After a two-week sojourn, the Six Nations is back with a bang after an intriguing opening two matches for the sides. England vs Ireland is definitely a match to tune in to as Eddie Jones’ men have their first match at Twickenham in the tournament.
The game is scheduled for 3pm on Sunday afternoon and the home side already have their work cut out to lift the Six Nations title following a stuttering start to their campaign.
A gutsy win in Scotland, which we previewed here, was preceded by a damaging defeat in France as Les Bleus were rampant in the first half. A slow start in that game cost England and a repeat of that here against an excellent Ireland side would surely spell another loss.
That victory at Murrayfield two weeks ago was full of English grit in horrendous conditions. The spirit they showed that day showed that the squad are unquestionably behind Jones as they look to bounce back from that horror first game.
Ireland have certainly looked the part in their two fixtures so far. They opened up with a comfortable 19-12 win over Scotland before an even more impressive 24-14 triumph over Wales.
This, however, if their first game on the road in the Six Nations this year and is without a doubt their toughest assignment so far. Whoever wins at Twickenham on Sunday are likely to be firm favourites to lift the title so this is already a six-pointer only three games in. It should be a classic!
England vs Ireland Predictions
England’s amazing World Cup campaign is a thing of the past now. New players, such as Ellis Genge, are being moulded in the hope that they can come to the fore in the next World Cup and their young players have shown they have what it takes.
Owen Farrell still leads the team with aplomb and he is was excellent in the win at Scotland. He will be a key player on Sunday and if he has his kicking boots on, that will go a long way to sealing the deal for the home side.
They have a mightily impressive record at Twickenham but the last team to beat them at their spiritual home was the Irish, in a crucial winner-takes-all match in 2018.
After a poor World Cup campaign, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt stepped down to replaced by none other than England captain Owen Farrell’s father, Andy.
He has given the Irish a lift since their Japanese adventure and now, he will be plotting a win over the nation he also represented as a player.
However, in what should be a thrilling encounter, I think England will just have too much for Ireland so a narrow win for the home side could be on the cards.
England vs Ireland Betting Tips
England vs Ireland Head to Head
- These two sides have met 16 times since 2007, with England winning nine and Ireland seven.
- England beat Ireland in last year’s Six Nations, winning 32-20 in Dublin.
- Before their 2018 win, Ireland’s last win at Twickenham was in 2010.
England Team News
Mako Vunipola is not in England’s 33-man squad ahead of the Ireland clash for family reasons. Joe Marler, Ellis Genge and Beno Obamo are the three loosehead props named in Eddie Jones’ group.
Henry Slade and Manu Tuilagi both return from injury and they could return to the midfield. However, Slade is more of a doubt than Tuilagi having been out for two months with a fractured ankle.
Possible team: George Furbank, Jonny May, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, George Ford, Ben Youngs, Joe Marler, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry.
Ireland Team News
Will Addison has been named in Ireland’s 36-man squad to face England despite picking up a calf injury recently.
Caelan Doris returns to the back row after missing the win over Wales due to injury. Centre Garry Ringrose continues his recovery from finger surgery and is definitely absent from Sunday’s game.
Possible team: Jordan Larmour, Andrew Conway, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale, Jonny Sexton, Conor Murray, Caelan Doris, Cian Healy, Rob Herring, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, James Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier.