England v Ireland: preview, teams and key stats
England play their final fixture at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday before the Rugby World Cup with Ireland the visitors.
Owen Farrell returns to lead the side from inside centre, while Manu Tuilagi (outside centre) and Ben Youngs (scrum half) start their first match this Quilter International series. Jonny May will make his first appearance this season on the left wing with Joe Cokanasiga switching to the right wing.
Jamie George, Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler are named in the front row. Tom Curry and Sam Underhill return from injury to play in the back row alongside Billy Vunipola while George Kruis starts in the second row alongside Maro Itoje.
Mako Vunipola has been named as a finisher following his recovery from long-term injury.
Leinster fly-half Ross Byrne will make his Test debut for Ireland after being named in the side to play England.
Jordan Larmour moves from full-back to right wing and Garry Ringrose is again chosen at centre, alongside Bundee Aki.
- When? Saturday 24 August
- Kick-off? 3pm BST
- Where? Twickenham Stadium
- Coverage? Sky Sports and Radio 5 live
Views from the camp
England head coach Eddie Jones: “The players have come back in a very good physical and mental state and we have had a good preparation this week. We purposefully made the week short looking ahead to the World Cup where this might happen beyond our control.
“It is the third of four games for us and come the 8th of September, when we get on the plane, we want to be ready to go. This is another step forward for us.
“This weekend we will be looking to gain more game fitness and testing different sorts of game strategies. We have a specific way of how we want to play and the focus is very much on ourselves.”
Previous meetings
- 2019: England 32-20 Ireland, Aviva Stadium
- 2018: England 15-24 Ireland, Twickenham Stadium
- 2017: England 9-13 Ireland, Aviva Stadium
- 2016: England 21-10 Ireland, Twickenham Stadium
- 2015: England 9-19 Ireland, Aviva Stadium
- 2014: England 13-10 Ireland, Twickenham Stadium
- 2013: England 12-6 Ireland, Aviva Stadium
- 2012: England 30-9 Ireland, Twickenham Stadium
- 2011: England 8-25 Ireland, Aviva Stadium
Key stats
The last two clashes between England and Ireland have both been won by the away side on the day, only once before has there been a longer run of away victories in Tests between these sides – a run of four such matches between 1893 and 1896 (excl. games at neutral venues).
Ireland will be aiming to record a 50th Test victory over England (W49, D8, L77), they would be just the third side Ireland have reached a half century of victories against in Test rugby (W63 v Scotland, W51 v Wales); this will be the 50th match between these sides at Twickenham.
England have lost just two of 23 games at Twickenham under Eddie Jones (W20, D1), however one of those defeats did come against Ireland during the 2018 Six Nations (also v New Zealand in November 2018).
Ireland lost their last away game, against Wales in the Six Nations, however they’ve not lost consecutive matches on the road since a run of three defeats between June 2016 and February 2017.
England have averaged 32 points and 3.9 tries per game in 2019, more than any other tier one team; their impressive points tally is thanks in part to their goal kicking success rate of 85%, which is also higher than any other side has managed this year.
Ireland have averaged 147 carries and 185 passes per game in 2019, more than any other tier one side, as a result they’ve also averaged the longest time in possession (20m:43s per game).
Teams
England: Elliot Daly; Joe Cokanasiga, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell, Jonny May; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Mark Wilson, Willi Heinz, Piers Francis, Joe Marchant.
Ireland: R Kearney; Larmour, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale; R Byrne, Murray; Healy, Best, Furlong, Henderson, Kleyn; O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Stander.
Replacements: Cronin, J McGrath, Porter, Toner, Beirne, L McGrath, Carty, Conway.
What's in the matchday programme?
Manu Tuilagi tells Alex Spink of the Daily Mirror how he is drawing strength from past campaigns and believes England have a real chance of glory in Japan. Buy your copy - here
And finally...what's next?
Book now to be part of England’s final game before heading to Japan as they face Italy at St James’ Park, Newcastle on Friday 6th September.
