Our preview pack for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations finale between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin includes team news, predictions, statistics and more.
England visit Ireland in the RBS 6 Nations on Saturday March 18 as they not only target the Grand Slam for a second successive year but also a new world record for consecutive Test wins. The kick-off is 1700 GMT at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin and is screened live on ITV.
Here is our preview pack, which includes the team news, quotes from coaches, key facts, the latest Sky Bet odds and the thoughts of our Steve Bramley to help you with your bets.
You can also click here for all the Six Nations fixtures, results, standings and historical statistics.
Ireland v England: Team news
Conor Murray has failed to shake off his shoulder problem and will miss Ireland's Six Nations finale with England.
Fit-again Jared Payne starts at full-back ahead of Rob Kearney (groin), with Iain Henderson preferred to Devin Toner in the second-row and Kieran Marmion replacing Murray at scrum-half.
Keith Earls has shaken off his groin complaint and starts on the wing.
Billy Vunipola and Anthony Watson return to England's starting XV as they attempt at securing back-to-back Grand Slams when they face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Vunipola replaces Nathan Hughes at number eight and Watson is recalled at the expense of Jack Nowell on the right wing in a straight swap between starting XV and bench.
Elliot Daly continues in the number 11 jersey after passing the return to play protocols for suspected concussion sustained in the 61-21 demolition of Scotland last Saturday.
Tom Wood will win his 50th cap if he steps off the bench at the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland: J Payne (Ulster), K Earls (Munster), G Ringrose, R Henshaw (both Leinster), S Zebo (Munster), J Sexton (Leinster), K Marmion (Connacht), J McGrath (Leinster), R Best (Ulster, capt), T Furlong (Leinster), D Ryan (Munster), I Henderson (Ulster), CJ Stander (Munster), S O'Brien, J Heaslip (both Leinster).
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).
England: M Brown (Harlequins); A Watson (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), E Daly (Wasps); G Ford (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester); J Marler (Harlequins) D Hartley (Northampton, capt), D Cole (Leicester), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), M Itoje (Saracens), J Haskell (Wasps), B Vunipola (Saracens).
Replacements: J George (Saracens), M Vunipola (Saracens), K Sinckler (Harlequins), T Wood (Northampton), N Hughes (Wasps), D Care (Harlequins), B Te'o (Worcester), J Nowell (Exeter).
Ireland v England: Odds & advice
England are 8/15 favourites with Sky Bet to become the first side in 17 years to compete consecutive Grand Slams with victory over 7/4 shots Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. The Red Rose have won just twice in eight visits to Dublin and Ireland can be backed a evens to topple the champions with a four point handicap in their favour. Jonathan Joseph scoed a hat-trick of tries in last week's victory over Scotland and the England centre is 11/1 to score the opening try of the match and 4/1 to cross anytime in an England win. CJ Stander and Simon Zebo are the shortest-priced of the Ireland players at 9/2 to score a try.
Click here to check out all Sky Bet's Ireland v England odds!
Steve Bramley's verdict...
Many predicted, myself included, this clash between the two most recent winners of the Six Nations would be potential title decider, but Eddie Jones’ England didn’t read the script.
The defending champions emphatic 61-21 victory over Scotland last week came less than 24 hours after Ireland’s hopes of a third Six Nations in four years had ended in disappointment in Cardiff.
It means Saturday’s Championship finale in Dublin may not have that winner-takes-all tag predicted but it still retains huge importance for both sides.
England now stand on the cusp of winning back-to-back Grand Slam titles for the first time in 17 years and also securing the world record for the number of consecutive Test wins, while Ireland will be determined to spoil the parade and regain their pride after that Cardiff setback.
Understandably, the Red Rose are best price 8/13 (PaddyPower, BetStars) to clean up after that irresistible display at Twickenham, producing their best performance of the campaign by a country mile and head to the Aviva Stadium with a great chance to make history.
While England’s form in Dublin is on the whole a little disappointing - winning just twice in their last eight visits – interestingly those wins have come in two of their last three visits.
Check out Tony Calvin's Six Nations betting tips
However, Ireland have a habit of ruining England’s Grand Slam celebrations – most recently in 2011 - and will be all out to spoil the party again as they did when Johnny Sexton helped his side claim a famous win over Martin Johnson’s team.
Fly-half Sexton again will be crucial to Ireland’s chances but he will be without his half-back partner Conor Murray, a potentially significant loss for Joe Schmidt’s men.
But despite that you can guarantee they will be massively up for this match, not only to try and finish their campaign on a high and inflict a first defeat on England since Jones took the reins but also desperate to avoid losing to all three home nations for the first time in the championship since 1998.
I tipped Ireland, now are 15/8 (William Hill, Betway), to cash-in on an injury-weakened England back in January and win this match and the Six Nations but with the likes of powerhouse Billy Vunipola and wing Anthony Watson back in the side I think it’s the visitors who hold all the aces.
