England Six Nations team announcement LIVE: Henry Pollock and Henry Arundell to start against Ireland
1.
Recap: England team headlines published at 16:58 GMT
England v Ireland (Sat, 14:10 GMT)
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Thank you for joining us and for all of your contributions. We have covered a lot of ground and so here are the top lines from England's team announcement:
- Henry Pollock will make his first Test start, while British and Irish Lion Tom Curry also comes into the starting team.
- Centre Ollie Lawrence returns after missing out on selection for Saturday's defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield.
- Henry Arundell retains his place on the wing after avoiding a ban for his red card against Scotland
- Captain Maro Itoje will win his 100th cap.
Full team:
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.
The BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast is well worth a listen with guests Ollie Lawrence and Steve Borthwick.
The BBC will also have live coverage of England's game against Ireland on BBC Radio 5 Live and on the BBC website.
2.
'We have so much respect for Ireland' published at 16:56 GMT
England v Ireland (Sat, 14:10 GMT)
England head coach Steve Borthwick told the BBC about Ireland: "They have most of the Lions coaching team, half of the Lions Test team. They play together so often with so many players at Leinster, this squad has been together for a long period of time.
"I chat to our players about the coaches, trying to capture the lessons from [the Lions tour] last summer. About the coaching, players and they speak with such respect about them. It's an exciting Test match and I am sure every England fan is looking forward to it."
3.
'Itoje is an icon' published at 16:52 GMT
England v Ireland (Sat, 14:10 GMT)
England head coach Steve Borthwick has told the BBC on Maro Itoje winning his 100th cap: "First of all he is an incredibly towering presence in English rugby. Talk about icons and superstars of the game, he is tremendous and I am so delighted for him to achieve his 100th cap this weekend."
4.
Jack's back published at 16:49 GMT
England v Ireland (Sat, 14:10 GMT)
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Jack van Poortvliet has been included in a matchday squad for the first time in this Six Nations.
The Leicester scrum-half comes in for Ben Spencer among the replacements.
Van Poortvliet has had a torrid time with injuries in recent seasons, including missing the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
He came off the bench to good effect in Argentina last summer, scoring the try that sealed a 2-0 series win, but then missed the autumn - again through injury.
The 24-year-old's most recent Six Nations appearance came as a substitute in the record-breaking win in Cardiff last year, while his most recent cap against Ireland was in the 2023 Six Nations when he started the 29-16 defeat in Dublin.
5.
'How are you mate?' Pollock's first words surprise Borthwick published at 16:43 GMT
England v Ireland (Sat, 14:10 GMT)
England head coach Steve Borthwick told the BBC about the time he first met Henry Pollock: "I went up to Northampton to meet the England players there and I was told that I should connect with Henry Pollock and at that time he was barely out of school, he hadn't played a first-team game at that point but clearly with the pathway system they said you should meet Pollock. All the reports from the pathway was that this guy is going to be exceptional.
"Normally when an 18-year-old meets the England head coach for the first time and you don't know each other at all, they are reasonably shy and retired at that point in time. He was the complete opposite.
"He bounded up to me and introduced himself and I think his words were 'how are you mate?' I thought 'this guy is wonderfully different, he is an incredible character'."
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6.
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Get Involved published at 16:40 GMT
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7.
Off-days for Underhill and Pepper published at 16:37 GMT
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Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill have both dropped to the bench to face Ireland after the Bath duo had off-days against Scotland.
Underhill was uncharacteristically poor in defence, missing nearly half of his attempted tackles, while Pepper missed three tackles and conceded two penalties.
More will be needed from both on Saturday afternoon when they come on.
8.
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Get Involved published at 16:33 GMT
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9.
'I have stayed in touch with James Ryan' published at 16:30 GMT
England v Ireland (Sat, 14:10 GMT)
Tom Curry will be coming up against some of his British and Irish Lions team-mates from last summer's tour of Australia.
Curry started all three Tests in the back row alongside Ireland's Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan.
"I have stayed in touch with James Ryan, we talk a bit, and then Mack Hansen and I only commute by Instagram reels. We have had a few interesting chats," he told BBC Sport.
"James and I chat about life but mostly rugby."
He will also be reunited with Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, who was in charge of the Lions.
