Ireland pick Prendergast at fly-half for England game

Men’s Six Nations: Ireland v England

Venue: Aviva Stadium Date: Saturday, 1 February Kick-off: 16: 45 GMT

For Ireland’s opening Six Nations game against England on Saturday, Sam Prendergast has been chosen as fly-half.

Leinster’s Prendergast, 21, started Ireland’s last two November Tests and is entrusted to make his Six Nations debut from the start this weekend by interim head coach Simon Easterby.

Jack Crowley played every minute of Ireland’s Six Nations title-winning campaign last year, but despite impressing for Munster in recent weeks, the 25-year-old must settle for a place on the bench.

Ryan Baird has also been recalled to the back row as a result of Easterby’s move to replace Andy Farrell while the latter focuses on leading the British and Irish Lions this summer.

Tadhg Beirne switches to the second row after Joe McCarthy, who started every Ireland game in 2024, is sidelined with an injury, is included by Baird.

Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose are preferred outside center to Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw.

Hooker Dan Sheehan returns from a six-month knee injury layoff, and Ronan Kelleher is kept on the bench.

Although Prendergast was seen earlier this week strapped to his leg in training, attack coach Andrew Goodman dismissed any concerns about an injury on Tuesday.

Prendergast started all four of Leinster’s Investec Champions Cup pool games, scoring two tries against Bristol at Ashton Gate, after Crowley was chosen for the win over Australia in November.

However, Saturday will likely be the Kildare native’s biggest game of his career because he will be expected to spearhead Ireland’s attack against an England side that defeated England last year at Twickenham.

“We’ve enjoyed some competitive]training] sessions and it wasn’t easy selecting a squad for this week’s game given the quality of those who haven’t made the final 23”, said Easterby.

“Credit to those who missed out on selection for this game because it was obvious that everyone did a fantastic job of preparing the team for this week.”

We are aware that we will need to hit the ground running to deliver a winning performance because England are a talented squad with high standards across their panel.

Ringrose’s inclusion is the only change to Ireland’s backline from the Australia game.

Mack Hansen starts on the right wing after serving a three-game suspension for his criticism of Connacht after Leinster beat them in December while Hugo Keenan is at full-back.

Furlong’s ongoing injury troubles mean Bealham extends his run at tight-head prop.

Furlong suffered a hamstring injury that prevented him from playing in Easterby’s team in November, so he was forced to return from Ireland’s pre-tournament training camp in Portugal.

Beirne started for the first time since the Six Nations victory over Italy last year alongside Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris, but he moved into the second row to play alongside Baird and Josh Ryan. He previously started for the team in the back row with Baird.

Cian Healy, Conor Murray, Iain Henderson, and Henshaw will be able to spring a wealth of bench experience, while Jack Conan returns after missing the summer’s Test series and the fall campaign.