The pick of the matches (from a neutral perspective) in the first round of the 2025 Six Nations Championship will come from Aviva Stadium where Ireland will host England on Saturday evening.
Ireland are set to embark on their journey to be crowned champions of the Northern Hemisphere's elite rugby-playing nations for a third consecutive year, while England are looking for their first title since 2020.
Match preview
© Imago
After beating France in the opening match of last year's Six Nations, Ireland were widely tipped to go on to win the tournament, and they lived up to expectations, finishing five points ahead of Les Bleus and as the number-one-ranked team in the world.
However, the one smudge on their otherwise flawless record came in the penultimate match of the competition, when they were beaten 23-22 in a thrilling contest at Twickenham by their upcoming opponent.
Nevertheless, with the title secured, the Shamrocks enter this year's competition with a chance to record a 'three-peat' - something that no other side has managed to achieve since Italy joined the Championship at the turn of the century.
However, the champs will have to navigate their title defence without Andy Farrell, who has taken a sabbatical from the national team in 2025 to focus on his new role as British and Irish Lions head coach.
Simon Easterby takes temporary charge for this tournament, and while he may attempt to bring in a few new tactics, this is a team that has had arguably the most consistent playing style over the last decade, with the key focus being on possession, and it is unlikely the interim boss will look to change what has worked for the side so successfully in recent years.
© Imago
Meanwhile, England will travel to Dublin as underdogs and are perhaps lacking confidence after a disappointing November campaign, when they suffered successive defeats to Southern Hemisphere heavyweights South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
The latter was a particularly bitter pill to swallow, given that the Wallabies received the Wooden Spoon in the Rugby Championship a couple of months earlier, managing just a single victory from their six matches in the competition.
The Red Roses' 2024 was defined by tense, edge-of-your-seat matches, and barring two lopsided victories (52-17 and 59-14 against Japan), every other game was settled by single digits.
In fact, if we focus only on results against other Six Nations teams and those from the current Rugby Championship, England's average result margin last year was a mere 4.1 points - the closest series of matches they have had in a single year since the professional era began.
English fans have become a little too familiar with heartbreak since their one-point defeat to the Springboks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and for Steve Borthwick's side, this year needs to be one where they regain the ability to close out good performances and secure victories.
Ireland form (all competitions):
- L
- W
- L
- W
- W
- W
England form (all competitions):
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- W
Team News
© Imago
Ireland were been dealt a major setback ahead of their opening match of the competition, with Joe McCarthy being ruled out due to injury. As a result, Tadhg Beirne moves from blindside flanker to lock, while Ryan Baird steps into the back row to join Josh van der Flier and captain Caelan Doris.
Leinster's Sam Prendergast will don the number 10 jersey against England, edging out Jack Crowley for the starting fly-half spot, and he will be joined in the halves pairing by Jamison Gibson-Park.
In the pack, Finlay Bealham lines up alongside Ronan Kelleher and Andrew Porter in the front row, while hooker Dan Sheehan, who returned last weekend after months out through injury, will start on the bench.
Brothers Tom and Ben Curry will start together for England, while lock Maro Itoje is handed the captain's armband for the first time in his career, becoming the 136th player to skipper the Red Roses.
Luke Cowan-Dickie will start at hooker instead of former captain Jamie George, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while wing Cadan Murley will make his Test debut, joining Tommy Freeman and Freddie Steward in the back three.
The front row features Ellis Genge at loosehead prop and Will Stuart at tighthead, with George Martin partnering Itoje in the second row, while Ben Earl completes the pack at number eight alongside the Curry brothers.
Ireland starting lineup: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 James Ryan, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Robbie Henshaw
England starting lineup: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Ben Curry, 6 Tom Curry, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 3 Will Stuart, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Tom Willis, 22 Harry Randall, 23 Fin Smith
We say: Ireland 27-24 England
England beat this opponent by the slenderest of margins last year, but Ireland ended 2024 very well and will be determined to exact their revenge in this match. The hosts have won each of the last three matches against the Red Roses here in Dublin and we feel they will add to that record with another victory this weekend.
No Data Analysis info
Devesh Jaganath
