Image source, BBC Sport

Maro Itoje came into this Six Nations recovering from injury and any chance England have of reaffirming their title credentials may hinge on his return to full fitness.

Itoje has only played 74 minutes in this tournament so far and Steve Borthwick will be desperate for his captain to return to his usual influential self.

Since Borthwick's first game as England head coach in 2023, the Saracens second row has been England's key operator across the pitch, playing more minutes than any other England player.

His workrate and physicality are virtually irreplaceable - Itoje has won more than twice as many turnovers as any England player since 2023 while he consistently shows up in attack and defence.

The 31-year-old has hit 1,247 defensive and attacking rucks during this period - a staggering 515 more than any team-mate.

Jamie George, in second, hit 732 during the same period.

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

Where does Fin Smith stand with the current England squad?

Hi Charlie. I keep going back to what Kevin Sinfield told us when we asked how the England management keep three number 10s happy. "You don't," was his honest reply. So every week one of George Ford, Fin Smith or Marcus Smith isn't going to get a gig.

Fin Smith has been coming back from injury, Ford has been going so well and Marcus has that versatility in the number 23 shirt. But even if Fin misses out now and again, there is absolutely no doubt he will go on to have a fantastic England career.

Rugby Union Weekly

Ollie Lawrence is back in the England team and he will be on the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast, you can listen on BBC Sounds.

We had some insight into the chat he had with our rugby correspondent Chris Jones earlier on in this live, scroll back to have a read.

For more insight, listen to the episode and/or ask Chris a question. You can do so by pressing the get involved button on this page.

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Maro Itoje will become only the ninth men’s player to reach 100 caps for England.

The others are:

• Ben Youngs (127)
• Dan Cole (118)
• Jason Leonard (114)
• Owen Farrell (112)
• George Ford (107)
• Jamie George (107)
• Courtney Lawes (105)
• Danny Care (101)

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

England captain Maro Itoje's illustrious career is set to take in a 100th cap against Ireland - a fitting fixture given it will be his 14th appearance against Andy Farrell's side, his highest tally versus any nation.

His England career has been a model of consistency, playing 80 minutes in 30 successive Six Nations matches until he started on the bench in round one against Wales this year.

Overall, 95 of his previous 99 caps have been starts - a remarkable record of both fitness and performance given the attritional nature of his typical position in the second row.

Carries, tackles, turnovers, lineouts - Itoje does it all. And England will need their leader to be at his best if they are to bounce back from losing to Scotland by beating Ireland on Saturday afternoon.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

Will inclusion of Lawrence help improve England's attack ball in hand? Contestable kicking is a bit of a lottery. What other attacking strategy could England employ?

Hi Toby. Lawrence will definitely help with England's midfield punch, while Tommy Freeman is so good at coming off his wing and making mischief and playing as an auxiliary centre. So I do expect England to have a few more options with the ball. But the kicking game though is going to be a huge area on Saturday.

So much of England's joy over the past 12 months came as a result of winning those aerial contests, but at Murrayfield they were completely dominated with Kyle Steyn and others supreme. I don't see England changing tack off the back of one bad result, but they might need to consider what they do if that part of the game isn't working.

England centre Ollie Lawrence added to the BBC on competing with Tommy Freeman for the 13 shirt: "It's tough, when I came in the autumns Tommy moved to 13 and there was a bit of straight away 'that's another person I am competing with'.

"I didn't expect it. I potentially knew it might happen, I didn't think it would happen straight away and I got my opportunity in the second game and then the start of the Six Nations Tommy went back to 13.

"I was there fighting my way to try and get back into the team but I think it is one of those things where we had to try some combinations. Tommy is such a good player and we need to get him the ball and it was something Steve [Borthwick] wanted to try and I was happy for him to try it and for me to keep trying to get back into the team.

"This weekend Tommy is back on the wing, hopefully I can get the ball to him a bit more.It's not frustrating but it's one of those things where you are knocking on the door and you have to wait your turn sometimes."

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

Would England ever think of starting Lawrence at 12 and freeman at 13 or is Dingwall too important to the system Steve Borthwick has created

Hi Theo. I just think Lawrence is much more comfortable at number 13. A 12 needs to be handler on the gainline and although Lawrence can do this, he is more used as a strike runner a bit wider out for both England and Bath, where he has more natural 12s like Max Ojomoh and Cameron Redpath alongside him. Dingwall has become an important cog but if England were to change 12 then Ojomoh and Seb Atkinson would be the other contenders to play there.

Physical element? You mean something like this try against New Zealand in November?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

England centre Ollie Lawrence has spoken to BBC Sport after it was confirmed he will start against Ireland this weekend.

