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England name Curry twins, one uncapped player for start in Ireland
By Liam Heagney
Steve Borthwick has named his England team to play Ireland away in this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener, making five changes from their last outing against Japan in the Autumn Nations Series.
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The Japanese were defeated 59-14 to put an end to a five-match losing streak and nine weeks on from that success, the head coach has included the Curry twins for a first-ever Test start together, called up the uncapped Cadan Murley for a start on the left wing and also selected a six/two forwards/backs bench split.
Three of the starting changes are in the backs, with Freddie Steward taking over at full-back from the injured George Furbank, Murley taking over from Ollie Sleightholme on the wing while the fit-again Alex Mitchell is restored at scrum-half in place of Jack van Poortvliet after missing the entire Autumn Nations Series with a neck injury.
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In the pack, Luke Cowan-Dickie starts at hooker in place of the injured Jamie George while Ben Curry is named as the starting openside for the unavailable Sam Underhill. Curry will pack down with his brother Tom, the first time the pair will start an England Test together, and they will be joined in the back row by regular No8 Ben Earl.
On the bench, Borthwick has gone with six forwards. Theo Dan will cover at hooker for the promoted Cowan-Dickie and he is joined by Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, who is named in place of Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Ollie Chessum, who comes in for Nick Isiekwe, Chandler Cunningham-South and Tom Willis, who edges out back Tom Roebuck, the last day’s 23rd man. The back-up half-backs will continue to be Harry Randall and Fin Smith.
Borthwick said: “We are looking forward to the challenge of facing the tournament favourites. We know it will be a tough contest against a team that is very familiar with each other. We will need to work tirelessly and maintain our discipline from the first whistle to the last. England versus Ireland in Dublin is a huge occasion, and we will be ready to face it head-on.”
England (vs Ireland, Saturday)
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 35 caps)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 15 caps)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 31 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 69 caps)
11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 39 caps)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 18 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 66 caps) – vice-captain
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 45 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 88 caps) – captain
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 56 caps)
7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 6 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 37 caps)
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Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 16 caps)
17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 6 caps)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)
20. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 11 caps)
21. Tom Willis (Saracens, 1 cap)
22. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 11 caps)
23. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
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Go Ireland 🇮🇪
Overall not a bad team. front row as expected and same with 2nd row. both currys selection was questionable especially tom over willis and ccs. half backs ok. centres as expected but wouldve liked to see a freeman or dingwall over henry salde. no sleighthome confuses me but freeman and steward as expected. delighted for murley. wouldve liked to see asher or roebuck on the bench
England will lose with this selection and do badly at the World Cup. These players are good but they have consistently shown they are not world beaters. Not sure what Borthwick is seeing or thinking.
who would you select instead?
What an absolutely shocking back row selection. At least we've got a good back row on the bench.
I think its a positive sign that England have Ben Earl at 8, but not sure why Tom Curry is in the team.
England don't really need a third openside on the pitch, and I feel like Tom Curry's days as an international player are behind him.
The back row selection sucks.
Glad to see a 6:2, devastated to see Marcus start at 10.
England are going to really struggle.
Een kant. Twee kante.