamie George, with the veteran hooker coming off before the hour mark in each of his past nine Tests. But negotiation skills may have been another significant factor.

Our senior rugby writer Charlie Morgan has all the details.

England captain Maro Itoje warming up ahead of the match
Maro Itoje takes the captain’s armband - Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

04:05 PM GMT

Visitors arriving

04:03 PM GMT

Luke Cowan-Dickie interview: ‘I couldn’t use a knife or fork, or wipe my a---’

The mantra that elite sport is defined by the finest of margins is not lost on Luke Cowan-Dickie. When he underwent surgery on his neck to repair a damaged nerve at the start of 2023, he was told there was up to a two per cent chance things could go wrong. And they did.

The procedure was to address a nerve issue that had deteriorated to the point where the England hooker was suffering around five “stingers” a game that would result in pain shooting down one or both arms. Sometimes he could not feel his hands.

The problem had been exacerbated when he took a blow playing for England against South Africa in November 2022. Coping with pain was not an issue for the son of a Cornish fisherman, but when he suffered a serious ankle injury during Exeter’s victory over Northampton six weeks later, the decision was taken to undergo surgery to clear up both injuries.

The surgery involved shaving off bony growth that was decompressing the nerve in one of his discs to open up more space for the nerve, but when he woke up afterwards, he could not move his right arm. “At first, they thought it was just neuropraxia and it would pass,” he says.

For more from this story, click here.

England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie throws during the warm-ups
Luke Cowan-Dickie starts at hooker for England this afternoon - Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

03:54 PM GMT

“England will not die wondering as Steve Borthwick drops grenade”

It was a move that Warren Gatland, when his Wales sides were in their pomp, would have been proud of.

Steve Borthwick may not be renowned for pre-match mind games but by bringing forward his team announcement by 48 hours, and at short notice, the England head coach, has landed the first psychological blow in the build-up to the Guinness Six Nations opener against Ireland.

The Gatland-esque grenade was lobbed from the serene setting of England’s training camp at a five-star sports facility near Girona in Spain, but the shockwave ripples will no doubt have reached Ireland’s equally plush base in the Algarve in Portugal. You can just hear Ireland’s interim head coach Simon Easterby asking: “What are England up to?”

Borthwick and Easterby had been scheduled to name their respective sides on Thursday on arrival from their warm-weather training camps, as is the norm these days. Declaring your hand as late as possible (the tournament regulation is 48 hours before kick-off at the latest) has long been the de facto approach in order not to give your opponent any forewarning.

Yet here was Borthwick going early, just as he did when England landed in Tokyo to play Japan last summer to head off any mind games from his former boss Eddie Jones. The first game of the championship is different in the sense that the squads will have assembled last week when the players are likely to have been told the line-up in order to maximise preparation time.

Our chief rugby union correspondent Gavin Mairs has his say on the bold statement of intent from Steve Borthwick.

England head coach Steve Borthwick before the match
England beat Ireland at home in the Six Nations last year - Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

03:51 PM GMT

Ben Curry: ‘I fell out of love with rugby – now I feel free on the pitch

Ben Curry’s elevation to England’s starting back row alongside twin brother Tom is just reward for both his outstanding form for Sale Sharks and for a perseverance that has frayed at times.

Go back to 2017 and it was Ben who was named by England head coach Eddie Jones in the match-day squad to face the Barbarians, only to suffer a back spasm three days before the game. Tom took his place as a replacement, came on in the first half and was duly named man of the match. “I was meant to be on the bench,” Ben told Telegraph Sport earlier this month. “I did all the training for the two weeks and we got beasted. It was trial by fire. I was 95kg wrestling Chris Robshaw who is 110-115kg. We were broken. Tom is the perfect example of taking your opportunity. His first 10 or so caps, he could easily have had a stinker and been written off.”

Instead Tom has won more than 50 England caps as well as going on a British and Irish Lions tour, while Ben, who was Gallagher Premiership player of the month for December, has largely had his nose pressed against the glass, making one start and five bench appearances over four years. His pride at his sibling’s success has been counterbalanced by a pang of jealousy.

For more from this exclusive interview with Ben Curry, click here.

03:45 PM GMT

Full team news

Twins Tom and Ben Curry start together for England for the first time. Harlequins winger Cadan Murley will make his England debut whilst Alex Mitchell is fit to start at scrum-half. Luke Cowan-Dickie starts at hooker as former captain Jamie George is out injured. Maro Itoje captains the side and head coach Steve Borthwick has opted for a six-two forwards-backs bench split.

England starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Maro Itoje (c) 5 George Martin, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Curry, 8 Ben Earl.

Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Tom Willis, 22 Harry Randall, 23 Fin Smith.

Sam Prendergast is given the nod at fly-half ahead of Jack Crowley. Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Furlong have been ruled out through injury so Tadhg Beirne switches from the back-row to the second-row and Finlay Bealham starts at tighthead prop. After a six-month injury layoff, hooker Dan Sheehan is named on the bench.

Ireland starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 James Ryan, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Ryan Baird, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom Clarkson, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Connor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Robbie Henshaw.

03:41 PM GMT

Who gets your vote?

