Fri. Feb 7th, 2025

Ireland name team for Six Nations opener at home to England

ByDarragh Moloney

Thursday, 30 January 2025, 15:42 , , ,

Interim Head Coach Simon Easterby has named his Ireland squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash with England. 

Caelan Doris captains an Irish side hoping to retain their crown for the third year in a row, the Leinsterman flanked by clubmates Ryan Baird and Josh van der Flier. 

21-year-old Sam Prendergast is in line for his Six Nations debut, named at fly-half in a move that sees Jack Crowley settle for a place on the bench. 

James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne have been named as the two locks, with Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Finlay Bealham making up the front row. 

Jamison Gibson-Park is in line for his 39th Irish cap at scrum-half, with his clubmates Hugo Keenan and James Lowe joining Connacht’s Mack Hansen in the back three, while Bundee Aki partners Garry Ringrose in midfield. 

A number of experienced heads are named on the bench, with Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Iain Henderson and Jack Conan all listed as forward replacements. 

Elsewhere, Munster pair Conor Murray and Crowley join Robbie Henshaw in rounding out the substitutes. 

Ireland lost out by just one point when the sides locked horns in last year’s tournament, their counterparts pipping a 23-22 victory in March last. 

The tie is scheduled to kick off at 4:45 pm this Saturday in the Aviva Stadium and will be televised live on Virgin Media One, with coverage starting at 4 pm. 

Squads:

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Iain Henderson, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Robbie Henshaw.

England: Freddie Steward; Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Cadan Murley; Marcus Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Will Stuart; Maro Itoje (capt), George Martin; Tom Curry, Ben Curry, Ben Earl.

Replacements: Theo Dan, Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Willis, Harry Randall, Fin Smith.