Ireland Team Named For England Battle

Head Coach Joe Schmidt has named his match-day 23 for Ireland’s 6 Nations encounter against England on Saturday in Twickenham, ko 4.50pm.

From a Munster point of view Tommy O'Donnell misses out on this occasion after making appearances in the opening rounds against Wales and France, while Donnacha Ryan makes his first start of the campaign joining Devin Toner in the second row.

In the backrow CJ Stander and Jamie Heaslip are joined by newcomer Josh van der Flier at openside.

Conor Murray continues at scrum-half in retaining his starting place in every 6 Nations game since 2013 as Keith Earls returns to the wing after missing out against France due to concussion.  

Simon Zebo has also been included on the bench after successfully rehabbing a knee injury.

There is a first start for Ulster's Stuart McCloskey as he partners Robbie Henshaw in the mid-field pairing while Connacht's Ultan Dillane, a product of Tralee RFC, is named in the replacements. 

Ireland Team:
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch/Ulster)                         
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)                            
10. Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster)              
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
 
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (c)                                                          
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)                                                
4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)             
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)                     
6. CJ Stander (Munster)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)                         
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) (vc)                               
                               
Replacements
16. Richard Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)                             
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)                                             
18. Nathan White (Connacht)                    
19. Ultane Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)                   
20. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster)                                 
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)                               
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
23. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)