In a historic move, brothers Tom and Ben Curry are set to make their first-ever start together for England in the upcoming Six Nations opener against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday. This marks a significant milestone for the Curry twins as they step onto the field side by side, ready to face the formidable challenge posed by the Irish team. But that’s not all that’s making headlines in the English camp – lock Maro Itoje will don the captain’s armband from the start of a Test match for the very first time, joining an illustrious list of 136 players who have led England in rugby history.
The absence of former captain Jamie George due to a hamstring injury has paved the way for Luke Cowan-Dickie to start at hooker. Additionally, wing Cadan Murley is slated to make his Test debut alongside Tommy Freeman and Freddie Steward in the back-three. The front row comprises Ellis Genge and Will Stuart, the latter taking his place at tighthead prop. George Martin partners with skipper Itoje in the second row, while Ben Earl slots in at No 8 to complete the pack alongside the dynamic Curry twins in the back row.
The half-back duo of Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith is expected to bring their A-game, with Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade forming a solid partnership in the centres. As the team gears up for this crucial match, the bench strength boasts the likes of Theo Dan, Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Willis, Harry Randall, and Fin Smith, providing a mix of forwards and backs for tactical substitutions.
Head coach Steve Borthwick acknowledges the enormity of the task at hand, facing off against the tournament favorites in what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter. “We’re looking forward to the challenge of facing the tournament favorites,” Borthwick affirms. “We know it’ll be a tough contest against a team that’s very familiar with each other. We’ll need to work tirelessly and maintain our discipline from the first whistle to the last.” The anticipation is palpable as England readies itself to take on Ireland in Dublin, fully prepared to meet the challenge head-on.
The England team lineup against Ireland is as follows:
Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 George Martin, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Curry, 8 Ben Earl.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Tom Willis, 22 Harry Randall, 23 Fin Smith.
Looking ahead, the Six Nations 2025 fixtures for England are as follows:
• February 1: Ireland (a)
• February 8: France (h)
• February 22: Scotland (h)
• March 9: Italy (h)
• March 15: Wales (a)
As the stage is set for this thrilling showdown between England and Ireland, all eyes will be on the Curry brothers, Itoje’s leadership, and the team’s collective effort to secure a triumphant start to their Six Nations campaign. Stay tuned for what promises to be a riveting clash of titans on the rugby field.
