England Rugby

England had already named their team for Saturday's home game earlier in the week.

Henry Pollock has been handed his first Test start as Steve Borthwick makes three changes from the team that suffered a crushing defeat against Scotland.

The 21-year-old is named at number eight alongside fellow British and Irish Lion Tom Curry, who has featured off the bench in the past six Tests, and Ben Earl in the back row.

Centre Ollie Lawrence returns after missing out on selection at Murrayfield.

Tommy Freeman, who started the first two rounds at outside centre, shifts back to the right wing.

Tom Roebuck loses his spot on the right wing, however Henry Arundell, who was sent off after receiving two yellow cards - the second for taking a player out in the air - is given a chance to redeem himself on the left wing.

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

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Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

Andy Farrell's impassioned plea for "keyboard warriors" to help Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast was a reflection of how protective the coach is of his players.

And while reverting back to Crowley for Saturday's game will likely spark further discussion around the fly-half situation, taking Prendergast out of the firing line after disappointing performances against France and Italy could prove to be shrewd management.

For Crowley, it is a chance to remind everyone why he was picked as the heir to Johnny Sexton's throne.

The 26-year-old is regarded as the stronger of the two defensively but Farrell will hope Crowley helps breathe new life into the Irish attack, which has struggled to really put teams to the sword of late.

The inclusion of Ciaran Frawley on the bench is not insignificant either. Frawley - who will join Connacht from Leinster at the end of the season - was Ireland's drop-goal hero against South Africa in 2024.

He has been a peripheral figure since then but his ability to cover fly-half, centre and full-back is useful in a six-two split on the bench.

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Jack Crowley will start at fly-half as Ireland head coach Andy Farrell makes five changes to his starting XV for Saturday's Six Nations match against England at Allianz Stadium.

Sam Prendergast started Ireland's opening loss to France and last week's victory for Italy, but Farrell has brought Crowley back into the XV after the 26-year-old's impact off the bench against the Azzurri.

Prendergast is not named in the matchday squad, with Farrell opting for the versatile Ciaran Frawley on the bench.

Munster's Crowley will partner Jamison Gibson-Park in a changed half-back pairing as Craig Casey drops to the bench.

Three-time British and Irish Lion Tadhg Furlong is recalled at tight-head prop having returned from a calf injury against Italy.

In a changed back row, captain Caelan Doris switches back to his familiar number eight role behind flankers Tadhg Beirne and Josh van der Flier, with Jack Conan and Cormac Izuchukwu making way.

Farrell has changed to a split of five forwards and three backs on the bench, having gone with a 6-2 for the first two games.

British and Irish Lion Finlay Bealham has been recalled to provide tight-head cover, with Ronan Kelleher, Tom O'Toole, Nick Timoney and Jack Conan rounding out the forward replacements.

Wing Tommy O'Brien, who was left out against Italy, joins Casey and Frawley as the backline options on the bench.

Image source, BBC Sport

Ireland Rugby

Ireland: Osborne; Baloucoune, Ringrose, McCloskey, Lowe; Crowley, Gibson-Park; Loughman, Sheehan, Furlong, Ryan, McCarthy, Beirne, van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Kelleher, O'Toole, Bealham, Conan, Timoney, Casey, Frawley, O'Brien.

Ireland assistant coach Johnny Sexton says it is important for the team's current fly-halves to "learn some hard lessons" as they try to forge successful international careers.

Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley have shared the number 10 jersey over the past two years, while head coach Andy Farrell also has Harry Byrne and Ciaran Frawley at his disposal.

Crowley, 26, could start Ireland's Six Nations game against England at Allianz Stadium on Saturday (14:10 GMT) after impressing off the bench in the win over Italy following Prendergast's struggles.

When asked if he imparts his wisdom on them, Sexton - widely regarded as Ireland's greatest fly-half - said: "Sometimes, I try not to too often, because it's their journey, it doesn't have to be the same as mine.

"But I do try to explain to them when you're starting off you have to learn some hard lessons.

"I was learning lessons playing AIL [All-Ireland League] at 22 and 23, I got my first cap at 24.

"And I still had many bad games and many moments where I wish I could do it all over again, but that was part of my journey and they have to look at it as moments to learn and get to where they want to go."

Sexton said it is important 23-year-old Prendergast - who cut a disconsolate figure when he was replaced by Crowley - learns from missing a couple of straightforward conversion attempts against Italy.

