23 Aug 2019 | 5 min |

England v Ireland: preview, teams and key stats

England play their final fixture at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday before the Rugby World Cup with Ireland the visitors.

Owen Farrell returns to lead the side from inside centre, while Manu Tuilagi (outside centre) and Ben Youngs (scrum half) start their first match this Quilter International series. Jonny May will make his first appearance this season on the left wing with Joe Cokanasiga switching to the right wing.

Jamie George, Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler are named in the front row. Tom Curry and Sam Underhill return from injury to play in the back row alongside Billy Vunipola while George Kruis starts in the second row alongside Maro Itoje.

Mako Vunipola has been named as a finisher following his recovery from long-term injury.

Leinster fly-half Ross Byrne will make his Test debut for Ireland after being named in the side to play England.

Jordan Larmour moves from full-back to right wing and Garry Ringrose is again chosen at centre, alongside Bundee Aki.

When? Saturday 24 August
Kick-off? 3pm BST
Where? Twickenham Stadium
Coverage? Sky Sports and Radio 5 live

Views from the camp

England head coach Eddie Jones: “The players have come back in a very good physical and mental state and we have had a good preparation this week. We purposefully made the week short looking ahead to the World Cup where this might happen beyond our control.

“It is the third of four games for us and come the 8th of September, when we get on the plane, we want to be ready to go. This is another step forward for us.

“This weekend we will be looking to gain more game fitness and testing different sorts of game strategies. We have a specific way of how we want to play and the focus is very much on ourselves.”

Previous meetings

2019: England 32-20 Ireland, Aviva Stadium
2018: England 15-24 Ireland, Twickenham Stadium
2017: England 9-13 Ireland, Aviva Stadium
2016: England 21-10 Ireland, Twickenham Stadium
2015: England 9-19 Ireland, Aviva Stadium
2014: England 13-10 Ireland, Twickenham Stadium
2013: England 12-6 Ireland, Aviva Stadium
2012: England 30-9 Ireland, Twickenham Stadium
2011: England 8-25 Ireland, Aviva Stadium

Key stats

The last two clashes between England and Ireland have both been won by the away side on the day, only once before has there been a longer run of away victories in Tests between these sides – a run of four such matches between 1893 and 1896 (excl. games at neutral venues).

Ireland will be aiming to record a 50th Test victory over England (W49, D8, L77), they would be just the third side Ireland have reached a half century of victories against in Test rugby (W63 v Scotland, W51 v Wales); this will be the 50th match between these sides at Twickenham.

England have lost just two of 23 games at Twickenham under Eddie Jones (W20, D1), however one of those defeats did come against Ireland during the 2018 Six Nations (also v New Zealand in November 2018).

Ireland lost their last away game, against Wales in the Six Nations, however they’ve not lost consecutive matches on the road since a run of three defeats between June 2016 and February 2017.

England have averaged 32 points and 3.9 tries per game in 2019, more than any other tier one team; their impressive points tally is thanks in part to their goal kicking success rate of 85%, which is also higher than any other side has managed this year.

Ireland have averaged 147 carries and 185 passes per game in 2019, more than any other tier one side, as a result they’ve also averaged the longest time in possession (20m:43s per game).

Teams

England: Elliot Daly; Joe Cokanasiga, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell, Jonny May; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Mark Wilson, Willi Heinz, Piers Francis, Joe Marchant.

Ireland: R Kearney; Larmour, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale; R Byrne, Murray; Healy, Best, Furlong, Henderson, Kleyn; O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Stander.

Replacements: Cronin, J McGrath, Porter, Toner, Beirne, L McGrath, Carty, Conway.

What's in the matchday programme?

Manu Tuilagi tells Alex Spink of the Daily Mirror how he is drawing strength from past campaigns and believes England have a real chance of glory in Japan. Buy your copy - here

And finally...what's next?

Book now to be part of England’s final game before heading to Japan as they face Italy at St James’ Park, Newcastle on Friday 6th September.

England Men

24 Aug 2019 | 5 min |

England defeat Ireland at Twickenham Stadium

England defeated Ireland 57-15 in the Quilter International at Twickenham as they continued preparations for the World Cup.

It is less than a month before England’s first fixture of that tournament, with Eddie Jones’ side facing Tonga on 22 September and following a win and a loss in their previous warm-up games this was an emphatic record victory.

England led 22-10 at half-time with tries from Joe Cokanasiga, Elliot Daly and Manu Tuilagi while Ireland crossed through Jordan Larmour.

Second-half tries from Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Tom Curry, Cokanasiga and Luke Cowan-Dickie sealed a comprehensive win, with Ireland's second try coming via Bundee Aki.

England dominance

It was an opening half dominated by an impressive-looking England side who after a slow opening period troubled Ireland for the majority.

Two first half statistics told the story of that dominance, England carrying for 128 more metres than Ireland, while the visiting side missed 21 tackles compared to three from Farrell’s men.

That was due to a combination of England’s power players, but also the ability of a new-look back row combination to keep the side moving at pace as well as link forwards and backs.

How did the first half unfold?

Farrell sent over a penalty inside 10 minutes after a scrappy opening but it was Ireland who were first to cross.

Stockdale’s kick over the top of the England defence bounced back into the grateful arms of Larmour who gratefully dotted down, but despite a later Ross Byrne penalty it was the only time they rattled the hosts.

Jones’ side responded in emphatic fashion, Cokanasiga finishing off a fine team move with the ball slickly recycled through England’s backs which created an overlap on the right wing and the Bath man went over for a fourth try in seven Tests.

Byrne kicked Ireland ahead with a 25th minute penalty but it was short-lived - Daly going over on the right wing, again taking advantage of an overlap which this time was created with a combination of power and crisp handling.

Man-of-the-match Tuilagi was over for a third England try, Vunipola picking up at the base of a 5m scrum, feeding Ben Youngs who released the giant centre to dart through.

England come flying out of the traps

Despite temperatures that soared over 30 degrees, England continued at a ferocious pace.

Itoje was over after cutting a fine line through Ireland’s defence and Kruis crashed over on the 50th minute.

England went through multiple phases with both backs and forwards showing superb handling in contact and Curry scored after being released by his back row partner Sam Underhill – nicknamed by Jones the ‘kamikaze kids’ ahead of the match.

Their partnership adds to England’s options as Jones heads into the World Cup knowing they can offer the side a different dimension.

Cokanasiga spotted a gap and flew through Ireland's midfield scoring a superb individual try that helped take England past 50 points.

And although Aki jinked over in the corner for a second Ireland try, England had the final say as Cowan-Dickie caught a loose Iine-out and went over unchallenged.

Fortress Twickenham

A vow of Jones when he started his tenure was to make Twickenham Stadium a fortress and he has been true to his word with the side losing just twice in 24 games.

And this was another vintage home performance in front of a sold out crowd who were treated to eight tries and some sparkling rugby.

They will hope to take that form up north when they host Italy at a new home venue with St James’ park staging the fixture against Italy on 6 September.

Book now to be part of England’s final game before heading to Japan as they face Italy in Newcastle on Friday 6 September.

Scorers

England – Tries: Cokanasiga 2, Daly, Tuilagi, Itoje, Kruis, Curry, Cowan-Dickie Cons: Farrell 5, Ford Pens: Farrell

Ireland – Tries: Larmour, Aki Cons: Byrne Pens: Byrne

Teams

England: Elliot Daly; Joe Cokanasiga, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell, Jonny May; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola.