Like Ireland, England have made just one change to their starting XV for the battle royale in Twickenham on Paddy’s Day.
Saracens winger David Strettle comes in on the wing instead of Charlie Sharples and besides that, it’s as you were for the meeting with the auld enemy on Saturday afternoon.
Ben Foden, fresh from becoming a new father after his delightful partner Una Healy gave birth to a baby girl during the week, starts alongside Strettle and Chris Ashton in the back three and if Ireland didn’t already have enough reason to stop him scoring a try, surely preventing him from engaging in the inevitable and hugely annoying cradle-swinging celebration will provide extra motivation.
Stand-in coach Stuart Lancaster makes one further change to the match day 22, with Bath’s Lee Mears coming in on the bench for Rob Webber, who injured his shoulder in Paris last weekend.
5pm on Saturday is when Ireland will take on the hosts in Twickenham and if you need reminding of all the team news for Declan Kidney’s men, come this way.
England: Ben Foden; Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, David Strettle; Owen Farrell, Lee Dickson; Alex Corbisiero, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole; Mouritz Botha, Geoff Parling; Tom Croft, Chris Robshaw (Captain), Ben Morgan.
Replacements: Lee Mears, Matt Stevens, Tom Palmer, Phil Dowson, Ben Youngs, Charlie Hodgson, Mike Brown.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
