‘Ireland plot upset with title hopes on the line’

The last time Ireland visited Allianz Stadium, in 2024, they had just equalled England’s Six Nations record of 11 straight wins and were chasing the rarefied air of back-to-back Grand Slams.

Since that 23-22 defeat, however, Ireland have lost six times in 20 Tests. All six of those losses have come against the other three nations – South Africa, New Zealand and France – currently ranked higher than Andy Farrell’s side.

In the 12 months since beating England in last year’s Six Nations, Ireland have lost to France (twice), the All Blacks and the Springboks by a combined 61 points.

Their miserable return to Paris a fortnight ago ended with their heaviest Six Nations loss in 16 years, giving fuel to the ‘Ireland in decline’ debate.

Indeed, a succession of humbling in-ring experiences with the game’s heavyweights have intensified the scrutiny on a team who have slipped to fifth in the world rankings after entering the 2023 World Cup as number one.

Whether it’s been age profile, a creaking scrum, a sputtering attack, the unsettled fly-half situation or a British and Irish Lions hangover, most of the discussion has been largely negative.

But from an Irish perspective, there is no better way to flip the narrative than a big win over the English, who are wounded from last week’s Calcutta Cup defeat by Scotland.

Of course, having left Stade de France empty-handed before failing to secure a bonus point in the win over Italy, Ireland know another loss would dash their title hopes for another year.

“I think the lads are going to be a bit annoyed at the negative chat that’s surrounding the team for the past while,” legendary Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray said on the Ireland Rugby Social.

Despite England’s latest painful visit to Murrayfield, however, the odds are stacked against Ireland, who have won four of the past five Six Nations meetings.

Having handed a debut to powerful Munster lock Edwin Edogbo last week, Farrell has packed his team with experience, recalling British and Irish Lions Jamison Gibson-Park, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong and Josh van der Flier.

In his headline selection call, Farrell handed the 10 jersey back to Jack Crowley, with Sam Prendergast left at home this weekend.

In a more surprising move, Farrell opted not to match England head coach Steve Borthwick’s six-two split on the bench, instead picking three backs – Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley and Tommy O’Brien – in the hope that they can stretch England in the second half.

It will be a huge afternoon for Crowley in just his second Six Nations start since he helped steer Ireland to the title in 2024 in the wake of Johnny Sexton’s retirement.

“The 10 has a big part in leading the attack during the week and Jack has been great at that this week,” said Ireland captain Caelan Doris.

After a sluggish, passive start that led to a 22-0 half-time deficit against France, Crowley is charged with orchestrating a vintage Irish attacking display away from home.

Crowley injected much-needed tempo to the attack in last week’s win over Italy and helped tee up Rob Baloucoune’s decisive score, which Farrell later said was “as good a try” as his side have ever scored.

Ireland will have been encouraged by the example set in Murrayfield last week as Scotland roared into a 17-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes.

“A fast start is going to be important, especially away from home,” said Doris when asked about Ireland’s key focus in the build-up.

“Trying to get scoreboard pressure and get our fans into it but also take that away from England.

But England have won their past nine home games – South Africa in 2024 were the last side to leave southwest London with a win – and are hoping a first start for livewire back row Henry Pollock will help them extend that sequence.

The 21-year-old announced himself to a large portion of the Ireland squad with a try-scoring display in Northampton’s Champions Cup semi-final win over Leinster last year, just days before Farrell included him in his Lions squad.

Saturday will be the first time Farrell has coached against the players he guided to a 2-1 series win over Australia last summer, with Pollock one of nine in Borthwick’s starting XV.

“Cutting out time and space,” said Doris when asked how Ireland plan to keep Pollock quiet.

“He’s got the ability to make something happen from not a whole lot.

England: Steward; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Itoje (capt), Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Pollock.

Replacements: George, Rodd, Davison, Coles, Pepper, Underhill, Van Poortvliet, M Smith.

Ireland: Osborne; Baloucoune, Ringrose, McCloskey, Lowe; Crowley, Gibson-Park; Loughman, Sheehan, Furlong, Ryan, McCarthy, Beirne, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).