Ireland v England preview: facts, stats and teams
Ahead of England’s 2021 Guinness Six Nations match against Ireland in Dublin, here is everything you need to know.
England have made one change to the starting XV that beat France 23-20 at Twickenham last Saturday as Henry Slade is ruled out with a calf injury and Elliot Daly comes in, with Joe Marchant added as a finisher.
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Owen Farrell, who passed Jonny Wilkinson to become England's fifth highest capped men's player last weekend, leads the team again from inside centre as Eddie Jones' side go in search of a fifth straight win against the Irish.
Ireland have made six changes from the side that beat Scotland last weekend with James Ryan and Garry Ringrose missing through injury.
Jacob Stockdale, Bundee Aki, Conor Murray, Tadhg Beirne, Dave Kilcoyne and Josh van der Flier all come in, while CJ Stander starts at blindside flanker in his final game for the Irish before retiring this summer.
- When? Saturday, 20 March
- Kick-off? 1645 GMT
- Where? Aviva Stadium, Dublin
- Coverage? Live on ITV 1, BBC Radio 5 Live
Views from the camp
England head coach Eddie Jones: “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.”
England captain Owen Farrell: "It’s disappointing to not be playing for the championship but we’re looking forward to what is a tough test against a tough team. We’re looking forward to getting stuck into the game and seeing where we can take what we built on last week.
"I think you learn a lot of about yourselves, especially during some tough times that we’ve had. The game last week was obviously exciting for everyone to watch and of course it’s brilliant to be involved in games like that, but Test match rugby doesn’t always pan out that way.
"Everybody prepares for being able to play any which way to be able to get the result and we’ll see which way the game turns out on Saturday.”
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell: “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.”
Previous meetings
2020: England 18-7 Ireland - Twickenham Stadium, London (Autumn Nations Cup)
2020: England 24-12 Ireland - Twickenham Stadium, London (Six Nations)
2019: England 57-15 Ireland - Twickenham Stadium, London (World Cup warm-up)
2019: Ireland 20-32 England - Aviva Stadium, Dublin (Six Nations)
2018: England 15-24 Ireland - Twickenham Stadium, London (Six Nations)
2017: Ireland 13-9 England - Aviva Stadium, Dublin (Six Nations)
2016: England 21-10 Ireland - Twickenham Stadium, London (Six Nations)
2015: England 21-13 Ireland - Twickenham Stadium, London (World Cup warm-up)
2015: Ireland 19-9 England - Aviva Stadium, Dublin (Six Nations)
2014: England 13-10 Ireland - Twickenham Stadium, London (Six Nations)
Key stats
- England have won their last two meetings with Ireland in the Six Nations and could win three in a row against them for only the second time, after doing so between 2012 and 2014.
- England scored four tries on their last trip to Dublin in the Six Nations, as many as they recorded in their previous seven attempts in Ireland; they are the only side to score 4+ tries away from home against Ireland in the Championship (2019 and also 2003).
- The team leading at half-time has always managed to go on and win the match in Six Nations games between Ireland and England (10 wins apiece); Ireland won the only instance when it was level at half-time (14-13 in 2009).
- Ireland lost to France in their last home game, only once before have they lost back to back home games in the Six Nations, 2010 v Scotland at Croke Park and 2011 v France at the Aviva Stadium.
- Overall England have won their last four Test matches against Ireland, preventing them from scoring any first half points in their last two meetings and scoring an average of 4.3 tries per game themselves in that run.
- England have the best success rate at both the lineout (93%) and scrum (95%) in the 2021 Six Nations, Ireland however have stolen twice as many opposition lineouts (8) as any other side in the Championship this year, James Ryan (3) topping the charts individually for lineout steals.
- Luke Cowan-Dickie has landed all 22 of his lineout throws at the 2021 Six Nations, no other hooker has attempted 10+ throws without missing the target at least once; no player has completed a Six Nations campaign having attempted 20+ throws and not missed one (Ken Owens 19/19 in 2016).
- Tadhg Beirne (137) and Maro Itoje (134) have hit more rucks than anyone else at the 2021 Six Nations, Itoje’s England team mate Tom Curry has been the biggest nuisance at defensive rucks, disrupting 12 opposition rucks so far.
- Just three players have gained 250+ metres with ball in hand in the 2021 Six Nations, all three could feature in this match, James Lowe (335), Elliot Daly (265) and Jonny May (253); similarly the top four players for post-contact metres could also feature in this match, Anthony Watson (174), Garry Ringrose (138), Hugo Keenan (134) and James Lowe (133).
