Ireland get their title defence underway with a clash against the old enemy with England headed to Dublin in opening round’s final fixture.
Sam Prendergast of Ireland (Pic – Supplied)
2025 Six Nations – Ireland vs England
Saturday 1 February – 18:45
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
There’s a bit of extra motivation for the Irish here with England having wrecked their chances at a Grand Slam last year. Steve Borthwick will hope to throw another spanner into the works here.
- To Win Match: Ireland 7/20
- Draw: 22/1
- England: 49/20
Nick Easterby will step up to the big time this weekend with the Irish interim head coach taking over duties from Andy Farell, who is preparing for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
The former Irish international gets thrown straight into the cauldron here with England coming to town for yet another instalment of this fierce rivalry.
As noted in the introduction, England got in the way of Ireland’s Grand Slam ambitions last term with the Borthwick’s charges managing a 23-22 victory at Twickenham.
While the Irish get up for any game against their old foes, you can bet your bottom dollar that the defeat mentioned above will spur them on even more this Saturday.
Easterby has a few injury issues to contend with for the opener with veteran prop Tadgh Furlong still out for a couple more weeks with a calf strain he picked up at the close of last year while find of last season Sam Prendergast has been seen wearing a leg heavy strapping on his left leg, but he has cracked the nod to start at pivot.
If the young fly-half is nursing an injury then it’s expected that fellow young gun Jack Crowley will crack the nod at fly-half.
While Easterby has delayed his team selection, his opposite number Steve Borthwick has fired off his matchday 23 earlier than usual.
The former England international has made some interesting selections for his side’s opener with brothers Tom and Ben Curry starting alongside each other in the back row for the first time while Cadan Murley is handed his debut on the wing and Luke Cowan-Dickie getting the nod at hooker with Jamie George out injured.
Verdict: Ireland (-)
Borthwick has been bold with his selections but England looks to be struggling against a very well-structured Ireland side. It is likely that the hosts winning comfortably on home soil.
