Six Nations 2025: Curry twins to start England opener against Ireland as Cadan Murley handed debut
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Updated 28/01/2025 at 14:58 GMT
England head coach Steve Borthwick has named the Curry twins, Tom and Ben, in his starting XV to take on Ireland in the Six Nations on Saturday, and has also handed an international debut to Harlequins winger Cadan Murley. Elsewhere, Alex Mitchell has won his fitness race to start at scrum-half, with Marcus Smith outside him at No. 10 and Freddie Steward at full-back.
George 'clearly disappointed' at losing captaincy to Itoje, says Borthwick
Video credit: Eurosport
Steve Borthwick has named his England starting XV to take on Ireland in their Six Nations opener on Saturday in Dublin.
He has made five changes to the line-up that recorded a 59-14 win over Japan to end an underwhelming Autumn Nations Series.
In the forwards, twins Tom and Ben Curry will play their first Test match for England together, while Luke Cowan-Dickie starts at hooker with former captain Jamie George out with injury.
Alex Mitchell has recovered from a knee problem in time to start at scrum-half in what will be a welcome boost for Borthwick, who is without a number of key players.
Marcus Smith starts at fly-half, while his Harlequins team-mate Cadan Murley is in line to make his international debut on the left wing.
Murley has been picked ahead of Northampton Saints' Ollie Sleightholme, with Exeter Chiefs' Immanuel Feyi-Waboso ruled out after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence continue their centre partnership at 12 and 13, respectively, with Tommy Freeman on the right wing and Freddie Steward in at full-back in place of the injured George Furbank.
Second-rower Maro Itoje will captain England as they bid to win in the Irish capital for the first time since 2019 and begin their campaign in style.
"We’re looking forward to the challenge of facing the tournament favourites," said Borthwick. "We know it’ll be a tough contest against a team that’s very familiar with each other.
"We’ll need to work tirelessly and maintain our discipline from the first whistle to the last. England versus Ireland in Dublin is a huge occasion, and we’ll be ready to face it head-on."
England starting XV
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Cadan Murley
10. Marcus Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Cadan Murley
10. Marcus Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Ben Earl
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Ben Earl
Replacements
Theo Dan
Fin Baxter
Joe Heyes
Ollie Chessum
Chandler Cunningham-South
Tom Willis
Harry Randall
Fin Smith
Fin Baxter
Joe Heyes
Ollie Chessum
Chandler Cunningham-South
Tom Willis
Harry Randall
Fin Smith
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