He also praised Crowley's "very impressive" impact off the bench as he helped guide Ireland to a 20-13 win at Aviva Stadium despite kicking a penalty dead at the end of the game which ended his side's chances of securing a try bonus point.

"The difference between a good game and a bad game is when the space is there, you've got to go there, because if you set a phase up, it's not going to be there the next time because teams are too good," said the 2018 World Rugby player of the year.

"That's the difference between club rugby and international rugby. What he did on Saturday was good in that regard and now if he starts, he'll have to do it from minute one.

"From the start you have to manage the game a bit more, so each time whether on the bench or starting, it's a different challenge."

Image source, Getty Images

Watch highlights from the weekend as a rampant Scotland side blew England away in a 31-20 bonus-point win in a pulsating Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield.

Here's some more from Farrell on the fly-half debate:

The head coach praised Crowley's performance off the bench after the 26-year-old helped steer Ireland to victory against an impressive Italy side who led at half-time only to be denied their first Six Nations win in Dublin.

However, Crowley's day ended in frustration when he kicked the ball dead as Ireland chased a last-gasp bonus-point try.

"He's gutted about the kick into the corner obviously but he did a lot more than that for us," added Farrell.

"He did a lot more good for us than harm and he can be proud of his performance today."

On Prendergast, who missed two conversion attempts, Farrell said: "He'd be frustrated with bits.

"Down the line, these two lads, and others, they will be the players that they want to be. Everyone goes through these types of scenarios."

Prendergast made his Ireland debut aged 21 in November 2024 but he and Crowley were overlooked by Farrell for last year's British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

However, when asked if he feels he thrust the Leinster player into the unforgiving rigours of Test rugby too early in his career, Farrell said: "No, I've no problem at all. He was playing outstanding rugby and he will continue to do that."

Image source, Inpho

Ireland Rugby Social
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Former Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray believes Jack Crowley should start Ireland's Six Nations trip to face England at Twickenham on Saturday.

After his introduction in the 56th minute in Saturday's 20-13 win over Italy, Crowley converted Rob Baloucoune's try and added a crucial penalty later in the game.

Sam Prendergast, who formed a starting half-back pairing with Craig Casey, was off target with two conversions and Murray feels head coach Andy Farrell may seek a change in that area, with Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park a viable option against England.

"I think you do, don't you?" Murray told the Ireland Rugby Social podcast.

"I think Crowley starts the next game because he did so well when he came on.

"I don't think Jack's stats are where he has had them before, but he came on and kicked two kicks. I know one of them was very easy and you could argue that Sam's [Prendergast] kicks were gettable as well.

"We are going around a roundabout with this one and this is Jack's turn again. I am just hoping someone grabs it [the chance]. "

Image source, Inpho

Who do you want to see start for Ireland against England?

Have your say on team selection and give us your thoughts on the England game using our 'Get Involved' button at the top of this page.

Head coach Andy Farrell issued an impassioned plea for "keyboard warriors to cop on and try to help" Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley amid a "damaging" narrative about Ireland's fly-half situation.

Crowley played every minute of Ireland's triumphant 2024 Six Nations campaign and Prendergast has started all but one of the seven championship games since.

Prendergast struggled in Ireland's win over Italy in Dublin on Saturday before being replaced by Crowley, whose high-tempo display leaves Farrell with another selection headache before facing England.

Farrell said: "Do you know what, I might be talking out of school here, but in my opinion for what's gone on over the last year or something, especially with the keyboard warriors, I think people need to ask themselves, really, sometimes, 'Are we Irish? Do we want people to do well or not?'

"Because it can be tough for these kids like, you know? It can be tough for these kids. I've seen it, to-ing and fro-ing with both of them, and both of them are strong characters.

"It takes a lot to break kids like that. But I've seen it affect people, you know. So the keyboard warriors on Twitter or whatever you call it now need to cop on and try and help these kids."

He added: "It's damaging, you know."

Image source, Getty Images

A reminder of what happened in Dublin on Saturday as Ireland fought back in the second half to beat Italy 20-13 and pick up their first win in this year's Six Nations.

Hello and welcome to our live page as we build up to Ireland's team announcement for Saturday's big Six Nations game against England at Twickenham.

The team will be announced at 11:00 GMT and Andy Farrell is due to speak to the media at 12:00 GMT so we will keep you covered with any changes made and what he says.

First, let's start by looking at what happened at the weekend where Ireland and England had contrasting fortunes in round two.

Image source, Inpho