Big names return as Ireland team named to take on England this weekend
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Back in action.
Head coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland team to take on England in their penultimate Summer Nations Series game at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin this weekend.
James Ryan will captain Ireland in the final home match before the Rugby World Cup, while Keith Earls is in line to win his 100th Test cap in green should he feature off the replacements bench.
Earls, who made his Ireland debut against Canada in November 2008, is set to become the ninth Ireland player to reach the landmark, following in the footsteps of Brian O’Driscoll (133), Ronan O’Gara (128), Cian Healy (124), Rory Best (124), Johnny Sexton (113), Paul O’Connell (108), John Hayes (105) and Conor Murray (105).
Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe make up the Ireland starting back three, with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose also set for their first appearances in midfield. Leinster pair Ross Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park start in the half-backs.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong start in the front row, with Tadhg Beirne joining Ryan – who captains Ireland for the eighth time on Saturday – in the second row. Peter O’Mahony starts at blindside flanker, with Josh van der Flier at openside and Cian Prendergast set for his first Ireland start at number eight.
Farrell and the Ireland Coaching Team have strong options across the bench, with Rob Herring, Jeremy Loughman and Finlay Bealham providing the front row reinforcements. Joe McCarthy and Caelan Doris will look to make big impacts when called upon, while the Munster trio of Conor Murray, Jack Crowley and centurion-in-waiting Earls complete the Match Day 23.
Ireland (v England):
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Ross Byrne
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Tadhg Beirne
5. James Ryan (c)
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Cian Prendergast
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Jeremy Loughman
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Joe McCarthy
20. Caelan Doris
21. Conor Murray
22. Jack Crowley
23. Keith Earls
