Ireland team named for crunch clash with england

Robbie Henshaw has retained his place in the Ireland team for Sunday’s eagerly awaited Six Nations showdown against England at the Aviva Stadium ((kick-off 3pm).

The Athlone man has once again been selected at inside centre as his partnership with Jared Payne continues.

In the team announced by Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt today, there is only one change to the starting line-up from the win over France - with Jordi Murphy replacing the injured Jamie Heaslip at No. 8. The team is captained as usual by Paul O'Connell, who wins his 99th international cap.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has drafted full-back Alex Goode and winger Jack Nowell into his team for the clash against Ireland.

Goode is a replacement for the highly rated Mike Brown, who is recovering from injury. Jack Nowell is preferred to Jonny May as the only two unbeaten teams in the RBS 6 Nations go head-to-head.

Meanwhile, Ireland U-20 head coach Nigel Carolan has named an unchanged team for his side’s clash with England.

That means Rory Moloney of Buccaneers retains his place at No. 7, with Cian Romaine again named among the replacements. Both players crossed for a try in Ireland win’s over Italy, before both featured in the impressive win over France,

Having overcame France 37-20 last time out in Athlone, Ireland take on their English counterparts at Donnybrook tonight (Friday), kick-off 7.05pm (live on RTE2).

There is one alteration on Ireland’s replacements bench where Fergal Cleary makes way for Harrison Brewer.

Ireland Team & Replacements v England

Player/Club/Province/Caps

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 59
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 58
13. Jared Payne (Ulster) 3
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht) 7
11. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 13
10. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92) 48
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 32
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 14
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 80
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 46
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 22
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) (capt.) 98
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 27
7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster) 31
8. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 6

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 40
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 48
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) 7
19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 14
20. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 7
21. Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster) 58
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster) 15
23. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster) 10

 

England Team & Replacements v Ireland

Player/Club/Caps

15. Alex Goode (Saracens) 16
14. Anthony Watson (Bath) 6
13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath) 8
12. Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints) 9
11. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs) 5
10. George Ford (Bath) 8
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) 44
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins) 28
2. Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints) 63
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers) 47
4. David Attwood (Bath) 18
5. George Kruis (Saracens 6
6. James Haskell (Wasps) 55
7. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins) (capt.) 34
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens) 14

Replacements:

16. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers) 19
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens) 17
18. Henry Thomas (Bath) 7
19. Nick Easter (Harlequins) 49
20. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers) 39
21. Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens) 18
22. Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks) 10
23. Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester) 18

 

Ireland U-20 Team & Replacements v England U-20s

15. Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster)
14. Jack Owens (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)
12. Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
11. Stephen Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster)
10. Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
9. Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster) (capt.)
1. Jeremy Loughman (UCD/Leinster)
2. Zack McCall (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
3. Oisin Heffernan (Terenure College/Leinster)
4. David O'Connor (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
5. Alex Thompson (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
6. Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster)
7. Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht)
8. Lorcan Dow (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)

Replacements:

16. Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster)
17. Michael Lagan (Ballymena/Ulster)
18. Conan O'Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht)
19. Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/Connacht)
20. Nick Timoney (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
21. Jack Cullen (Shannon/Munster)
22. Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster)
23. Harrison Brewer (Terenure College/Leinster)