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George Ford puts his foot through it and we\u2019re off and running<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Officials today<\/p>\n Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy) Share<\/a><\/p>\n Maro Itoje takes a huge ovation from his home crowd as he enters the arena alone on the occasion of his 100th appearance. The teams emerge soon after into a overcast but very still afternoon in south west London; the conditions are ideal for rugby.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s England captain Maro Itoje\u2019s 100th cap today, his latest appearance in a brilliant career. At 31 years of age you imagine there are plenty more caps to come to add more lustre to his already achieved England all-time great status.<\/p>\n England’s Maro Itoje. Photograph: Ashley Western\/Colorsport\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.02 EST<\/p>\n Henry Pollock starts his first international game today, and Rob Kitson has thoughts on it.<\/p>\n And the dropping altogether of Sam Prendergast is given some historical context here here by Brendan Fanning<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n You can send me all your thoughts on proceedings both prior to an during the match via the email<\/a>. I look forward to reading them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Team news<\/p>\n Changes galore, and notable ones at that, across both matchday squads.<\/p>\n Steve Borthwick hands fan and media darling (and bloody good player) Henry Pollock his first start in the back row, where he will be joined by the returning Tom Curry. In the backs Tommy Freeman returns to a wing berth at the expense of Tom Roebuck, which brings Ollie Lawrence back into the centres. The bench is a 6:2, with Jack Van Poortvliet and Marcus Smith as the backs options.<\/p>\n For Ireland, Andy Farrell has decided his favourite child Sam Prendergast is not for this fixture and is left out of a matchday squad for the first time since his debut in November 2024. Whatever your opinion of his abilities, this must be incredibly tough for the young bloke. Jack Crowley returns to the starting 10 shirt and he will line up alongside Jamison Gibson-Park to marshall a backline that retains Rob Balacoune and James Lowe on the wings. Josh Van Der Flier is back at openside, and a late injury to Jack Conan promoted Cian Prendergast to a 5:3 bench that has Ciaran Frawley as out-half cover.<\/p>\n Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. Photograph: Peter Cziborra\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.03 EST<\/p>\n Teams<\/p>\n England Ireland Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Tom O\u2019Toole, Finlay Bealham, Nick Timoney, Cian Prendergast, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, Tommy O\u2019Brien.<\/p>\n
Assistant Referee 1: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Television Match Official (TMO): Matteo Liperini (Italy)<\/p>\n
Freddie Steward; Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan\u2011Dickie, Joe Heyes; Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum; Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Henry Pollock.
Replacements: Jamie George, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Alex Coles, Guy Pepper, Sam Underhill, Jack van Poortvliet, Marcus Smith.<\/p>\n
Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson\u2011Park; Jeremy Loughman, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.<\/p>\n