Six Nations LIVE: Latest news as Sam Prendergast starts for champions Ireland against England
Interim boss Simon Easterby faces a key call at fly half, with Scotland and Italy also set to reveal their line-ups today
The Six Nations is almost here as rugby’s annual spring spectacular returns with perhaps the most open edition yet.
Defending champions Ireland are on the hunt for an unprecedented three-peat, but face a potentially tricky opener against the team that denied them back-to-back grand slams a year ago. England have had precious little success since that Twickenham win yet head to Dublin with a degree of confidence - Steve Borthwick named his side for the Aviva Stadium clash two days ahead of schedule as he looks to get on the front foot ahead of a defining campaign. Interim boss Simon Easterby has now confirmed the hosts side, with a key call made at fly half with Sam Prendergast beating Jack Crowley for the starting shirt
France and Wales confirmed their XVs yesterday ahead of their opening night battle at the Stade de France. Can a wounded Welsh side end their winless woe? Or will this be the start of another Antoine Dupont-inspired success for Fabien Galthie’s men? The form book suggests only one conclusion but this grand old championship has a habit of throwing up a surprise or two...
Follow all of the latest build-up and analysis ahead of the start of the Six Nations in our live blog below:
Predicting the Lions squad
What could Andy Farrell’s squad look like? After the Autumn Nations Series, we updated our predicted 38-man touring party to take on the Wallabies - but plenty could still change.
British & Irish Lions 2025: Predicting the squad to tour Australia
France reveal line-up for Wales opener
France have named their team for the opening clash with Wales. In the absence of Thibaud Flament and Damian Penaud, Alexandre Roumat and Theo Attisogbe start at lock and on the wing respectively, while a six/two bench has plenty of forward might.
France XV: 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio; 4 Alexandre Roumat, 5 Emmanuel Meafou; 6 Francois Cros, 7 Paul Boudehent, 8 Gregory Alldritt; 9 Antoine Dupont (capt.), 10 Romain Ntamack; 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 14 Theo Attisogbe; 15 Thomas Ramos.
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19, Hugo Auradou, 20 Mickael Guillard, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Emilien Gailleton.
What will British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell be watching during the Six Nations?
Maro Itoje shapes as one of two captaincy contenders for the British and Irish Lions this summer, with Andy Farrell sure to be keeping a keen eye on his battle within a battle with Ireland’s Caelan Doris on Saturday. But what else will the Lions boss be looking for during the course of this campaign? From tactical trends to the importance of utility, here are a few key themes that might emerge:
What will Lions coach Andy Farrell be watching during the Six Nations?
Maro Itoje fulfils his destiny as England’s ‘world-class’ leader for the present and future
The installation of Maro Itoje as England captain has sometimes felt like an inevitability over the lock’s career - but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been hurdles along the way...
Maro Itoje fulfils destiny as England’s leader for the present and future
Steve Borthwick explains back row selection - and admits to key weakness
“The back row can run,” Borthwick explained to media at England’s training camp in Girona yesterday after selecting the Curry twins and Ben Earl in his back row.
“All three players have got incredible engines, incredible mobility, they are fantastic players defensively, their tackling and their jackal, and they carry the ball well.
“The feeling now is the three players starting, Ben, Tom and Ben Earl, that combination is what we need, particularly with the work rate they bring.
“Clearly, there’s always a blend and always a trade-off of what you decide to do and why you decide to do it. It is my job to weigh up all those considerations and I am sure Paul O’Connell [forwards coach] and the Irish lineout will look at this and try to attack us in that area. We will have to be very good.”
Curry twins to start in tandem as England reveal team to face Ireland
Identical twins Tom and Ben Curry will start together for England for the first time as Steve Borthwick makes a bold selection call for his side’s Six Nations opener against Ireland.
The Sale pair are deployed at blindside and openside respectively, as they are regularly for their club, having first been named in a matchday squad together during the Autumn Nations Series.
Elsewhere, there is a surprise debut for Cadan Murley on the wing in the absence of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, while Freddie Steward starts at full-back with George Furbank injured.
Marcus Smith continues at fly half after starting all four games in November, with half-back partner Alex Mitchell fit to start having been an injury doubt.
Six forwards, including the in form Tom Willis, are named on the bench as Fin Smith gets the nod ahead of George Ford as cover at 10. Maro Itoje captains England from the start for the first time.
Curry twins to start in tandem as England reveal team to face Ireland
Six Nations 2025 schedule: Fixtures, kick-off times and how to watch
The Six Nations gets underway on Friday night with a clash under the lights in Paris. Here’s how you can follow every fixture from this year’s tournament:
Six Nations 2025 schedule: Fixtures, kick-off times and how to watch
Six Nations LIVE
Good morning. Rugby’s greatest annual championship is almost upon us, the Six Nations set to return with a mouthwatering edition that feels more open that most. Can England rebound from a difficult 2024? Is this finally Scotland’s year? Is there any end to the Welsh woe? Or is the title destined to be decided by an Irish/French squabble again?
A British and Irish Lions year only adds extra intrigue to a tournament that appears set to thrill. We’ll have all the latest team news, analysis and much, much more throughout the day.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments