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Farrell, Tuilagi recalled as England make four changes for Ireland
By Liam Heagney
Steve Borthwick has reacted to last weekend’s humiliating home loss to France by naming a team to take on title-chasing Ireland in Dublin that shows four changes, including recalls for Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi.
The new head coach’s reign was severely dented by their embarrassing 53-10 Guinness Six Nations round four Twickenham battering and he will look to rectify the damage at Aviva Stadium with an XV that includes call-ups for skipper Farrell and Tuilagi as well as a first start for Henry Arundell and just the second for David Ribbans.
Farrell was benched for last weekend’s match with Marcus Smith at No10, but those roles have now been reversed. Tuliagi is also back following his recent suspension and he takes the inside centre role vacated by the injured Ollie Lawrence.
With Henry Slade outside that duo at 13, it means the Farrell, Tuilagi and Slade combination will start a match for England for the first time since the 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final win over Australia.
There is one final alteration to the backline, Arundell replacing Max Malins in a selection that will see Anthony Watson swap from the left wing to the right.
Up front, the changes have been limited to just one with Borthwick naming Ribbans at lock to replace Ollie Chessum, who injured an ankle at training on Tuesday. There was speculation that a back row rejig would see Alex Dombrandt lose his place at No8 but that proved unfounded and he will pack down as a unit with Lewis Ludlam and Jack Willis for the fourth successive match.
On the bench, Nick Isiekwe will fill the spot left by the promoted Ribbans while Joe Marchant takes over from the promoted Arundell. Sub Dan Cole, meanwhile, is in line to make his 100th appearance for England.
Borthwick said: “We travel to Dublin to face an Ireland team on Saturday that has the chance to secure a Grand Slam championship victory. We know that after the bitter disappointment of the display against an exceptional France team last week, we will have to be much improved to meet the challenge of playing the side presently ranked number one in the world.
“However, I have witnessed an England squad determined to make amends for the defeat at Twickenham, and I am confident that the team announced today will once again want to show the sort of resilience and attitude that brought us victory in Wales.”
England team (vs Ireland, Saturday – 5:0)
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 54 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 55 caps)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 50 caps)
11. Henry Arundell (London Irish, 6 caps)
10. Owen Farrell (C) (Saracens, 105 caps)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 11 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (VC) (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 76 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 60 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 66 caps)
5. David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
6. Lewis Ludlam (VC) (Northampton Saints, 18 caps)
7. Jack Willis (Toulouse, 9 caps)
8. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 13 caps)
Replacements:
16. Jack Walker (Harlequins, 3 caps)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 78 caps)
18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 99 caps)
19. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 10 caps)
20. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 4 caps)
21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 21 caps)
23. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 14 caps)
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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