Six Nations 2022: England’s Maro Itoje a doubt for Eire recreation

England lock Maro Itoje is a doubt for his or her pivotal Six Nations match in opposition to Eire at Twickenham after changing into unwell in a single day.

Forwards coach Richard Cockerill won’t be at Twickenham after testing optimistic for Covid-19.

Joe Launchbury is England’s second row possibility on the bench, with lock Nick Isiekwe not noted of the squad.

Each groups want victory to maintain their title possibilities alive.

Eire have been the extra spectacular aspect up to now on this Six Nations and their confidence will likely be boosted by a convincing house win final 12 months.

England defeated Wales final outing however they’re nonetheless looking for the appropriate formulation on this event.

Their Six Nations house report stays robust, with 22 wins in 25 matches.

Head coach Eddie Jones believes Eire begin as “red-hot favourites” regardless of England profitable 4 of the previous 5 Six Nations encounters at Twickenham.

Eire thrashed 12-man Italy in spherical three though they’ve triumphed simply as soon as in London since 2010 on this championship.

Staff information

England have been boosted by the supply of flanker Tom Curry, who handed the return-to-play protocols after he sustained a head damage within the first half in opposition to Wales.

They make three modifications, with Sam Simmonds beginning at quantity eight and Alex Dombrandt on the bench after popping out of Covid isolation.

Jamie George replaces the injured Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker and Joe Marchant is most well-liked to Elliott Daly at centre, who drops to the bench.

Lock Launchbury is included among the many replacements and will make his first Six Nations look in two years after recovering from a critical knee damage.

Whereas Cockerill will miss the sport, all of the gamers and different workers examined unfavorable on Friday.

Eire captain Johnny Sexton – who introduced earlier this week that he’ll retire after subsequent 12 months’s Rugby World Cup – begins for the primary time on this event in one in every of six modifications.

Prop Cian Healy may even make his first begin of this 12 months’s championship rather than the injured Andrew Porter, with full-back Hugo Keenan, wing Andrew Conway, centre Bundee Aki and prop James Ryan all returning.

Centre Robbie Henshaw joins fly-half Joey Carbery in dropping to the bench, whereas full-back Michael Lowry, wing Mack Hansen and second-row Ryan Baird have been omitted from the matchday squad.

Commentator’s notes

Andrew Cotter: “It’s customary now for Eddie Jones to construct up opponents and someway painting England because the underdogs, however for this recreation there are few disagreeing with him.

“Nevertheless, it is value noting that even in a golden period Eire have solely gained as soon as at Twickenham of their final eight visits. What’s extra, England do have Tom Curry out there.

“The one main loss for Eire is Andrew Porter at loose-head prop – whereas substitute Cian Healy does brings loads of expertise he cannot match Porter’s sheer power.

“However the guests will likely be lifted by the return of Johnny Sexton to fly-half on what we now know will likely be his ultimate Six Nations look for Eire at Twickenham. An enormous participant for an enormous event with the winner remaining within the hunt for the title on the ultimate weekend.”

View from each camps

England head coach Eddie Jones: “We have been taking a look at this recreation as a semi-final. Eire are essentially the most cohesive aspect on this planet proper now and it is going to be a very good check this weekend.

“We have ready very well for this recreation. We did some good staff togetherness work in Bristol and had a strong week of coaching on the pitch right here.

“We’re wanting ahead to going after them in entrance of an incredible house crowd at Twickenham. It has been particular having 82,000 supporters again in for our Six Nations video games and it is going to be an incredible Take a look at match for them.”

Eire head coach Andy Farrell: “Now we have to verify England have a bump within the highway.

“(The media) say they’re constructing into the competitors so we now have to cease that. Now we have to go over there and show to ourselves there’s a efficiency in there that could be a step above what we have proven already.”

Line-ups

England: 15-Steward, 14-Malins, 13-Slade, 12-Marchant, 11-Nowell, 10-Smith, 9-Randall; 1-Genge, 2-George, 3-Sinckler, 4-Itoje, 5-Ewels, 6-Lawes (capt), 7-Curry, 8-Simmonds

Replacements: 16-Blamire, 17-Marler, 18-Stuart, 19-Launchbury, 20-Dombrandt, 21-Youngs, 22-Ford, 23-Daly

Eire: 15-Keenan, 14-Conway, 13-Ringrose, 12-Aki, 11-Lowe, 10-Sexton (capt), 9-Gibson Park; 1-Healy, 2-Sheehan, 3-Furlong, 4-Beirne, 5-Ryan, 6-O’Mahony, 7-Van der Flier, 8-Doris

Replacements: 16-Herring, 17-Kilcoyne, 18-Bealham, 19-Henderson, 20-Conan, 21-Murray, 22-Carbery, 23-Henshaw

Match information

Head-to-head

• Eire’s 32-18 win within the 2021 Six Nations ended a run of 4 defeats in opposition to England in all competitions
• England have gained 4 of the previous 5 conferences at Twickenham within the Six Nations
• Eire’s 24-15 win in 2018 is their solely Six Nations victory at Twickenham since 2010

England

• England have gained 22 of their previous 25 Six Nations matches at house (D1, L2)
• Scotland and Eire are the one sides to win at Twickenham since 2012
• Full-back Freddie Steward has carried the ball for a tournament-high 367m
• Forwards Maro Itoje and Alex Dombrandt lead this Six Nations for breakdown steals (each 4)

Eire

• Eire have averaged 2.9 factors per go to to the opposition 22 – the perfect of any aspect within the championship this 12 months
• Wing Mack Hansen (129) and centre Garry Ringrose (109) lead this event for post-contact metres
• Caelan Doris has slowed opposition ball at a tournament-leading seven rucks

Match officers

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Contact judges: Mike Adamson (Scotland) & Pierre Brousset (France)

TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)