England head coach Eddie Jones has named his squad to face Ireland in their opening Guinness Six Nations match in Dublin on 2 February 2019 (kick off 4.45pm, live on ITV).

Owen Farrell will captain England at fly half with Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers) named outside him at 12. Tuilagi will start his first match for England since the third Test against New Zealand in June 2014.

Brothers Mako and Billy Vunipola (Saracens) will play for England for the first time this season having last featured in the Test series against South Africa in June 2018. "Everyone inside our camp believes we can win."

Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) and Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons) will make their Guinness Six Nations debuts having been named at openside and blindside flanker respectively.

Elliot Daly (Wasps), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers) and Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs) are named in the back three.

Dan Robson (Wasps) is set to make his England debut having been named as a finisher. The highly-experienced Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) will start at scrum half.

“I think it is quite clear to beat Ireland you have to beat them in the contest area," said Jones.

"They are very good at the breakdown and in the air, both those areas are a priority for us. Traditionally England and Ireland games are always very close, they are tough affairs, there is a lot of emotion in the games so our ability to finish the game strongly is going to be vital.

“It is well documented no one thinks we can win, but I can tell you everyone inside our camp believes we can win. We are hugely looking forward to the weekend.”

On England’s preparation in Portugal, Jones added: “This camp has been vitally important for us to get our understanding on how we want to play the game. It has been also enormously important for us is to get that togetherness off the field and the senior players and staff have been working very hard in those areas. We have a great group of players, hardworking and a good mix who have come together really well.”

England starting XV (485 caps)

15 Elliot Daly (Wasps, 25 caps), 14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 40 caps), 13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 17 caps), 12 Manu Tuiagi (Leicester Tigers, 27 caps), 11 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 29 caps), 10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 65 caps), 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 80 caps); 1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 51 caps), 2 Jamie George (Saracens, 32 caps), 3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 17 caps), 4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 26 caps), 5 George Kruis (Saracens, 27 caps), 6 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 8 caps), 7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 5 caps), 8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 36 caps).

Finishers (206 caps)

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps), 17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps), 18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs, 15 caps), 19 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 68 caps), 20 Nathan Hughes (Wasps, 18 caps), 21 Dan Robson (Wasps, uncapped), 22 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 51 caps), 23 Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks, 42 caps).

Okay, so we can expect Ireland to send high balls all afternoon to test Daly.

Yes some surprises I have been saying Brown has been dropped and has nothing to do with knowing what he can do for a while. Maybe the people who still thought Brown was Eddies first choice 15 will get the picture now as if your not picking him for this match your not picking him at all

Yes some surprises I have been saying Brown has been dropped and has nothing to do with knowing what he can do for a while. Maybe the people who still thought Brown was Eddies first choice 15 will get the picture now as if your not picking him for this match your not picking him at all

You're right, and I accept my slapping down with due contrition.

I hate to say it but I'm not at all confdent now, I think we will lose by >7 now :-(

“I think it is quite clear to beat Ireland you have to beat them in the contest area," said Jones.

"They are very good at the breakdown and in the air, both those areas are a priority for us.”

If you want to beat them in the contest area, in the breakdown and in the air then pick Brown at 15. Daly just isn’t up to it as a 15 in test rugby. Specifically in the highball area where the November Internationals he had the hands of a goldfish.

I really rate him for Wasps and I think he is better of on the wing for England if anywhere, but playing him at fullback against Ireland at the Aviva is like driving with a flat tyre.

Wow. what a farcical back line.


15 Elliot Daly (Wasps, 25 caps) Can't catch, not up to int standard at 15
14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 40 caps) Left winger
13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 17 caps) Dodgy international
12 Manu Tuiagi (Leicester Tigers, 27 caps) Not a 12
11 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 29 caps) At 11? Wow.
10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 65 caps) Not as good as Ford, not an int FH
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) - Probably the one correct pick, but woefully limited and lacking in basics.

Yup, this is well OTT. Your assessment of Daly spot-on, Youngs almost correct (he's mainly just incredibly slow at everything and as I mentioned above, who else is realistically going to get picked?) but the rest of your post is just weird.

Farrell is our first name on the team sheet and probably one of only a few truly world class players in our squad (you could maybe say Billy and Maro are the others). And yes, at 10 - not just 12. Ford has been found out at international level time and time again - although does offer options to change up our game from the bench.

Don't see the big deal about Nowell and May wearing 11/14. Wingers are often labelled up on the opposite wing to the one they end up standing on anyway. Modern wings tend to be able to play both sides nowadays too - especially if you want to be an international.

Tuilagi at 12 and Slade at 13 is the most exciting England centre partnership I've seen since probably Greenwood/Tindall. On paper of course. So glad Te'o is not available. He shouldn't even be sniffing around the squad.

Hard to see Brown making the RWC starting XV (barring injuries) if he isn't selected against a team famous for their high balls. Hope I am wrong...

Nah Mike's England days are done, as you and everyone else point out, it's been clear for 12 months that Jones wants Daly as his 15 for the RWC, and if Mike can't even make the team for this game where his skillset is 100% perfect - it's over.