England get their Six Nations campaign under way with a highly anticipated encounter with Ireland on Saturday, as Steve Borthwick’s men seek to put a disappointing autumn behind them.
Telegraph Sport’s rugby experts give their verdicts on how the clash in Dublin will go …
Ireland 24 England 17
England will not die wondering with their speed-based game but do they have the power and cohesion to match Ireland? England are fitter than they were, and no doubt will look to target Sam Prendergast, but their limited line-out options are a concern.
Simon Easterby’s side were far from their best during the autumn and lost to England at Twickenham last season, but that backdrop makes them more dangerous. They have a point to prove. It is all wonderfully poised to be a classic encounter.
Ireland 16 England 25
Dynasties rise and fall, and there is a sense after Ireland’s flat defeat by the All Blacks last autumn that their supremacy could be approaching its natural end.
Given England confounded all expectations to defeat Ireland at Twickenham 11 months ago, courtesy of Marcus Smith’s last-gasp drop goal, they have the pedigree to repeat the feat in Dublin if their fly-half is at his exhilarating best and if their three opensides in the back row win the battle of the breakdown.
Ireland 27 England 20
Having spent all week with the England team, I cannot remember a single player or coach stating they were going to beat Ireland. Maybe this is the quietest of confidence but right now I cannot see what their path to victory is with a lack of specialist line-out jumper in the back row and an extremely green bench.
Ireland 19 England 21
On the Telegraph Rugby Podcast I was strong-armed, for the sake of variety, into going for an England win by the other two rascals. It would be weak to go back on that, so now I’m fully aboard the train of Currys, Murleys and Stewards.
A narrow win under the Dublin floodlights by a team who will graft to the last and run until their legs drop off. Just as Steve Borthwick demanded in these pages this week. Expect the fleet-footed English back row to get stuck into Prendergast, too.
Ireland 23 England 22
Listening to a quietly confident Maro Itoje on Thursday night in Dublin has convinced me that England will be clear on their tactical plan and full of energy. Will that be enough to land their first win at the Aviva Stadium since 2019, though? I just cannot see it. Jack Crowley to come off the bench to steer Ireland through. Just.
Ireland 23 England 20
I wonder if Borthwick is quite pleased that Ireland were first up, giving him tons of time to prepare tactically and leading to this fast-paced back row. Here’s the problem; intricate plans are lovely, but England’s ability to execute them against top opponents is another matter. Even without Tadgh Furlong and Joe McCarthy – not forgetting Andy Farrell – we know what Ireland can do. England are still a bit of a mystery.