England’s 21-10 victory in this fixture last year was the biggest winning margin in the last four meetings between these two rivals so I’d expect another tight contest and I’m taking the men in white to get home by 6-10 points at 9/2.
But there’s also huge value in Ireland/England at 13/2 (Boylesports, bwin) in the half-time/full-time market.
Apart from last week’s mauling of the Scots, England have started all their matches slowly and trailed at the break against Wales, Italy and were level with France. Expect Ireland to come flying out of the blocks but the visitors, with the stronger “finishers” to come out on top in the second-half.
Suggested bets:
England to win by 6-10 points - 9/2
Ireland v England: Key quotes
Eddie Jones on England's chances in Dublin: "We've had a really good week's preparation. The intensity of training has been good
"It's going to be quite an occasion in Dublin so we understand we have to be prepared emotionally, physically and mentally.
"The mood in camp has been positive. We're very excited ahead of what is a huge opportunity for the players. You sense the intensity has stepped up - it definitely has in training.
"Ireland not having anything to play for means they have the courage to fail which frees them up mentally. We are a little bit vulnerable because we have already been crowned champions and we had a big win against Scotland, so for us it's about getting the right mind-set for the game."
Prop Joe Marler on England's bid to eclipse New Zealand's record number of 18 consecutive Test victories against Ireland: "Last year it took us by surprise. We were playing well and winning games, but we weren't as confident.
"We didn't really know ourselves as well as we know ourselves now. We're looking forward to giving it another crack at the weekend against Ireland.
"There's definitely less stress this week than at the same time last year. We can take that confidence that we've done it before, but the challenge ahead of us is as big, if not bigger."
James Haskell insists England's performance against Ireland will mean more to Eddie Jones' squad than claiming back-to-back Grand Slams and setting a new world record for consecutive Test wins. "I want to tell you that it (history) does have relevance but I'd just be lying to you. I think it does just in terms of headlines, great news reports, and excitement for fans. But when you're in it, the most important thing is getting the result and getting the performance that you want and playing the best you can you play."
Yes, you have an awareness of these things and you always want to make sure you do the best you can do. And if the best you can do is winning titles and winning records then that's important.
"We will only celebrate if the job gets done as we want it to. We have a huge occasion against Ireland. Obviously it was a great thing to get the performance against Scotland but there's no point in celebrating when you've got more to come."
Joe Schmidt on Conor Murray's absence and his decision to drop line-out specialist Devin Toner: "With Conor Murrray we fitness-tested him today and we felt he wasn't quite 100 per cent. We just felt if we lost him early in the game we would be vulnerable.
"Iain Henderson came off the bench and did really well last week. Between Donnacha Ryan and Dev (Toner) we just wanted to give him a chance to start. Donnacha also did well last week, so it was just trying to get that balance."
"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."
Ireland v England: Opta Facts
England have won their last 18 Test matches and another win would see them surpass the All Blacks and set a new record for most consecutive victories by a Tier One team.
Ireland are unbeaten at home in the Six Nations in 10 games (W8, D2), their last such defeat coming in 2013 when England visited.
England have won just twice in eight visits to Dublin in the Six Nations (since 2000), the first victory came in their 2003 Grand Slam and the other 10 years later in 2013.
England have lost just once in their last eight away games in the Six Nations, that defeat coming at the Aviva Stadium in 2015.
England have won their last 11 games in the Six Nations, no side in the Five or Six Nations has ever gone on such a long winning run.
England are aiming to become the first side in the Six Nations (since 2000) to complete consecutive Grand Slams, and the first in the Five/Six Nations since France in 1997 and 1998; England last managed it in 1991 and 1992.
Mike Brown has won his last 17 Six Nations games, no player has ever won 18 in a row (Wales’ Geoff Wheel also 17 games, 1975-1980).
No player has made as many carries in the tournament this year as Ireland’s CJ Stander (84), while England’s Joe Launchbury (67/70) tops the tackle charts after four rounds.
Ireland have slotted their last 19 kicks at goal in the Six Nations with Paddy Jackson making his last 14 in a row while Johnny Sexton has landed his five attempts off the tee so far; Sexton is the only player yet to miss a kick in this year’s tournament.
Jonathan Joseph scored a hat-trick in his last game and is one of just two players to score more than one hat-trick in the Six Nations (2), along with ex-Ireland centre Brian O’Driscoll (2).
Ireland v England: Last four meetings
2016: England 21-10 Ireland, London
2015: Ireland 19-9 England, Dublin
2014: England 13-10 Ireland, London
2013: Ireland 6-12 England, Dublin
Ireland v England: Six Nations so far
Round One
Scotland 27-22 Ireland (Murrayfield)
England 19-16 France (Twickenham)
Round Two
Italy 10-63 Ireland (Stadio Olimico)
Wales 16-21 England (Principality Stadium)
Round Three
Ireland 19-9 France (Aviva Stadium)
England 36-15 Italy (Twickenham)
Round Four
Wales 22-9 Ireland (Principality Stadium)
England 61-21 Scotland (Twickenham)
