Connacht’s Cian Prendergast steps up for his first international start, while ageless veteran Keith Earls is poised to win his 100th cap as Ireland entertain old rivals England in the Bank of Ireland Nations Series.
2023 BANK OF IRELAND NATIONS SERIES:
Saturday, August 19 –
IRELAND v ENGLAND, Aviva Stadium, 5.30pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/Amazon Prime Video/RTÉ Radio 1/IRFU Live Blog)
The last remaining tickets for today’s Ireland-England clash are available to buy online here.
Team News: Having returned from their training camp in Portugal last week, Ireland will be captained by second row James Ryan in their final home match before the Rugby World Cup in France.
Selected on the bench, Keith Earls, who made his Test debut against Canada in November 2008, is set to become the ninth player to become an Ireland centurion, following in the footsteps of Brian O’Driscoll (133), Ronan O’Gara (128), Cian Healy (124), Rory Best (124), Jonathan Sexton (113), Paul O’Connell (108), John Hayes (105) and Conor Murray (105).
Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe make up the back-three to face England, while centres Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki are also set for their first appearances of the Bank of Ireland Nations Series. Leinster pair Ross Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park start together at half-back.
In making a full 15 changes to the team that beat Italy 33-17, head coach Andy Farrell reunites Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong in the front row. Ryan, who captains Ireland for the eighth time, is joined at lock by Tadhg Beirne.
Kildare youngster Prendergast (23) will pack down at number 8, with Peter O’Mahony and Josh van der Flier filling the flanker roles. Farrell has seen the young forward’s game improve a lot in a short period of time.
“I just see improvement all the time, you know. Cian came to New Zealand with us very raw, came back into Connacht and, to be fair, he’s always been a standout performer for Connacht, just because of his fight, his energy,” he said.
“He’s a warrior of a type of player, he’s fit, tough but there’s all sorts of his game that he needs to tidy up and over the last eight weeks we’ve seen that in abundance, so I’m excited to see him play at the weekend.
“His feel in around the game has improved, not just decision-making ball in hand, which has made his skill level a lot better but also his decision-making defensively, etc.”
The Ireland coaches also have strong options across the bench, with new call-up Jeremy Loughman, Rob Herring and Finlay Bealham providing the front row reinforcements.
Joe McCarthy and Caelan Doris, the two-try player-of-the-match from the Italy game, are also included in the matchday 23, along with the Munster back-line trio of Conor Murray, Jack Crowley and the aforementioned Earls.
Speaking about the 100-cap milestone for the Moyross man, Farrell admitted: “It gives us all a buzz. It’s such a privilege for us all within camp to be involved in such a special week for Keith and his family.
“He is a member of the squad that is so well respected. Why? Because he’s a selfless person that just keeps giving to others.
“There’s no better man deserving of his hundredth cap here at the Aviva than Keith against England. I just hope the fans that are coming along with us and our performance make it a special day for him.”
Meanwhile, England head coach Steve Borthwick has made six changes to the team that edged out Wales 19-17 at Twickenham last Saturday. Northampton Saints’ Courtney Lawes captains the side on the occasion of his 99th cap.
Fresh from his 50th appearance for England, Ellis Genge joins Jamie George and Will Stuart in the front row. Toulon’s David Ribbans has completed his return-to-play protocols and combines with Maro Itoje at lock.
Lawes, Billy Vunipola and Ben Earl, last weekend’s player-of-the-match, line up as the loose forwards, with George Ford and the 123-times capped Ben Youngs filling the half-back berths for the 61st time together.
Manu Tuilagi, who starts his first game of the Summer Nations Series in midfield, and winger Anthony Watson are the other changes to the back-line. Leicester Tigers full-back Freddie Steward anchors the back-three.
Steward’s Leicester club-mate Ollie Chessum is part of a solid bench line-up, returning to England duty for the first time since this year’s Guinness Six Nations. He has recovered from an ankle injury.
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Mack Hansen (Galway Corinthians/Connacht), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) (capt), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht).
Replacements: Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster), Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht), Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster).
ENGLAND: Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers); Anthony Watson (Unattached), Joe Marchant (Stade Francais), Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks), Elliot Daly (Saracens); George Ford (Sale Sharks), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers); Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Will Stuart (Bath), Maro Itoje (Saracens), David Ribbans (Toulon), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) (capt), Ben Earl (Saracens), Billy Vunipola (Saracens).
Replacements: Theo Dan (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Jack Willis (Toulouse), Danny Care (Harlequins), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ollie Lawrence (Bath).
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans, Adam Jones (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Ben Whitehouse (Wales); TMO Bunker: Pierre Brousset (France)
Pre-Match Quotes: James Ryan (Ireland) –
I think there’s a bit of nerves heading into this game. It’s the first game for a lot of us of this summer and playing England at home, there’s always a little bit of pressure.
“Lads are keen to make a statement with selection and everything coming up. This has never been a warm-up game for us. It’s been very much a Test match, that’s the way we’ve prepared for this game all week.
“It’s obviously a lot of the guys’ first appearance of the summer, so it’s going to be tough but we’re not going to make any excuses.
“We need to make sure that we take a step forward for the group and we put in a performance that will give us confidence with the World Cup coming around the corner quickly. We’ll definitely need to bring our ‘A’ game.”
Steve Borthwick (England) –
It is a great challenge against the number one ranked team in the world and we are all excited for this fixture. The game will be excellent preparation for us ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
“In my original planning for the Summer Nations Series and as part of our Rugby World Cup preparation, Owen Farrell was due to be selected to play in this Test match in Dublin.
“However, in light of the fact that so much of Owen’s training and match preparation time this week has been significantly affected and interrupted by the disciplinary process, I’ve not selected him in the match day 23.
“Owen travels to Ireland with our full support. He understands the situation, but is of course disappointed, as I am, that he is missing such a special game that he would otherwise have played in.”
Pre-Match Videos –
Recent Meetings –
2021: Guinness Six Nations: Ireland 32 England 18, Aviva Stadium
2022: Guinness Six Nations: England 15 Ireland 32, Twickenham
2023: Guinness Six Nations: Ireland 29 England 16, Aviva Stadium
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