2025 Six Nations preview: Ireland v England
Everything you need to know as England Men travel to Dublin to face last year's Champions in their opening game of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations.
Steve Borthwick’s England side last played Ireland in March 2024, when a last-gasp Marcus Smith drop-goal sealed victory at Allianz Stadium.
The game also sees second row Maro Itoje take on the full-time captaincy for the very first time as he replaces his Saracens teammate Jamie George in the role.
Opponents Ireland have also had a change of leadership, with Simon Easterby stepping in as head coach while Andy Farrell focuses on preparations for the Lions series in Australia.
| Where | Aviva Stadium, Dublin |
| When | Saturday 1 February |
| Kick off | 16:45 |
| Where to watch | ITV1 or ITVX |
England team to face Ireland
Last time out
Select your England side
Stats & facts
England trailed at half-time in each of their five matches in last year's Guinness Men’s Six Nations, the first time they've trailed at the break in every match of a campaign since the 1974 Five Nations. However, they won three of those matches, no side has ever recorded as many second-half comebacks in an edition of the Championship.
England won their most recent Test match against Ireland (23-22 in March 2024) after losing four in a row previously; Steve Borthwick’s side were behind at halftime in that game, the first time this fixture had been won by the team who trailed at the break since the 1996 Five Nations (England 28-15 Ireland).
Ireland and England had identical lineout records in last year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations, each winning 62 of 68 throws (91%), the joint-best rates of any sides last year; Ireland also won a higher share of their opponents’ throws than any other nation (21%) and boasted the Championship’s best scrum success rate (93%).
England made an average of 29.9 kicks in play across their Test matches in 2024, the most of any Tier 1 men’s side; Steve Borthwick’s side retained possession from 17% of their kicks in last year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations, the highest rate in the Championship, while Ireland had the lowest rate (6%).
Maro Itoje, who has been named England captain for the 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations, won at least three more turnovers than any other player in men’s Tier 1 rugby in 2024 (15) and also ranked first among all such players for both attacking (300) and defensive (137) ruck hits last year.
Keep your eye on
Maro Itoje. The Saracens second row and captain was named full-time captain of his country for the first time ahead of the tournament. He has already acted as vice captain but now makes the step up.
Cadan Murley. Wing Murley has impressed with his try-scoring exploits in the Premiership and for England A. Saturday will see him get his first chance to transfer that prowess to the Senior Men's side.
The Curry brothers. While the two have played together at Sale Sharks, this is the first time they find themselves on the pitch together at the same time, making them the first twins to represent England Men.
Tom Willis. Like Murley, his Premiership form has been excellent this season and he impressed for England A against Australia A. He is named on among the replacements looking to add to his one cap so far with an impactful cameo.
Previous encounters
England 23-22 Ireland
Ireland 29-10 England
Ireland 29-16 England
England 15-32 Ireland
Ireland 32-18 England
U20s in action
Head coach Mark Mapletoft has confirmed his England U20 Men’s squad to face Ireland in the opening fixture of the 2025 U20 Six Nations. The reigning champions head to Cork for their first round encounter against Neil Doak’s side at Virgin Media Park. The match will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer.
Related topics
- Attack
- T - Tries
- M - Metres carried
- C - Carries
- DB - Defenders beaten
- CB - Clean breaks
- P - Passes
- O - Offloads
- TC - Turnovers conceded
- TA - Try assists
- PTS - Points
- Defence
- Tackles - Tackles
- MT - Missed tackles
- TW - Turnovers won
- Kicking
- K - Kicks in play
- C - Conversions
- PG - Penalty goals
- DG - Drop goals
- Set plays
- TW - Throws won
- LW - Lineouts won
- LS - Lineout steals
- Discipline
- PC - Penalties conceded
- RC - Red cards
- YC - Yellow cards
England beaten by Ireland in first round of 2025 Guinness Six Nations
England were beaten 27-22 by Ireland in the opening round of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations in Dublin.
Despite seven points from the boot of Marcus Smith and tries from Cadan Murley, Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman, the reigning champions showed their class, scoring 22 second half points at the Aviva Stadium.
England started the Test quickly, as Smith threatened the Irish defence with smart kicks and line breaks.
Highlights
The pressure built, and eventually took its toll inside 10 minutes, as Murley scored his first Test try. It came from an Ollie Lawrence line break which led to quick ball being recycled. As Smith found Henry Slade, the Exeter Chief then stabbed a neat grubber from the Irish 22-metre line toward their try line, and the Harlequin - on debut - won the footrace. Smith’s extras made it 0-7.
Both sides had scores disallowed before the clock hit 20 minutes, and England’s fly-half was shown a yellow card as half hour approached - the first for an England player in seven matches. It put a burden on England in defence, but their blitz caused Irish errors, with the likes of Tom Curry showcasing fantastic breakdown skill to force turnovers.
The extra player advantage finally favoured Ireland on 35 minutes though, as James Lowe broke the tackle of Alex Mitchell, and found Jamison Gibson-Park, who stepped Freddie Steward and crossed the line. Prendergast’s missed conversion still saw England with a two-point buffer.
In the final moments of the half a brilliant Ben Earl break saw England probe deep into their opponent’s territory, and a few phases later they won a penalty, which Smith - now back on the pitch - duly sent through the uprights for a 5-10 lead at the break.
The half time stats showed a competitive Test - with the same amount of clean breaks recorded (5), and defenders beaten (17). England Rugby’s Match Centre highlighted Freddie Steward as a standout performer - making 52 metres and beating one defender with his six carries.
Ireland hit back
The resumption saw Ireland spring into action, and it wasn't long before they were back on level terms. Bundee Aki showing brute force to power over for Ireland's second try, in the same corner as Murley's first half effort. Prendergast then pressed Ireland ahead on 55 minutes with a well taken penalty, as Simon Easterby's men grew into the Test.
Lowe was the catalyst behind Ireland's third try, as the wing exposed a hole on the flank of England's ruck - squeezing through untouched before firing a pass to the supporting Tadhg Beirne who went over. Replacement Jack Crowley's conversion made it 20-10.
Replacement Dan Sheehan bagged Ireland's bonus-point try with eight minutes left in the Test - Crowley successful with the boot again to open a 17-point lead.
Tom Curry's 77th minute score looked to be a consolation, until Freeman crossed in the final play of the game to give Steve Borthwick's men a losing bonus-point, with the match ending 27-22.
Replacements
