England vs Ireland: Match Preview

Steve Borthwick's England opened their campaign with a 24-27 victory away to Italy before hosting Wales in a tightly-contested encounter at Twickenham. The side return to Twickenham after a third round loss to Scotland, welcoming Andy Farrell's unbeaten Ireland side to west London. 

Last Encounter

England were beaten 29-16 by Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Nine points from the boot of Owen Farrell and a Jamie George try could not deny the Irish, who claimed their fourth-ever Grand Slam courtesy of nine points from Johnny Sexton, and tries from Dan Sheehan (2), Robbie Henshaw and Rob Herring.

Previous Encounter

2023: Ireland 29-10 England

2023: Ireland 29-16 England 

2022: England 15-32 Ireland

2021: Ireland 32-18 England

2020: England 18-7 Ireland

2020: England 24-12 Ireland

2019: England 57-15 Ireland

Stats and Facts

The last eight Test matches between England and Ireland have all been decided by 10+ points, with England winning the first four matches in that run and Ireland winning the most recent four; Ireland will be aiming to win five consecutive Tests against England for the first time since 1972-76.

Ireland have won their last 11 matches in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, the joint longest run for any nation in the history of the Championship (incl. Home/Five Nations); it is tied with England’s run of 11 victories between 2015 and 2017, which was ended by Ireland in the final round of 2017 and denied England back-to-back Grand Slams.

England have committed two or more tacklers from 63% of their carries in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations this year, the best rate of any team, while Ireland have recorded the best gain line success rate (55%); Ireland (30%) and England (26%) also rank first and second respectively for carry dominance this campaign.

Ireland (95%) and England (92%) are the only teams with a lineout success rate above 85% in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations this year; individually, Ronan Kelleher (10/10) and Theo Dan (6/6) are the only hookers yet to miss a throw this campaign.

Ben Earl has made more carries than any other player in the Championship this year (42), also leading the way for metres in contact (78), ahead of Irish quartet Caelan Doris (73), James Lowe (71), Calvin Nash (68) and Bundee Aki (68) who make up the rest of the top five in that category.

Danny Care could win his 100th Test cap in this match, he’d be just the sixth player to reach a century of appearances for the England men’s team, after Jason Leonard, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Dan Cole and Courtney Lawes.