England’s rugby side on edge of making history

Ireland has lost two key men, scrumhalf Conor Murray and fullback Rob Kearney, to injury following last Friday’s defeat against Wales in Cardiff.

“We have focused on how to beat England, we haven’t focused on the reasons why we’ll beat them”.

If England are defeated today – to miss out on both the grand slam and the world record for consecutive victories – collecting the Six…

In politics, many an Englishman has been stumped by the “Irish question” but in rugby terms it’s the hosts who face plenty of pre-match problems this week. It has been a long time coming for England women, who won their seventh straight title five years ago but had failed to do so since.

A win would also give England the Triple Crown and mean they had become the first team in the Six Nations era to complete back-to-back Grand Slams.

“I said in an interview earlier in the week that the Six Nations title was inevitable but it was the Grand Slam we really wanted”.

Ireland stunned New Zealand 40-29 in November, bringing an end to the All Blacks’ record 18-match winning streak, which England tied with their victory over Scotland. We’re back in front of our home fans.

“We want to be the team that’s fighting for the championship and trying to be consistent”, said Sexton.

“And it won’t feel like that unless we get the result we want against Ireland“.

“I know England are in a huge vein of form and full of confidence but, and I don’t know if this is my head or my heart, I still think Ireland can do it”.

Ireland officials reacted furiously to the implication they were taking risks with the British and Irish Lions’ fly-half’s long-term health.

Kieran Marmion has been consistently good for Connacht over the past three seasons, but his breaking style is suited to the province’s running style.

“It is a massive day for him”, the captain admitted. You’re always going to try to get one over your big brother.

“He is very unlucky he is behind a real world-class nine. We’re just exclusively focused on getting the result and then everything that comes with that is great”.

“His opportunity has come now”.

“We can still attain the target of second place, so there’s still a heck of a lot for us to gain individually and collectively”. He’s performing well in training this week.

Now, it is all about pride and world ranking points for Ireland.

Scotland should finish with a win as they take on Italy at Murrayfield in the opening game, and, let’s be honest, they have been a good side in this Six Nations and played some good rugby. It will be the first time numerous visiting players have set foot on the ground where the game started in 1823, promising an exciting two days of rugby sevens from some of the best U18 players the countries have to offer. “We’ll want to surprise them with a few things, but at the same time we’ll want to execute everything we control as well as we can”.

Keith Earls has shaken off his groin complaint and starts on the wing. CJ Stander and Simon Zebo are the shortest-priced of the Ireland players at 9/2 to score a try. Rory Best (Capt) 3.

Replacements: N Scannell (Munster), C Healy (Leinster), J Ryan (Munster), D Toner (Leinster), P O’Mahony (Munster), L McGrath (Leinster), P Jackson (Ulster), A Conway (Munster).

Replacements: 16 Ciara O’Connor, 17 Ilse van Staden, 18 Ruth O’Reilly, 19 Ciara Cooney, 20 Nichola Fryday, 21 Mary Healy, 22 Nikki Caughey, 23 Mairead Coyne. Anthony Watson is also back to his best, bulldozing opponents and making chances from thin air as an impact sub against the Scots. Owen Farrell 11. Elliot Daly 10.

Such is England’s strength in depth that experienced scrum-half Danny Care finds himself playing second fiddle to Ben Youngs and impressive hooker Jamie George must wait his turn behind England captain Dylan Hartley. Courtney Lawes 6. Maro Itoje 7.