Jack Crowley starts at fly-half for Ireland while Sam Prendergast is omitted from the matchday 23; Ciarán Frawley is named as back-up and Ulster duo Robert Baloucoune and Stuart McCloskey keep their places
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The Ireland squad named for the away Test against England brings a notable change at out-half: Jack Crowley will start, while Sam Prendergast is omitted from the matchday 23. This selection follows last weekend’s narrow win over Italy, in which both out-halves saw game time but the coaching staff opted to alter the 10 jersey for the next challenge.
Head coach Andy Farrell has kept faith with the forward performers who impressed most recently, while juggling the crucial playmaking positions. On the bench, Ciarán Frawley provides cover at 10, and the experienced scrum-half combination has been adjusted to pair Jack Crowley with a recalled Jamison Gibson-Park.
Why the change at fly-half matters
The decision to start Crowley is rooted in match management and recent form. Crowley entered the game against Italy and offered control and game management off the bench, even if one late kick fell short of touch.
The coaching staff value his composure and prior experience: he played every minute during Ireland’s successful 2026 Six Nations campaign and has a track record of influencing Test matches when selected.
Conversely, Prendergast had been the preferred starter through much of the current cycle but had a challenging outing in the same Italy match, including missed goal-kicking attempts. Selection panels often weigh recent performances heavily, so the omission reflects both short-term form and the desire to rotate responsibility among the squad’s out-halves.
Backline and bench adjustments
Alongside the change at 10, there is one other alteration in Ireland’s backline: the inclusion of Jamison Gibson-Park to partner Crowley at 9. Gibson-Park’s recall provides a familiar half-back partnership dynamic and experience under pressure. Ciarán Frawley joins the replacements list to offer tactical variation from the bench and cover multiple playmaking roles.
The selection also rewards provincial form and recent performances. Ulster wing Robert Baloucoune and centre Stuart McCloskey retain their starting berths after standout displays, with Baloucoune earning a try and a Player of the Match nod in the previous fixture and McCloskey heavily involved in Ireland’s try-scoring sequences.
Bench composition and squad depth
The replacements include versatile options to respond to the ebb and flow of a Test: specialist hooker and front-row cover, experienced back-row forwards, and additional backline utility in the form of Ciarán Frawley and Tadhg O’Brien. This balance is intended to manage the game’s physical moments while retaining tactical flexibility.
Forwards reshaped to regain momentum
The pack sees targeted switches designed to bolster set-piece and breakdown efficiency. Tadhg Furlong is named at tighthead prop in place of Thomas Clarkson, bringing elite scrummaging credentials. In the back row, Josh van der Flier replaces Jack Conan, slotting into the openside role to sharpen turnover work and defensive intensity.
Caelan Doris moves back to number eight with Tadhg Beirne selected on the blindside flank; Cormac Izuchukwu and Edwin Edogbo miss out on the matchday 23 as the selectors opt for experienced campaigners to face England’s physical challenge. These choices reflect a preference for proven Test experience in a high-pressure away environment.
Coach perspectives and squad development
Assistant coach Jonathan Sexton has spoken publicly about the management of the out-halves group, stressing the long-term plan to develop multiple options at 10. Sexton emphasised the importance of game-time, reflection after matches and measured coaching feedback, describing a process intended to produce several well-capped playmakers rather than reliance on a single figure.
Sexton underlined that all four out-halves in the wider squad—Prendergast, Crowley, Frawley and Harry Byrne—have distinct strengths, and the coaching staff want to expose them to varied pressure situations across venues and opponents. The aim is to build depth ahead of future campaigns, learning from previous cycles where development was uneven.
Match context and historical note
Ireland travel with a strong recent record in this fixture but also with the memory of a narrow London loss that denied them a Grand Slam in a recent campaign. The coaching group has been vocal about the tight margins and the respect between the two sides, and they expect another close, highly competitive Test at Twickenham.
Farrell summed up the selection thinking by stressing preparation and intent: the team must deliver its best version to meet England’s challenge, backed by the travelling support. The chosen matchday 23 blends specialist skills, experienced heads and players earning places through recent performances—designed to give Ireland the best platform to win away from home.
Ireland team: J Osborne (Leinster); R Baloucoune (Ulster), G Ringrose (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), J Lowe (Leinster); J Crowley (Munster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); J Loughman (Munster), D Sheehan (Leinster), T Furlong (Leinster), J McCarthy (Leinster), J Ryan (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), J Van der Flier (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster capt).
Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster), T O’Toole (Ulster), F Bealham (Connacht), N Timoney (Ulster), J Conan (Leinster), C Casey (Munster), C Frawley (Leinster), T O’Brien (Leinster).
