No holding back.
Joe Schmidt is using Ireland’s final warm-up game to get his troops battle-hardened for the World Cup.
The newly confirmed Irishman has named a strong XV to take on Stuart Lancaster’s men at Twickenham, on Saturday.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton are the half-back pairing again while Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne get their first run out together this season.
The @IrishRugby team to play @EnglandRugby on Saturday in Twickenham is… #ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/kFIQW1L99d
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) September 3, 2015
Simon Zebo starts fullback again while Tommy Bowe is right wing and Dave Kearney is on the left
Devin Toner is reunited with Paul O’Connell in the second row.
Schmidt has sprung one surprise as Tadhg Furlong is named on the bench as back-up loosehead to Jack McGrath.
Ireland will be looking to get back on the winning track following last Saturday’s defeat to Wales.
They started their warm-up run with victories over the Welsh and Scots but looked rusty, and unwilling to play expansively, in their 16-10 loss at the Aviva Stadium.
IRELAND XV (to play England)
15. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
10. Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Paul O’Connell (Young Munster) (capt)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7. Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
17. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
18. Nathan White (Connacht)
19. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
20. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
23. Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
