Ireland team vs. England: Farrell backs big guns in powerful XV

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Ireland are looking for a fifth straight win over the aul'd enemy.

Andy Farrell has stuck with his big guns in a full bore Ireland team to take on England at Twickenham (4:45pm kick-off, Saturday March 9). The official announcement was made on Thursday afternoon - our Ireland team news live hub will keep you up to date on all the big calls, comments and reactions.

IRELAND TEAM

15: Hugo Keenan
14: Calvin Nash
13: Robbie Henshaw
12: Bundee Aki
11: James Lowe
10: Jack Crowley
9: Jamison Gibson-Park
1: Andrew Porter
2: Dan Sheahan
3: Tadhg Furlong (75th cap*)
4: Joe McCarthy
5: Tadhg Beirne
6: Peter O'Mahony (c)
7: Josh Van der Flier
8: Caelan Doris

REPLACEMENTS - 16: Ronan Kelleher, 17: Cian Healy, 18: Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20: Ryan Baird, 21: Jack Conan, 22: Conor Murray, 23: Ciaran Frawley.

Ireland are three from three in the 2024 Six Nations are thrashing France, Italy and Wales in their opening fixtures. Standing in Ireland's way of back-to-back Grand Slams are England (away) and Scotland, at Aviva Stadium.

Click on the key point you want to read about, or just keep scrolling to see updates in our live hub [below]:

Andy Farrell readies his Ireland team for Felix Jones and English 'blitz'

Heading into this game, after his men had taken care of Wales in Dublin, Andy Farrell spoke of the new challenge for this Ireland team facing England - the Felix Jones blitz defence. Jones has moved to defence coach from South Africa to England, in recent months, and Steve Borthwick has raved about his early impact.

"It's the South African defence," Farrell observed about what changes he had seen with how England now defend. "I know that Felix will constantly try and put his stamp on implementing that.

"There's always going to be teething problems at the start but they'll go harder because that's their philosophy.
"Our defence is top drawer, there's no doubt about that. It has been for quite some time now. It was unbelievably fitting that we kept Wales out because of the fight and want to be able to do that. I thought our defensive shape wasn't very nice at times but our intent certainly on the line said a lot about how much they love defending for one another."

Farrell is on the money there. Ireland went three halves, over two games, without conceding a single point (in the Italy match and first half against Wales). They conceded a penalty try in the win over Wales but have not had an opposition player cross the whitewash for a score since Paul Gabrillagues dotted down in the 52nd minute of the opening game against France.

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