- Iain Henderson and Tadhg Beirne have won more turnovers than anyone else in the 2021 Six Nations (7 & 6 respectively), the Irish duo have both won five jackal turnovers each.
Teams
Ireland
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 10 caps
14. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 92 caps
13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 51 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 30 caps
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 33 caps
10. Jonathan Sexton (C) (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 98 caps
9. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 88 caps
1. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 42 caps
2. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 20 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 48 caps
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 62 caps
5. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 21 caps
6. CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon) 50 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 30 caps
8. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 19 caps
Replacements
16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 10 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 108 caps
18. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 36 caps
19. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 2 caps
20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 74 caps
21. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 9 caps
22. Billy Burns (Ulster) 6 caps
23. Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 28 caps
England
15. Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 7 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 50 caps)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 51 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 92 caps) (C)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 65 caps)
10. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 76 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 108 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 66 caps)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 30 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 43 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 47 caps)
5. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
6. Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 22 caps)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 32 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 60 caps)
Finishers
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 58 caps)
17. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 27 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
19. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 8 caps)
20. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 12 caps)
21. Dan Robson (Wasps, 11 caps)
22. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, 5 caps)
23. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 4 caps)
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 defeated by Ireland in Dublin
England were beaten 32-18 by Ireland in Dublin, in their final match of the Guinness Six Nations.
A scrappy start from both sides saw the opening minutes dominated by set piece play, but England’s lineout proved the catalyst behind their first penalty on the seven-minute mark, and captain Owen Farrell duly converted it.
Johnny Sexton levelled the affair 10 minutes later courtesy of a penalty in front of the posts, before a solo Keith Earls try handed the hosts the ascendancy. Sexton’s extras made it 10-3.
Farrell reduced the deficit to four points with his second penalty of the match, and in doing so brought up a personal tally of 500 points in the Six Nations, but Sexton responded quickly with another Irish three-pointer on the half hour mark.
Number 8 Jack Conan bagged Ireland’s second try of the Test, picking from the base of a poorly attended five-metre ruck and surging over. Sexton’s successful conversion extended their lead to 14 points at the break.
IRELAND V ENGLAND MATCH ACTION
Irish momentum rolled into the second half, as did Sexton’s success from the kicking tee. The Leinster man bagging his sixteenth point on the hour mark.
Bundee Aki was shown a red card three minutes later by referee Mathieu Raynal for a dangerous tackle on Billy Vunipola, and England capitalised immediately from the resulting penalty lineout. Jamie George peeled off the five-metre rolling maul and sent Ben Youngs over the whitewash. Elliot Daly was unable to convert.
George Martin was brought on to make his international debut, as Sexton kept the Irish scoreboard ticking over with a further two penalties.
Conor Murray was given a yellow card in the closing minutes, and England again capitalised on the numerical advantage, spreading it wide to Jonny May on the wing, who dotted down in the corner. But it would be a consolation score, as Ireland confirmed a 32-18 victory.
Reaction
We're disappointed. To come out and do a good job in the first 20 and not back it up the next 60 in terms of discipline is pretty gutting. We knew it was going to be a physical encounter, but fair play to them, great team.
Tom Curry
Teams
England
15. Elliot Daly, 14. Anthony Watson, 13. Ollie Lawrence, 12. Owen Farrell (C), 11. Jonny May, 10. George Ford, 9. Ben Youngs, 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Charlie Ewels, 6. Mark Wilson, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Billy Vunipola.
Finishers
16. Jamie George, 17. Ellis Genge, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Jonny Hill, 20. Ben Earl, 21. Dan Robson, 22. George Martin, 23. Joe Marchant.
Ireland
15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Keith Earls, 13. Robbie Henshaw, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 10. Jonathan Sexton (C), 9. Conor Murray, 1. Dave Kilcoyne, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Iain Henderson, 5. Tadhg Beirne, 6. CJ Stander, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Jack Conan.
Replacements
16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Cian Healy, 18. Andrew Porter, 19. Ryan Baird, 20. Peter O’Mahony, 21. Jamison Gibson Park, 22. Billy Burns, 23. Jordan Larmour.
Results
6 February - England 6-11 Scotland
13 February - England 41-18 Italy
27 February - Wales 40-24 England
13 March - England 23-20 France
20 March - Ireland 32-18 England
