Six Nations Rugby Matchday 4: England vs Ireland 09.03.2024

• Date: Saturday March 9, 16:45 GMT
• Location: Twickenham Stadium, London
• Teams: England vs Ireland

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England look to bounce back from Scotland defeat as Ireland look towards back to back Grand Slam

England take on favourites Ireland in round four of the 2024 Six Nations at Twickenham. Since their first meeting in 1875, these two proud rugby nations have played 141 Test matches, with England winning 80, Ireland winning 53, and eight matches ending in draws.

England

England are gearing up to face Ireland, the current table-toppers with an impressive perfect record of 15 points. Recent history suggests they are facing a tough challenge. The last eight Test matches between these teams have all ended with a margin of 10 points or more, with Ireland emerging victorious in the last four encounters.

In their most recent outing, Steve Borthwick’s side suffered their first defeat of the tournament, going down 30-21 to Scotland in round three. Despite a valiant comeback attempt, they couldn’t bridge the gap to the Scots, who clinched their fourth consecutive victory over England.

England’s performance in the tournament has been lacklustre, epitomised by their narrow two-point win over Wales in round two. Many observers have voiced concerns about England’s stagnant attack, heavily reliant on one-off runners. Moreover, their defence seems to lack the fire and intensity seen during the World Cup last year.

With these challenges in mind, England face an uphill battle against a well-prepared and talented Irish side. To stand a chance, England will need to significantly elevate both their offensive approach and defensive intensity. Under Borthwick England have often been pragmatic and functional. They have bounced back from adversity. They will need to do this against to stand any chance against the Irish.

England starting lineup: 15 George Furbank, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Ollie Chessum, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Jamie George (c), 1 Ellis Genge

Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Chandler Cunningham-South, 20 Alex Dombrandt, 21 Danny Care, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Elliot Daly

Ireland

Ireland are currently demonstrating exceptional form, and are on course themselves for another Grand Slam victory. Their performances reflect a blend of physical prowess, precise execution, and strategic acumen, making their triumphs appear effortless.

Last year, they clinched the Grand Slam success in Dublin, and they now aim to replicate that achievement while seeking their fifth consecutive win against England—an accomplishment not seen since the early 1970s.

Under the stewardship of Andy Farrell, the team has exhibited resilience following their World Cup disappointment, securing convincing victories against France, Italy, and Wales in preparation for this pivotal encounter.

Their recent win extends an impressive winning streak to 11 matches in the Six Nations, equalling the longest run in Championship history previously held by England from 2015 to 2017. Ireland notably thwarted England’s streak in 2017, preventing them from securing back-to-back Grand Slams.

The Irish rugby scene is currently charged with excitement, with Farrell’s leadership guiding the team along an impressive trajectory.

Ireland starting lineup: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Jack Conan, 22 Conor Murray, 23 Ciaran Frawley

Prediction

As much as Borthwick has England motivated and organised, this will be a bridge too far. England won against Italy and Ireland, without greatly impressing, and then were deservedly beaten by Scotland. Ireland have been excellent. They have bounced back from the disappointment of the World Cup, coped with the unavailability of some key players and have returned to the standards they set themselves during 2022 and most of 2023. Ireland will emerge victorious to put themselves on the brink of a back-to-back Grand Slam.