England vs Ireland Six Nations preview: What time does it start, what channel is it on, where can I watch it?

A look ahead to the Six Nations clash at Twickenham

Maro Itoje, left, captained Saracens just a week after turning 20 but has yet to make his England debut (Reuters)

The Last Chance Saloon beckons for the defending champions as the Irish visit the Grand Slam contenders England.

It’s a big game for…

Jonny Sexton: The Ireland and Lions fullback hasn’t hit his usual standards since returning to Ireland from Paris. When he returned to France to play against Les Bleus, he was targeted by late hits and pressure from the crowds and players. He will need to stand up against England in a big way to give his injury ravished team a fighting chance.

Teams...

England: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph (both Bath), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Jack Nowell (Exeter), George Ford (Bath), Ben Youngs (Leicester); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton - captain), Dan Cole (Leicester), Maro Itoje, George Kruis (both Saracens), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), James Haskell (Wasps), Billy Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: Jamie George, Mako Vunipola, Alex Goode (all Saracens), Paul Hill, Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Jack Clifford, Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps).

Ireland: Rob Kearney, Andrew Trimble, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Keith Earls, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Donnacha Ryan, CJ Stander, Josh van der Flier, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Cian Healy, Nathan White, Ultan Dillane, Rhys Ruddock, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Simon Zebo.

Captain Comparison...

Name Dylan Hartley Rory Best

Position Hooker Hooker

Club Northampton Saints Ulster

Caps (As captain) 68 (3) 91 (6)

Points scored 5 40

Remember when…

Care finished a Harlequins inspired move. In 2014, with a previous try attempt by May disrupted by Trimble and Murray, and after Kearney had carved through the English defence, Care passed back to Farrell in the 55th minute. Farrell passed to Robshaw who offloaded to Brown. Brown made up 20 metres before giving the ball to Care to finish the move under the posts.

Best stat…

255: This is the number of tries England have scored against the Irish in 130 matches. Only 121 have been converted in the same period. By comparison, Ireland have scored 147 with 63 conversions.

Up and coming...

Elliot Daly. The Wasps centre-come-fullback has been on the fringes of the England set up for a while now. Since 2009, he wore the white jersey in one form or another, first in the Under 18's, then Under 20's and finally the Saxons. So formidable is his left foot and his outright pace, he was even selected twice for the Barbarians, scoring eight points in the process. His long range kicks are something to watch, something akin to Leigh Halfpenny's range, so beware of penalties in the opposition half.

Past three-meetings…

England 21 (May, Watson) – Ireland 13 (O’Connell) World Cup warm up, September 2015

Ireland 19 (Henshaw) – England 9. Six Nations March 2015.

England 13 (Care) – Ireland 10 (R Kearney) Six Nations February 2014.

Form guide…

England: WWWLLW

Ireland: LDLWWW