Overview
- Steve Borthwick has announced England's squad early for their Six Nations opener against Ireland, emphasizing a dynamic and mobile back row led by the Curry twins and Ben Earl.
- Tom and Ben Curry will start together for the first time in a Test match, with Tom at blindside flanker and Ben at openside, showcasing their defensive work rate and breakdown skills.
- Cadan Murley makes his England debut on the wing, with his strong on-field chemistry with fly-half Marcus Smith expected to add fluency to the attack.
- England's bench features a 6-2 split between forwards and backs, with Tom Willis and Ollie Chessum included to bolster physicality in the second half.
- England faces a challenging task against an experienced Ireland side in Dublin, with new captain Maro Itoje leading a team focused on accelerating development and building cohesion.