Captain Maro Itoje is set to become the ninth centurion for England, with young star Henry Pollock earning his first Test start against Ireland on Saturday, February 21.
Itoje’s 100th sees him pack down in the second row alongside Ollie Chessum, while Pollock is joined in the back row by Tom Curry and Ben Earl.
England’s loss to Scotland in round three brought head coach Steve Borthwick’s side’s 12-game winning streak to an end, leaving the team now looking to reclaim their form against an Ireland side fresh off a win against Italy.
Itoje ‘sets the standard’
Borthwick lauded the competitive attitude and professionalism Itoje has elicited throughout his career, deeming his 100th cap an indication of his resolve.
“To reach 100 caps for England is a remarkable achievement and speaks volumes about Maro’s consistency and professionalism over many years,” Borthwick said, quoted on Sky Sports.
“He leads through his actions every day, sets the standard for others and cares deeply about representing his country.
“We’re all incredibly proud of what he has achieved, and I know it will be a special day for him and his family.”
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Borthwick: Pollock brings euphoria to people
The England head coach gave his thoughts on Pollock’s polarising, but driven demeanor and will to succeed in his young career.
“Henry’s full of energy, full of character and full of beans and he’s already achieved so much in a very short space of time,” Borthwick said.
“He’s larger than life and each new level you challenge him with, he seems to thrive.
“As a player, he gets people excited, he gets people jumping up and down with joy. He can bring a euphoria to people that not many players can.
A potential superstar in the making
“He seems to thrive on that doesn’t he? It seems to just keep fuelling more of the energy that is within him,” Borthwick said, referring to how opposing players view Pollock’s antagonism.
“I find it incredible watching him – there are not many players like him. We want superstars in the game.”
Crossroads for both teams
Ireland have been facing a steady decline over the last few seasons, with stalwart players ageing, and incumbents still in their development phase at international level.
England, on the other hand, strolled into Murrayfield fresh off a season-long winning streak, but were undone by a vibrant Scotland side that no doubt dented the confidence of Borthwick’s men.
Both sides are looking to revive their imposing selves – a challenge Borthwick will not underestimate the value of.
“We’re expecting a huge contest at Allianz Stadium and we’re excited for it,” he said.
“We know the challenge Ireland will bring and we’ve selected a side that we believe has the right balance to meet it.”
England match-day 23 v Ireland
Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Henry Pollock.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Sam Underhill, 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Marcus Smith.
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