Dylan Hartley starts in the front row, with Courtney Lawes packing down at lock and Tom Wood continuing his run of appearances on the flank. Luther Burrell stays in the number 13 shirt, with Lee Dickson named among the replacements.
Burrell’s two tries in his first two internationals have earned the centre plenty of rave reviews, but he is all too aware that Saturday’s head-to-head against Brian O’Driscoll will be his stiffest challenge so far in an England shirt.
“Brian is one of those players who’s got that X-factor,” Burrell commented this week. “I’ve played against him in the Heineken Cup, so I’ve seen what he’s capable of. I think it will be my biggest defensive challenge in the Six Nations so far. I’m as ready as I’m ever going to be.
“He’s a fantastic icon for the game and I’ve got the utmost respect for him. But for 80 minutes we will be enemies on the rugby field. Hopefully, come the final whistle, England will have won and I can have a chat with him and pick his brains.”
Saturday’s action from Twickenham will be shown on the big screens in the Franklin’s Gardens bars before the England and Ireland Under-20 teams go head-to-head on the main pitch. Tickets for that game start at £5 and can be booked online now by CLICKING HERE and following the straightforward instructions!
ENGLAND TEAM TO PLAY IRELAND
Six Nations
Twickenham
Saturday, February 22nd, 2014
Kick off 4:00pm
15 Mike BROWN (Harlequins)
14 Jack NOWELL (Exeter Chiefs)
13 Luther BURRELL (Northampton Saints)
12 Billy TWELVETREES (Gloucester)
11 Jonny MAY (Gloucester)
10 Owen FARRELL (Saracens)
9 Danny CARE (Harlequins)
1 Joe MARLER (Harlequins)
2 Dylan HARTLEY (Northampton Saints)
3 David WILSON (Bath)
4 Joe LAUNCHBURY (London Wasps)
5 Courtney LAWES (Northampton Saints)
6 Tom WOOD (Northampton Saints)
7 Chris ROBSHAW (Harlequins)(capt)
8 Billy VUNIPOLA (Saracens)
Replacements
16 Tom YOUNGS (Leicester Tigers)
17 Mako VUNIPOLA (Saracens)
18 Henry THOMAS (Sale Sharks)
19 Dave ATTWOOD (Bath)
20 Ben MORGAN (Gloucester)
21 Lee DICKSON (Northampton Saints)
22 George FORD (Bath)
23 Alex GOODE (Saracens)
