Henry Pollock will start his first Test for England against Ireland in Saturday’s Six Nations match at Twickenham, as Steve Borthwick revitalises his team by moving Tommy Freeman back to wing.
Henry Arundell has retained his place on the wing after he escaped a ban following his 20-minute red card against Scotland last Saturday. Ollie Lawrence comes in at outside centre, as Freeman plays right wing instead of Tom Roebuck.
Pollock, the 21-year-old of Northampton Saints, is included in England’s starting back row for the first time, having won his first seven caps from the bench.
In a search for more pace and dynamism in the pack after the 31-20 defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday, Pollock’s introduction is an exciting selection call from Borthwick. Tom Curry joins in the starting back row too, with Ben Earl completing the trio. That would mean Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill — regular starters since the summer tour to Argentina and the United States last year — drop to the bench.
Pollock came on in the 57th minute at Murrayfield, and immediately increased England’s energy levels
ALAMY
Maro Itoje will win his 100th cap from the second row, as the rest of the pack that lost to Scotland remains intact, with Ollie Chessum, Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Joe Heyes all starting again. Freddie Steward keeps his place at full back, as Marcus Smith and Jack van Poortvliet replace Fin Smith and Ben Spencer on the bench. Itoje will be the ninth men’s player to reach a century of caps, after Ben Youngs, Dan Cole, Jason Leonard, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Jamie George, Courtney Lawes and Danny Care.
Arundell was available for selection against Ireland as he received no further ban after he was handed a 20-minute red card against Scotland. Borthwick could well now retain Arundell in his starting XV, as a show of faith.
The 23-year-old was shown two yellow cards in the first half against Scotland. He was cited for both offences, as together they added up to a 20-minute red card, but neither warranted upgrading to a red card and a ban.
Arundell’s first yellow card was for a breakdown offence as Scotland broke towards the England line eight minutes in. The Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli believed he did not clearly release, never detaching from the tackle, before he challenged for the ball on the floor, so sent him to the sin-bin.
Arundell then took the Scotland wing Kyle Steyn out in the air 37 minutes into the game, when he had returned.
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Amashukeli handed him a second yellow card as he felt Arundell was not in a position to challenge for the high kick when he hit Steyn in the air. As Steyn landed on his side, Arundell was given a yellow card, not a full red. It was his second yellow of the match so he received a 20-minute red card.
Arundell completed his disciplinary hearing on Tuesday morning. The panel upheld the red card but added: “In the circumstances (including that the first yellow card had been issued for a ‘technical offence’, and that the second yellow card had been issued for a very different act of foul play), the sending off of the player had been a sufficient sanction, and no further sanction was appropriate. The player is now free to play.”
England v Ireland
Six Nations
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 2.10pm.
England team to play IrelandFreddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 43 caps)Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 24 caps)Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 37 caps)Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 9 caps)Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby, 13 caps)George Ford (Sale Sharks, 107 caps) – vice-captainAlex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 29 caps)Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 77 caps) – vice-captainLuke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 55 caps)Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)Maro Itoje (Saracens, 99 caps) – captainOllie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 32 caps)Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 67 caps)Ben Earl (Saracens, 48 caps)Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)Replacements: Jamie George (Saracens, 107 caps) – vice-captain; Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 12 caps); Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints, 5 caps); Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 16 caps); Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, 9 caps); Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 47 caps); Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps); Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 47 caps).