"Faz is good. You can see where [former England captain] Owen [Farrell] gets it from. They are very concise with their words," he added.
"Before the first Test in Brisbane he got Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan and I together and made us aware he picked us as we perform in big games on the big stage.
"It is always an exciting fixture."
10.
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Get Involved published at 16:26 GMT
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11.
Curry resumes first-choice role published at 16:22 GMT
England v Ireland (Sat, 14:10 GMT)
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When Tom Curry made his England debut as an 18-year-old against Argentina in 2017 he became their youngest new cap since someone called Jonny Wilkinson.
In his first eight years with England, just four of his 61 caps came off the bench.
But he has recently reverted to a role as a finisher, with his last six caps dating back to the start of the autumn all coming as a replacement.
That run is now over after he was picked to start for the first time since last year's Six Nations.
Borthwick will be hoping the return of such a seasoned player will help beef up England's breakdown and stop Ireland from enjoying as much quick ball as Scotland managed at Murrayfield.
Is it the right call for Curry to start? Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down if you think he's better as a finisher.
12.
Furbank fully fit published at 16:19 GMT
England v Ireland (Sat, 14:10 GMT)
England head coach Steve Borthwick has confirmed to the BBC that Northampton Saints full-back George Furbank is fully fit and available for selection.
He is yet to be called upon in this year's Six Nations.
13.
Furbank's up-and-down England career published at 16:16 GMT
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A few people have been asking whether George Furbank should be picked to add a second playmaker to England's attack after he was added to the training squad earlier this week.
The Northampton man has endured a tough time with injuries and an up-and-down international career.
After falling out of favour under Eddie Jones, he won a first cap in two years under Borthwick in the 2024 Six Nations and was a regular that year before a fractured arm saw him miss last year's tournament.
As a result, Furbank has not played for England since starting the 59-14 win against Japan in November 2024.
14.
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Get Involved published at 16:13 GMT
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15.
Is Steve using this Six Nations to test his underused back line? Mixing up centres/scrum-halfs/fly-halfs mostly on the bench to allow for a more versatile/experienced team come the World Cup next year? published at 16:10 GMT
Hi Matt. I would be loathe to say Borthwick will be using a tournament as important as the Six Nations to experiment, but you're right, he will be thinking all the time about building depth. All international head coaches are looking to achieve the holy grail of improving the depth of the squad while also winning matches. It is something Rassie Erasmus has been able to do over the last few years and it has stood the Springboks in fantastic stead.
16.
England's misfiring Murrayfield attack published at 16:10 GMT
Matthew Hobbs
Image source, BBC Sport
England's attack has generally been on an upward trajectory in the past year, particularly following the arrival of attack coach Lee Blackett.
The mastermind of a Bath backline that scored an unrivalled 102 tries on their way to winning last year's Premiership, Blackett has added verve and variety to England's attack - but that all fell apart in last weekend's calamitous defeat against Scotland at Murrayfield.
On the ropes after Scotland's rapid start, England could not respond sufficiently despite regular visits to the Scottish 22.
England made 12 entries in total to the red zone but returned just 1.42 points per visit - their second-worst tally since Steve Borthwick's first Six Nations as head coach in 2023.
One visit ended up with Scotland scoring seven points as George Ford's rushed drop-goal attempt was charged down in the second half.
Henry Arundell is free to play after avoiding a ban for two yellow cards last weekend but England's attack as a whole has a lot to put right.
17.
'Arundell was bitterly disappointed' published at 16:06 GMT
England v Ireland (Sat, 14:10 GMT)
England head coach Steve Borthwick has told the BBC about backing Henry Arundell: "He has come back [from France club rugby] because he wants to play for England. He played a little bit in the autumn but been asked to work on key aspects of his game. He has gone away with the backs coach and worked on those aspects.
"Saturday [against Scotland] didn't go the way he wanted it to, the way I wanted it to go for him and he was bitterly disappointed as we all were. Now we back him to go and play super well this weekend.
"I want the ball in his hands. every England supporter will want the ball in his hands in a bit of space this weekend."
18.
Get Involved published at 15:58 GMT
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19.
Itoje then and now (via the Lions of course) published at 15:53 GMT
From England debut under Eddie Jones in the 2016 Six Nations to current England captain set to win his 100th cap.
20.
get involved
Get Involved published at 15:48 GMT
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