England team to play Ireland: 2023 Six Nations

Head coach Steve Borthwick selects his England team to play Ireland in the 2023 Six Nations final in Dublin this weekend.

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n the forward pack Lewis Ludlam is named vice-captain and is flanker alongside Jack Willis. Alex Dombrandt is at No. 8. In the same front row that has started each game of the championship, vice-captain Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler are at prop and Jamie George is at hooker. David Ribbans starts at lock with Maro Itoje.

Dan Cole is in line to make his 100th appearance for England after being named as replacement. Cole made his England debut in the Six Nations in February 2010. He has gone on to play in three Rugby World Cups and has won three Guinness Six Nations titles.

Nick Isiekwe and Joe Marchant return to the bench, along with Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Ben Curry, Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith.

Borthwick said:

“We travel to Dublin to face an Ireland team on Saturday that has the chance to secure a Grand Slam Championship victory at home for the first time” said Borthwick.

“We know that after the bitter disappointment of the display against an exceptional France team last week, we will have to be much improved to meet the challenge of playing the side presently ranked number one in the world.

“However, I have witnessed an England squad determined to make amends for the defeat at Twickenham, and I am confident that the team announced today will once again want to show the sort of resilience and attitude that brought us victory in Wales.”

When is Ireland v England?

Ireland face England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday March 18. The match kicks off at 5pm GMT.

The other fixtures that weekend (all on Saturday) are Scotland vs Italy at 12.30pm, at BT Murrayfield and France vs Wales, 2.45pm, at Stade de France.

Who is the Ireland v England referee?

South African Jaco Peyper will take charge of this game. The full team of officials is below:

Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)
Assistant Referee 1: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

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