Caelan Doris leads Ireland into the Round 3 Six Nations clash at Twickenham as Andy Farrell names a balanced match day 23 with an unchanged back three and experienced forwards
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Farrell names 23 for Twickenham clash with England
Andy Farrell has confirmed Ireland’s matchday 23 to face England at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. The kick-off is scheduled for 2.10pm. The selection follows Ireland’s recent victory over Italy at the Aviva Stadium.
Who and what
The announcement, made by the Ireland coaching team, lists a starting XV and replacements intended to preserve momentum. The squad aims to consolidate Ireland’s position in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations campaign.
Key selection themes
The coaches have emphasised continuity.
A settled back three is retained. Leadership is assigned to Caelan Doris at number eight. The forward pack pairs seasoned internationals with bench options designed to provide impact and cover.
Why this matters
Farrell’s choices signal trust in players who responded after earlier setbacks.
From the players’ perspective, the selection rewards form and availability. The pick also seeks to balance experience and depth for the physical demands of a Twickenham fixture.
Implications
The match will test Ireland’s cohesion and bench strategy under pressure. If the chosen starters and replacements perform as expected, Ireland may strengthen their Six Nations standing and build further confidence ahead of the remainder of the tournament.
Starting XV and tactical shape
Ireland’s starting XV places Jamie Osborne at full-back, with Robert Baloucoune and James Lowe on the wings. The selectors retain an unchanged back three to preserve attacking threat and aerial security. In midfield, Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose are paired to blend physicality and creativity. Jack Crowley starts at out-half alongside Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half to manage tempo and create launch points for the backline.
The pack is built for set-piece control and collision dominance. The front row of Jeremy Loughman, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong aims to secure scrums and lineouts. The second row of Joe McCarthy and James Ryan offers lineout options and direct carries. The back row of Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier and captain Caelan Doris is selected for breakdown work, mobility and ball-carrying impact. This balance suggests a plan to control possession, contest the ruck and supply the backs with front-foot ball.
Bench options and strategic depth
Following the starting XV, Farrell’s bench signals a clear tactical intent at Twickenham. The replacements list covers all phases of play and offers options to change the game as required.
Front-row and tighthead cover is provided by Rónan Kelleher and Tom O’Toole, with Finlay Bealham adding experience. Across the back five forwards, Nick Timoney and Jack Conan offer defensive reinforcement and ball-carrying power. In the backs, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley and Tommy O’Brien are available to inject fresh attacking ideas and game management late in the match.
The bench has been selected with an emphasis on impact substitutions. Management can protect a lead, stabilise a platform under pressure, or add momentum through physical carries and breakdown intensity. That flexibility supports the plan to control possession, contest the ruck and supply the backs with front-foot ball.
Coach and captain perspectives
Building on the decision to control possession and contest the ruck, Andy Farrell stressed mutual respect between the teams and the need for Ireland to deliver its best performance at Twickenham. \”We know their strengths and our aim is to deliver the best version of ourselves to put us in a position to get the performance that we want,\” he said. Farrell emphasised process and incremental growth over external expectation, while recognising the boost from travelling supporters.
Captain Caelan Doris underlined unity within the squad and the crowd’s influence on match intensity. \”It’s a big occasion. We’ve worked on belief and doing the simple things well. Having thousands of Irish fans with us at Twickenham always lifts the group and we’ll draw energy from that,\” he said. From the patient perspective of leadership, Doris’ role will be central to sustaining forward platform and defensive intensity throughout the contest.
Broadcast and coverage
Following Doris’ expected influence on forward platform and defensive intensity, viewers can watch the match on major broadcasters. Live television coverage will be on RTÉ2 and ITV. Live radio commentary will be available on RTÉ Radio 1. Fans who cannot watch may follow real-time updates and team news via the teams’ official digital channels and verified social feeds.
What selection signals for the campaign
The chosen match day 23 underscores a preference for continuity and resilience. Retaining an unchanged back three signals an intent to preserve attacking shape and established combinations. The forward selections prioritise set-piece control and stability at the breakdown. Coaching staff appear focused on building a consistent spine and trusting players who have stepped up during an injury-affected period. As the campaign progresses, this selection points to a strategic emphasis on cohesion and platform security for subsequent matches.
Selection underlines cohesion and tactical flexibility
The squad selection builds on the emphasis on cohesion and platform security outlined earlier. The bench offers tailored options to alter tempo and sustain physical intensity in the closing stages.
Starting roles are distributed to balance experience, physical presence and pace across the field. Substitutions are positioned to protect leads, contest breakdowns and refresh the defensive line when required.
From a match-management perspective, expect early consolidation of territory and a shift towards controlled exchanges as the game progresses. Tactical kicking and set-piece reliability will be decisive in limiting England’s scoring opportunities.
The selection signals a campaign approach that prioritises sequential stability and adaptable game plans for subsequent fixtures. Expect the staff to monitor momentum closely and deploy impact players to influence critical phases of the match.
