ENGLAND HAVE SPRUNG a surprise by uniting the Curry twins in their back row for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.
For the first time, Tom and Ben Curry will feature together in the starting XV, filling the flanker positions either side of number eight Ben Earl. Tom Curry is given the number six jersey.
In another selection twist, Cadan Murley will make his debut on the left wing after being given the nod ahead of Ollie Sleightholme, who filled the position in England’s most recent outing against Japan in November.
Head coach Steve Borthwick has opted for a six-two split between forwards and backs on the bench with Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South and Tom Willis set to provide heavyweight reinforcements in the second half.
The Curry brothers’ only previous appearance in an England matchday 23 came against New Zealand in November but with Ben replacing Tom in the second-half, they were not present on the field at the same time.
Borthwick has thrown selection curve balls throughout his 26 months in charge and the inclusion of the Sale forwards from the start is the latest example.
Both are primarily opensides, as is Earl, and while all three are able to fill multiple roles in the back row, Borthwick is effectively fielding a trio of sevens in the hope of challenging Ireland’s strength at the breakdown.
They will also offer England extra speed and dynamism around the field against the Six Nations favourites, albeit at the cost of ball-carrying heft and a standout line-out jumper at blindside flanker.
However, in Chessum, Cunningham-South and Willis they have powerful options to summon off the bench.
Willis is poised to win his second cap and first since 2023 after starring for Saracens this season, showing power in the carry and in defence, while Chessum will be making only his second appearance since suffering a knee injury in October.
England (v Ireland)
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens)
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens)
17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
20. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
21. Tom Willis (Saracens)
22. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
23. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Awesome men, be unreal if they can defend their crown, national treasures.
An Irish athlete has won a gold medal in rowing, and yesterday 2 of them in swimming thats 3 gold medals for Irish athletes so far. Though 2 of them were representing GB they are still Irish, and it should be noted, not many gold medals come to these shores.
@Kingshu: awh now, We give out shit when the Brits claim ours we can’t be doing the same!
@Mike O’Loughlin: in NI the Irish and British identities are not mutually exclusive, a large number of people are both, that doesn’t make them less Irish.
@Kingshu: no gold yet in rowing
@Kingshu: but you are right all for ni are irish but we perfer when the tri colour and anthem is played
@Mike O’Loughlin: just to add Jack McMillan represented Ireland in the last Olympics.
@Square: Gold in rowing was Hannah Scott from Colraine.
@Kingshu: ya but no tri colour are anthem so she british gold
@Square: Irish athlete won a gold medal. The tri colour isnt the flag of every Irish person in Ireland. Like Jack McMillan we should be proud of another Irish person winning gold.
@Kingshu: na he is GB
@Square: did you say that when he was swimming for Ireland in last Olympics? Representing Ireland or GB he’s still Irish, and I’m proud when any Irish athlete gets a gold medal, are you not?
@Kingshu: when running for GB its different as i said we dont support GB is all im saying i know he is irish but dont support GB
@Square: So you’re letting your hate of GB trump your love for the Irish?
@Kingshu: i hate nobody are any country lets leave it now