On what Steve Borthwick expects from him this weekend: "I think he just wants me to bring the best part of my game really, that physical element I guess both sides of the ball. Give the team some go forward and try and create opportunities where I can in the wide channels, whether that is on the short edges or with ball in hand and off of phase play.

"That is what I back myself to do is beat defenders and hopefully I can do that for the team on the weekend."

And on if his approach changes if he hasn't been picked for a previous game: "I wouldn't say my approach changes. The last two weeks for me, obviously not being involved in the team, my focus has been around preparing the team as best as I can. Train and compete both sides of the ball.

"This week nothing really changes. There is probably an element of frustration, obviously I didn't play the first two games and you always want to be playing in the England jersey, starting or on the bench. But this weekend I have a chance to show what I can do and hopefully get us back to winning ways."

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

Chris does this selection mean England are looking to put more pace on their game for Ireland?

Hi Mark. The breakdown will have been a big area of focus after the Scotland game. England were bossed in that department and Tom Curry especially will be given a brief to fix that against Ireland.

I also think the selection of Henry Arundell shows Steve Borthwick wants pace somewhere in his back three, even if Arundell had a tough day at Murrayfield.

The same applies to the back row; at times England looked a little one-paced against Scotland and Pollock's selection will help with this.

Image source, Getty Images

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Bath centre Ollie Lawrence was a star performer for England during the clean sweep of autumn Tests at the end of last year, including scoring England's opening try in the 33-19 win against New Zealand.

Lawrence has not played for England since because of hamstring and knee injuries although he was thought to be available to face Scotland last week, with Steve Borthwick instead preferring to continue with Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman in midfield.

England's head coach has welcomed Lawrence back to take on Ireland and the team score, on average, almost one more try per game when he is in the starting XV and are also more effective in terms of carries and line-breaks.

They do however, concede marginally more tries with Lawrence at centre and England need to be much tighter defensively than they were at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Henry Pollock has made two appearances form the bench in the Six Nations so far.

Against Wales, he got over the try line but he was not given the credit as Taine Plumtree received a yellow card and it was changed to a penalty try.

Against Scotland he couldn't turn the tide of the game but he injected paced into match. Scored 21 in the fantasy game too so if he was in a supporter's supersub he added well to scores.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Northampton tyro Henry Pollock will make his first start for England against Ireland on Saturday after seven caps - and three tries - off the bench.

He made his England debut in the record win in Wales in 2025, scoring a brace, and has the uncanny knack of always making an impact - although it isn't always in exactly the right way.

If we compare Pollock to the other back-rows who have played for England since the start of 2025, in all competitions for club and country, Pollock leads the way for scoring tries, making line-breaks and winning turnovers.

However, he's also given away the most penalties and conceded the most turnovers.

Nuisance by name, nuisance by nature.

Not many play for the British and Irish Lions before starting a Test for their country.

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Now we've got the team, send us your questions for BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones.

Send them in by tapping a message into the Get Involved box that is towards the top of this page (mobiles) or off to the left (landscape screens).

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Henry Arundell had an eventful afternoon at Murrayfield last weekend.

First, he was yellow carded after just eight minutes following an attempted jackal with Scotland on the attack in a promising position.

Half an hour later, the Bath winger received a second yellow card - which automatically became a 20-minute red - after colliding with Scotland winger Kyle Steyn in the air.

Arundell has, however, avoided any subsequent suspension after a disciplinary committee ruled no further punishment was warranted due to the "very different nature" of both cards - one for a technical offence and one for foul play.

After the Scotland loss, Steve Borthwick said that the 23-year-old would be "disappointed" with the yellow cards - but the England head coach has kept faith with Arundell in his starting XV to face Ireland.

Is that the right call? Thumbs up for yes, down for no.

England head coach Steve Borthwick has made three changes to his starting XV.

Henry Pollock will make his first Test start, while British and Irish Lion Tom Curry also comes into the starting team.

Centre Ollie Lawrence returns after missing out on selection for Saturday's crushing defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield.

Captain Maro Itoje will win his 100th cap.

England: Steward; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Pollock.

Replacements: George, Rodd, Davison, Coles, Pepper, Underhill, Van Poortvliet, M Smith.

Team news incoming.....

Chris Ashton
Former England wing on BBC Rugby Union Weekly

The big one is Marcus and not having him on the bench. The guy is a game-changer. He can also play full-back.

If the game is not going the way you want it to, then Marcus can change it.

Fin Smith was preferred to his namesake for a bench spot against Scotland.