03:36 PM GMT

Ireland v England predictions: Who wins and why

Ireland 16 England 25

Dynasties rise and fall, and there is a sense after Ireland’s flat defeat by the All Blacks last autumn that their supremacy could be approaching its natural end.

Given England confounded all expectations to defeat Ireland at Twickenham 11 months ago, courtesy of Marcus Smith’s last-gasp drop goal, they have the pedigree to repeat the feat in Dublin if their fly-half is at his exhilarating best and if their three opensides in the back row win the battle of the breakdown.

Which one of our writers has made this prediction? You can find out right here.

03:30 PM GMT

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03:25 PM GMT

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Ask it here and come back on Monday lunchtime for the answer.

03:18 PM GMT

“An England defeat to Ireland threatens to unleash a torrent of boiling rage”

We are at a precarious juncture in English rugby, where the national team’s bond with a restive public could either be repaired by this Six Nations or violently rent asunder.

While victory in Dublin would do much to advance Steve Borthwick’s ambition to send fans to work on Monday morning feeling six inches taller, defeat threatens to unleash a torrent of boiling rage.

Beneath the optimism stirred by this timeless tournament – a precious bridge from winter to spring – patience with the Rugby Football Union is all but exhausted. You see it already in the community game’s revolt against chief executive Bill Sweeney, in the horror at bumper performance bonuses for executives who have neglected to perform, in the broad consensus that the governing body is about as effective as a concrete parachute.

Another two-wins-out-of-five showing by England – a record to which they have succumbed three times in the past four years – has the potential to send the entire edifice crashing down.

For more from our chief sports writer Oliver Brown, click here.

03:14 PM GMT

The Curry twins’ incredible odyssey to starting for England – according to their family

Every family has a favourite Christmas story. Typically they involve the dog getting a hold of the turkey or a terribly performed round of charades. The festive tale they dine out on in the Curry household is slightly different.

It involves Ben and Tom Curry trying to tackle their older cousin Sam Olver over and over while their father, David, and their uncle, John, shared three bottles of red wine round a fire pit. “We try to re-enact it every year,” David Curry tells Telegraph Sport. “All the boys talk about it as ‘that Christmas’. We have all been on those socials where you go for a drink on a Thursday and it turns out to be one of the best nights of your life. It was like that.

“Sam was probably the same weight as Tom and Ben put together back then. He had to get the ball to a tree at the end of the garden. It was more British Bulldog than it was rugby.”

Ben also remembers it vividly: “It would always start nicely, two-on-ones. It was like in Australia, the run-it-straight challenge, it would just be like that. Sam was a bit bigger than us so he’d be running through us and we’d be trying to melt him for hours.”

Our deputy rugby union correspondent Daniel Schofield has the full story as the Curry twins prepare to start for the senior England side together for the first time.

Tom and Ben Curry in England training
A special day for the Curry family - Brian Lawless/PA

03:10 PM GMT

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03:04 PM GMT

England team news

03:04 PM GMT

Ireland team news

03:03 PM GMT

England and Ireland get their 2025 Six Nations campaigns going

England travel to Dublin to finish the opening weekend of the 2025 Six Nations as they take on the defending champions Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. England were the victors when these sides met during last year’s Six Nations, beating Ireland 23-22 at Twickenham in a thriller thanks to Marcus Smith’s drop goal with the clock in the red. That victory for England, who finished third overall in 2024, denied Ireland back-to-back Grand Slams.

Steve Borthwick’s side had an underwhelming Autumn Nations series campaign back in November. They lost narrowly to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa but did close out the campaign with a 59-14 victory over Japan. England head coach Borthwick is aware of the challenge facing his side in Dublin today but is excited about the test.

“We are looking forward to the challenge of facing the tournament favourites. We know it will be a tough contest against a team that is very familiar with each other. We will 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 will be ready to face it head-on.”

The Curry twins will make history today becoming the first twin brothers to start for England. They were involved in the same matchday squad in the November international against New Zealand but on that occasions Ben came off the bench to replace Tom so they were not on the pitch at the same time. England, who have won just two of their last eight Tests, are going in search of their first Six Nations title since 2020.

A view of Tom and Ben Curry's shirts inside the England dressing room
A proud day for the Curry family - Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Ireland are back-to-back Six Nations champions and are aiming to become the first side in Six Nations history to win the competition three years in succession. They won three and lost one of their four November internationals, losing at home against New Zealand before beating Argentina, Australia and Fiji. With head coach Andy Farrell switching his attention to leading the British and Irish Lions this summer, Simon Easterby is stepping up as the interim head coach and he has spoken about the selection challenges for this weekend.

“We have enjoyed some competitive [training] sessions and it was not easy selecting a squad for this week’s game given the quality of those who have not made the final 23,” said Easterby.

“Credit to those who missed out on selection for this game, there was obvious disappointment but they all stepped up brilliantly to help prepare the team this week. England are a talented squad with quality across their panel and we know that we will need to hit the ground running to deliver a winning performance.”

These sides have only met twice on the opening weekend in the Six Nations, with England winning both of those meetings in 2000 and 2019. England’s Under-20’s have already claimed victory over Ireland on Thursday night so can the senior side repeat that feat in Dublin today? Kick-off is at 4.45pm.