Match Facts

England won their most recent Test match against Ireland (23-22 in March 2024) after losing four in a row previously; Steve Borthwick’s side were behind at halftime in that game, the first time this fixture had been won by the team who trailed at the break since the 1996 Five Nations (England 28-15 Ireland).

Ireland have won each of their last three home matches against England, including two in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, only twice before have they enjoyed longer winning runs against England on Irish soil – a four-game streak from 2005 to 2011 and a run of six wins between 1897 and 1907.

Ireland and England both have a 72% win rate in the opening round of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, having each won 18 Round 1 fixtures, more than any other side in the tournament.

Ireland have lost just two of their last 29 home fixtures in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations (W25 D2), a run stretching back to the end of the 2013 campaign, however one of their two defeats in that run came against England in their opening game of the Championship in 2019 (also v France in 2021).

England trailed at halftime in each of their five matches in last year's Guinness Men’s Six Nations, the first time they've trailed at the break in every match of a campaign since the 1974 Five Nations. However, they won three of those matches, no side has ever recorded as many second-half comebacks in an edition of the Championship.

Ireland and England had identical lineout records in last year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations, each winning 62 of 68 throws (91%), the joint-best rates of any sides last year; Ireland also won a higher share of their opponents’ throws than any other nation (21%) and boasted the Championship’s best scrum success rate (93%).

England made an average of 29.9 kicks in play across their Test matches in 2024, the most of any Tier 1 men’s side; Steve Borthwick’s side retained possession from 17% of their kicks in last year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations, the highest rate in the Championship, while Ireland had the lowest rate (6%).

Ireland and England each made 48 attacking 22 entries in the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations, the most of any sides in last year’s Championship, however, England scored the fewest points per entry of any team (2.1), while Ireland scored the second most (2.8, Scotland – 2.9).

Ireland’s James Lowe was the only player to gain over 300 metres in the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations (371) and scored both of Ireland’s tries when they faced England in the penultimate round of last year’s Championship; overall he has four tries in five games against England, including one in their last clash in Dublin, in August 2023.

Maro Itoje, who has been named England captain for the 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations, won at least three more turnovers than any other player in men’s Tier 1 rugby in 2024 (15) and also ranked first among all such players for both attacking (300) and defensive (137) ruck hits last year.