Six Nations 2019: England vs Ireland score prediction, line-ups, odds, live stream, TV, h2h The Six Nations – now widely revered as perhaps the greatest rugby tournament in either
hemisphere – returns in all its bruising glory this week, with Wales
facing a Friday night trip to Paris and Italy attempting to end
their 17-match winless run in Edinburgh.
However, those contests rather pale into
insignificance in comparison with the weekend’s main event – the small
matter of a titanic clash between Ireland and England at Dublin’s Aviva
Stadium.
Having claimed their third Grand Slam
title courtesy of a hugely satisfying 24-15 victory at Twickenham on the
final weekend in 2018, the hosts and defending champions head into this
year’s tournament hoping to justify their billing as clear favourites
and as New Zealand’s closest global rivals ahead of the looming World
Cup.
Joe Schmidt, who will leave Ireland after
that tournament in Japan and hand the reins over to defence coach Andy
Farrell, saw his team consolidate their position as the world’s
second-ranked international outfit during a winning autumn that included
restricting the All Blacks to an incredibly rare try-less outing in a
second win over that illustrious opponent in as many years and a first
at home.
England had previously assumed the mantle
as New Zealand’s biggest threat following a blistering first two years
of Eddie Jones’ reign that included two Six Nations titles, an 18-game
unbeaten streak, 22 wins from 23 Tests and a historic series whitewash
in Australia.
However, where 2018 was so memorable for Ireland, the previously dominant Red Rose endured something of a collapse.
They finished a paltry fifth in the Six
Nations, lost five contests in a row and a series in South Africa before
recovering somewhat during an autumn campaign in which they beat the
Springboks, Australia and Japan as well as losing in heartbreaking
fashion to the All Blacks.
Tensions and mind games have been on the
agenda all week in the build-up to this mouthwatering showdown, with
England assistant coach John Mitchell claiming that Ireland will
essentially “try to bore the s*** out of us”.
England’s ranks have been bolstered for
the Six Nations by the return of several key players including Billy
Vunipola, though Ben Te’o, Brad Shields and Joe Cokanasiga will all miss
the opening fixture through injury.
Jones has opted to retain Elliot Daly at
full-back despite Mike Brown’s proven ability to operate under the high
ball, with the latter – along with Joe Launchbury – missing out
altogether as Chris Ashton is preferred as a replacement.
George Kruis – and not Courtney Lawes
– gets the nod in the second row alongside Maro Itoje as England look to
utilise the lineout, while Manu Tuilagi is set to make his first Six
Nations start for almost six years at inside centre and Jack Nowell is
recalled to the wing.
Tuilagi partners Henry Slade in midfield
as captain Owen Farrell starts at fly-half and George Ford settles for a
place on the bench.
As for Ireland, centre Robbie Henshaw
will make a rare start at full-back instead of Rob Kearney and Josh van
der Flier pips the fit-again Sean O’Brien on the openside.
Influential scrum-half Conor Murray returns to the starting XV after missing the autumn Tests with a neck injury.
Ireland XV: Henshaw;
Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best (c),
Furlong; Toner, Ryan; O’Mahony, Van Der Flier, Stander
Replacements: Cronin, Kilcoyne, Porter, Roux, O’Brien, Cooney, Carberry, Larmour
England XV: Daly; Nowell, Slade, Tuilagi, May; Farrell (c), Youngs; M.Vunipola, George, Sinckler; Itoje, Kruis; Wilson, T.Curry, B.Vunipola
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Williams, Lawes, Hughes, Robson, Ford, Ashton
While there is always a chance that an
improved England side with the majority of their key operators fit could
catch Ireland cold on the opening weekend, it is incredibly difficult
to pick against this current Ireland team in what is certain to be a
lively atmosphere.
England have struggled in Dublin since
ending a 10-year winless run there back in 2013, losing 19-9 in 2015
before a 13-9 defeat that ended their winning run two years ago.
One thing is for definite – this will not
be a match for the faint-hearted and is expected to be lacking in
attacking verve and regular try-scoring opportunities.
Instead, expect no shortage of
bone-shuddering hits, physical carries, defensive steel and plenty of
booming, probing kicks from the respective boots of Johnny Sexton and
Murray.