Henry Pollock handed first start for England as Borthwick makes 3 changes

It seems that Tom Roebuck has paid the price for a disappointing performance at Murrayfield .. whilst Freddie Stewart has dodged a bullet.

I’m not convinced that Dingwall is an international 12 .. unless he’s got F. Smith inside and Freeman outside.

Equally, I'm not surprised that Arundel has kept his place (4 tries in one and a half games is some strike rate!)

I like the look of the pack .. though I'd like to see either Chandler Cunningham-South or Ethan Roots on the bench (potentially instead of Coles).

Good luck England on Saturday!!

Well everyone is a expert and a top coach.

Everyone was shouting and screaming as England won 16 in row(won’t it) lost one game and reading this the squad should be sent home.

I thought in rugby union they win together and loss together no matter what.

Rrugby is a sport to watch but now a days everything is taken away with commitment made but people who should think about writing for the papers as full of ####.

The gentleman’s game HAS GONE

Well that wasn't what I was expecting at 11.

I thought Arundell was toast. The first yellow was borderline. But after sitting down for 10, the second was a very silly mistake.

Not surprised the pack is the shuffled rather than changed. Generally played well over the last year. 1 dodgy performance they should be allowed to respond.

Think Spencer was gone whatever the result against Scotland. And Fin for Marcus is the result of no outside cover at 13. But thought Ford might make way.

Pollock looked to add some much needed width to the English attack judging from clips in a recent RP article, should be good to watch and hopefully Farrell is ready to fight fire with fire in that regard. Get his side back to what they had done well.

Agreed .

Either Blackett has been also overated, possible but unlikely, or he is keeping schtum and is boiling inside that his ideas are ignored.

Borthwick has a lot to answer for his total control of these conservative and boring tactics.

Will someone ask Borthwick to watch France .

As the parrot said.

“ that’s the way to do it”

Im sorry to commit heresy, but I really dont understand how itoji now commands a place in this team on his current form, let alone retains the captaincy.

And its very odd that despite the appointment of Lee Blackett as attack coach, the game plan is clearly going to be hoof & hope once again.

This team will muddle through the 6ns, against ( France apart) fairly mediocre opposition.

WC winners….get real

Fl.

You are noticeable by your silence after fords rubbish display and the world and their wife calling for him to be dropped.

World class game management and control of the game eh???

Oh where did it all go wrong????

His time is surely up or there will be protests at HQ .

Do you still think he will be there come the world cup ???

Go on .

You can tell me you were wrong.

Utterly predictable selection.

Apart from poor Spencer and F Smith .

Obviously they shoulder part of the blame despite coming on after england had made themselves look idiots again.

Ford escapes mainly due to saving his bacon after doing his world class arm waving again .

He thinks it makes him look like he knows what he is doing .

Fools Borthwick anyway .

Kickfest once again lads.

Andy Farrell must be rather pleased neither of the Smiths are starting .

I would of also of put Genge on the bench. He has really owned that position as it allows him to come on and make an impact. Baxter being out is a fairly sizeable issue we won’t address with the current looseheads.

Who is the better scrummager out of Rodd and Manny?

bookmakers heavily favor England

https://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/six-nations/england-v-ireland/winner

I dont know about that, the Irish backs are far more talented and creative and their forwards arent too shabby either, not as “golgoth-esque” as England’s but…

I am glad Ford starts as Fin Smith would have got the players around him more involved. We know whats coming with Ford. From the @NB article Ireland know Ford won’t run with the ball so he can safely be left to the inside cover. Makes defence a lot easier. and England reaching the edge harder. If we win the kicking battle we are in a good place. Balacoune and Lowe did well in the air versus Italy.

Freeman versus Lowe on the wing should be interesting. Balacoune and Arundel also. Ireland had some lovely backline moves that didn’t come off against Italy. They will need a couple to click on Saturday.

England will be boiling after their loss but Ireland will not be having a replay of the Paris performance. Should be good. England should win but it is not certain.

Not dis-similar to Scotland match except tighter to start with. Then England getting it tactically right to squeeze the Irish scrum and leverage enough points for a two score win.

England need a reaction after Scotland game, my concerns are that this England team has no running threats at 10,12 & 15 which I can't understand.

Changes don’t go far enough. Ford should be replaced by F Smith. Atkinson or Ojomoh should come in for Dingwall. Also would have Fisilau or Cunningham-South instead of Underhill so there is more variation in bench options. Arundell also very lucky to be retained over Roebuck. Can only assume Furbank isn’t fully fit as he would be better than Steward