Meanwhile, England boss Eddie Jones has selected a largely unchanged squad from the side that beat France 23-20 in a closely-fought game at Twickenham last weekend.
Keith Earls makes a break during Ireland's Autumn Nations Cup clash with England in November 2020 ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
Guinness Six Nations silverware may be out of reach for both teams, but ‘Super Saturday’ still presents Ireland with a chance to finish with a third straight win whilst halting a disappointing run of recent results against England.
2021 GUINNESS SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, March 20
IRELAND (2nd) v ENGLAND (4th), Aviva Stadium, 4.45pm (live Virgin Media One/ITV/UTV/DMAX/RTÉ Radio 1/BBC Radio Ulster/BBC Radio 5 Live/IRFU Live Blog)
Team News: There are six changes to the Ireland team for their final round showdown with England, as head coach Andy Farrell reacts to the injury-enforced losses of Garry Ringrose, James Ryan and Will Connors.
Back from his own spell on the sidelines, Conor Murray reclaims the number 9 jersey alongside captain Jonathan Sexton, who wins his 99th cap this afternoon.
Ringrose’s ankle injury opens the way for Connacht’s Bundee Aki to return in midfield, linking up with the in-form Robbie Henshaw who shifts to the outside centre berth.
Ulster star Jacob Stockdale has also earned a recall on the left wing for his first appearance since December’s Autumn Nations Cup win over Scotland. He joins forces with Keith Earls and Hugo Keenan in the back-three.
Dave Kilcoyne is preferred to Cian Healy at loosehead – coming in for only his third Six Nations start – while Rob Herring and Tadhg Furlong are retained at hooker and on the tighthead side respectively.
Tadhg Beirne, the Guinness Six Nations player-of-the-match against Italy and Scotland, reverts to the second row where he partners Iain Henderson, another player in very good form.
Connors was ruled out on Wednesday with a knee injury sustained in training, so Josh van der Flier makes his third start of the tournament at openside flanker.
CJ Stander, who announced this week that he will retire at the end of the season, will play his final Six Nations match in the blindside position, with Jack Conan drafted in at number 8.
Munster captain Peter O’Mahony returns from suspension to join a strong set of replacements. He is standing by to win his 75th cap, while it could be a home debut for young lock Ryan Baird.
Meanwhile, England boss Eddie Jones has selected a largely unchanged squad from the side that beat France 23-20 in a closely-fought game at Twickenham last weekend.
In the only change to the starting XV, Elliot Daly comes in at outside centre – for his first Test appearance in the position since 2016. Henry Slade is ruled out due to a calf injury.
Bristol Bears’ Max Malins remains at full-back in a back-line led by George Ford and Ben Youngs, with captain Owen Farrell stationed at inside centre for his 93rd cap.
There is the familiar Saracens spine of brothers Mako and Billy Vunipola, and Maro Itoje, in the English pack. Bath’s Charlie Ewels continues alongside Itoje at lock.
Mark Wilson and Tom Curry complete the back row, with the latter being the 2021 Championship’s biggest nuisance at defensive rucks, disrupting 12 opposition rucks so far.
Guinness Six Nations Fixtures/Results
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht), Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster); Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) (capt), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster); Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster), Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster).
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Billy Burns (Ulster), Jordan Larmour (St. Mary’s College/Leinster).
ENGLAND: Max Malins (Bristol Bears); Anthony Watson (Bath), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Owen Farrell (Saracens) (capt), Jonny May (Gloucester); George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers); Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Charlie Ewels (Bath), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Billy Vunipola (Saracens).
Replacements: Jamie George (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Will Stuart (Bath), Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Earl (Bristol Bears), Dan Robson (Wasps), Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors), Joe Marchant (Harlequins).
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland), Craig Evans (Wales)
Television Match Official: Romain Poite (France)
Pre-Match Quotes: Andy Farrell (Ireland) –
We’re up against a very good side, who played extremely well last week. The standard of the game, the French and the English game, was top notch.
“I’m sure that they’re hoping to put a similar performance in. For us, if that happens, we have to give an 80-minute performance that’s certainly the best of our competition so far.
“We’ve had a great week together. Obviously our last week of the competition and we’re in a determined mood to try and put a statement out there this weekend.
“If we need any more emotion to go into an England game, which is the last game of the competition, we’re in the wrong place anyway. What we do want to do is enjoy the week for CJ, with CJ. Make sure we put in a performance that he’s happy to end his Ireland career on.”
Eddie Jones (England) –
This is our most important game of the tournament and we want to finish well. We’re anticipating a hard, tough game against Ireland and we’ve picked this team to cope with that.
“We want to take it to Ireland physically and play the rugby we want to play. They’ve been progressing nicely and we’ve been watching their progress closely. Their forward play has been very, very good – their lineout, their scrums, both of those areas have been impressive.
“They have good carriers and are good defensively around the ruck, and their forward play has been exceptional and it’s coinciding with a higher kicking game that has seen them play some good rugby.”
Pre-Match Links –
In Pics: Ireland Captain’s Run At Aviva Stadium
Ireland v England IRFU Digital Match Programme
‘It’s The Age-Old Rivalry, It’s Such A Special Game’ – Murray
‘We’re Eager To Put A Statement Out There This Weekend’ – Farrell
‘We’re Determined To Finish On A High’ – Sexton
Recent Meetings –
2018: NatWest 6 Nations: England 15 Ireland 24, Twickenham
2019: Guinness Six Nations: Ireland 20 England 32, Aviva Stadium; Rugby World Cup Warm-Up: England 57 Ireland 15, Twickenham
2020: Guinness Six Nations: England 24 Ireland 12, Twickenham; Autumn Nations Cup: England 18 Ireland 7, Twickenham
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