England vs Ireland: Six Nations finale offers final audition for Lions places

Ellis Genge rather conveyed the thoughts of many as he reflected on life locked away at The Lensbury hotel in England’s Six Nations bubble. “It’s not easy being around people who you don’t always necessarily want to be around for this amount of time,” the typically-frank prop said this week. “I’d be lying if I said it’s been easy to be in the same place, every day, for that amount of time.” As we move towards a year of coronavirus restrictions, we can all, by now, attest that nine weeks with the same faces can seem a very long time indeed.

There will, then, be a feeling of some sort of relief as we arrive at the final scheduled round of an excellent Six Nations. Title hopes may have long since faded for Ireland and England but second place could yet be achievable, depending on how final engagements elsewhere play out. This may not be the ultimate conclusion to the tournament after the Covid-19 postponement of France against Scotland, but there will be plenty on the line on “Super Saturday”.

England travel to Dublin reinvigorated by victory against France, and bearing a strong recent record against Ireland, with two wins in both 2019 and 2020. Each was achieved with a certain physical supremacy: defensively dominant in the autumn of last year; pyrotechnics predicated on power in the 57-15 dismantling before the World Cup.

Having found some of that sort of high-tempo, high-impact carrying game against France, Eddie Jones makes just one change. Henry Slade hasn’t quite shaken off a troublesome knock to the leg, with Elliot Daly starting at 13 for England for just a second time.

Outside centre is Daly’s favoured home, and the position where he broke through at Wasps. He earns the nod ahead of Ollie Lawrence, Paolo Odogwu and Joe Marchant (Slade’s squad replacement) on account of his useful left-boot and work-rate in a game anticipated to provide a healthy dose of kicking.

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“He’s had to dig down deep into himself to find the best of himself,” England’s head coach explained. “It’s been a tough Six Nations for Elliot [Daly] and I think he is coming back into his best form. He adapts very quickly, he’s got pace, he’s got a great left foot. He’s a good reader in defence so he can play those positions quite easily.

“You play Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, it is generally a big aerial contest so to have someone in your backline with a left foot is a basic requirement. Sladey is an important part of our team and Elliot can fulfil the same sort of duties.

“We’ve tried to create the Irish gameplan in training, as we do every week, sometimes we get it right, sometimes we get it wrong. Hopefully we get it right this week.”

While statistically it is England who kick more of the two sides, Ireland’s ability to create problems with the boot is a strength. With accuracy from Johnny Sexton and the returning Conor Murray in the halves, and a back three with outstanding aerial ability, Ireland’s kick-to-compete strategy creates not just territory but also opportunities for unstructured rugby. The lineout, with Ireland’s unit now drilled by Paul O’Connell, will also be a key area of focus as each side seeks stable set-piece platforms.

“There will be two major battles, one in the set-piece, the other in the air,” predicted Jones. “Ireland have a pretty strong way they play the game and we have got to be good enough to win both of those areas.”

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It is a much-changed Irish side. The impressive Robbie Henshaw shifts to 13 to accommodate Bundee Aki’s return to the midfield in the absence of Garry Ringrose, while Jacob Stockdale is back to full fitness and starts on the left wing. Dave Kilcoyne is at loosehead, while the back five in the pack has been remodelled with the similarly influential James Ryan out – Tadhg Beirne shifts into his second row berth, CJ Stander to the blindside, and Leinster duo Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier complete a newly configured back row.

The criticism of this Ireland side has been their inability to unlock an extra attacking gear despite plenty of territory, ball, and strong ruck efficiency. The loss of Ringrose’s connecting hands changes the complexion of the midfield significantly, but Henshaw and Aki will look to prey on any rusty communication channels as Daly relearns his mother tongue.

This may be Stander’s final game in Irish green, having this week announced his intention to retire after a summer where he will hope to be engaged with the British and Irish Lions. After a year of shifted priorities and having sacrificed plenty for his adopted nation, Stander, only 31, is keen for time with his family and for his daughter to grow up in his native South Africa – an admirable position for a man described by Jones as “a wonderful player”.

The Lions tour is the intriguing back canvas to be illustrated by Saturday’s shadow play. This will be a final international engagement for those eyeing spots among Warren Gatland’s squad, with individual battles to be won and final reminders of one’s ability to be delivered. Whether the plane’s destination will be a training base in Jersey or South Africa remains to be seen, but seats will be coveted either way. “Obviously there’s a lot of ambiguity,” said Genge, “but anyone would be lying if they said they didn’t want to be a part of that squad.”

A final send-off for Stander will be desired by Ireland, while England will hope for more of the same after ending France’s Grand Slam push in such fashion. After the long weeks locked away, a last release of pent-up energy awaits.