Maro Itoje
Maro Itoje has started all three of England's 2022 Six Nations games so far
Venue: Twickenham Date: Saturday, 12 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMT
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Ulster; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and mobile app.

Itoje is a doubt for England's crucial Six Nations match against Ireland after becoming unwell overnight.

England are cautiously optimistic that Itoje will be available, but he will miss Friday's captain's run.

Richard Cockerill, the forwards coach, tested positive for Covid-19.

Joe Launchbury is England's second row option on the bench, with Nick Isiekwe left out of the squad.

Both teams need to win.

Ireland have been the better side so far in the Six Nations and their confidence will be boosted by a home win last year.

England defeated Wales last time out, but they are still trying to find the right formula.

Their record at home in the Six Nations is strong, with 22 wins in 25 matches.

Eddie Jones thinks Ireland are red-hot favorites despite England winning four of the past five Six Nations encounters.

In the third round of this championship, Ireland defeated Italy, but they have yet to win in London.

Team news

Tom Curry passed the return-to-play protocols after sustaining a head injury in the first half against Wales.

They made three changes, with Sam Simmonds starting at number eight and Alex Dombrandt on the bench after coming out of Covid isolation.

Jamie George is at hooker and Joe Marchant is at centre.

Lock Launchbury could make his first Six Nations appearance in two years after recovering from a serious knee injury.

The players and staff tested negative on Friday, even though Cockerill will not be in the game.

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton starts for the first time in this tournament in one of six changes after announcing that he will retire after next year's Rugby World Cup.

Andrew Porter will not play in this year's championship due to an injury, but five other players will return, including full-back Hugo Keenan, wing Andrew Conway, centre Bundee Aki and prop James Ryan.

Fly-half Joey Carbery and centreRobbie Henshaw have been dropped to the bench, while full-back Michael Lowry, wing Mack Hansen and second-row Ryan Baird have been left out of the matchday squad.

Commentator's notes

For this game there are few disagreeing with Eddie Jones, it is customary for him to build up opponents and portray England as the favorite.

Ireland have only won once at Twickenham in their last eight visits. Tom Curry is available in England.

The one major loss for Ireland is Andrew Porter at loose-head prop - while replacement Cian Healy does bring plenty of experience he can't match Porter's strength.

The visitors will be lifted by the return of Johnny Sexton to fly-half on what we now know will be his final Six Nations appearance for Ireland. A big player for a huge occasion with the winner remaining in the hunt for the title on the final weekend.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell (left) and England head coach Eddie Jones (right) shake hands ahead of the 2019 Six Nations contest
England head coach Eddie Jones (right) oversaw a 24-12 win over Irish counterpart Andy Farrell (left) in the most recent Six Nations meeting at Twickenham

View from both camps

England head coach Eddie Jones said that they were looking at the game as a semi-final. This weekend will be a good test for Ireland, who are the most cohesive side in the world.

We have prepared well for this game. We had a good week of training here and did some good team work in Bristol.

We are looking forward to going after them in front of the home crowd. It has been great having 82,000 supporters back in for our Six Nations games and it will be a great Test match for them.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell wants to make sure England don't go down without a fight.

The media says they are building into the competition, so we have to stop that. We have to prove to ourselves that there is a better performance in there than what we have already shown.

Line-ups

England: 15-Steward, 14-Malins, 13-Slade, 12-Marchant, 11-Nowell, 10-Smith, 9-Randall.

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

Ireland: 15-Keenan, 14-Conway, 13-Ringrose, 12-Aki, 11-Lowe, 10-Sexton (capt), 9-Gibson Park.

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

England fly-half Marcus Smith gestures during the win over Wales at Twickenham in round three

Match facts

It's head-to-head.

  • Ireland's 32-18 win in the 2021 Six Nations ended a run of four defeats against England in all competitions
  • England have won four of the past five meetings at Twickenham in the Six Nations
  • Ireland's 24-15 win in 2018 is their only Six Nations victory at Twickenham since 2010

England.

  • England have won 22 of their past 25 Six Nations matches at home (D1, L2)
  • Scotland and Ireland are the only 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 (both four)

Ireland

  • Ireland have averaged 2.9 points per visit to the opposition 22 - the best of any side in the championship this year
  • Wing Mack Hansen (129) and centre Garry Ringrose (109) lead this tournament for post-contact metres
  • Caelan Doris has slowed opposition ball at a tournament-leading seven rucks

Match officials

The referee is from France.

Touch judges: Mike and Pierre.

South Africa's Marius Jonker is the TMO.