Ireland Expected To Make Just One Change For Triple Crown Clash With England

by Will Matthews · February 17, 2020

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Triple crown.

Ireland boss Andy Farrell is expected to go with the same starting XV that secured an impressive bonus-point win over Wales in Round 2 when he names his side to take on England at Twickenham on Sunday.

The Ireland boss has no fresh injury worries with Robbie Henshaw and Caelan Doris both fit following respective head injuries. 13 players were released for PRO14 duty over the weekend, and while a number of them impressed, it doesn’t look likely that any of them will dislodge the current starters.

Dave Kilcoyne will be hoping that he can finally overtake Cian Healy at loosehead but it appears the veteran Leinster loosehead will hang on this week with Kilcoyne’s explosiveness off the bench set to be key once again for Farrell.

Keith Earls was excellent coming off the bench against Wales, slotting in at thirteen, but he always looks set to remain on the bench as an important option that can cover a number of positions in the backline.

But Farrell is expected to make one change to his bench – with Doris primed to take Max Deegan’s spot on the bench now that he’s fit again. He will be hoping his second cap goes a lot better after he was forced off just five minutes into his debut against Scotland following a nasty clash of heads.