Sean Creedon writes:
A bonus-point win over England at Twickenham tomorrow will secure the 2024 Six Nations Championship for Ireland. But of course all the talk is of back-to-back Grand Slams and that opportunity will come against Scotland at the Aviva on March 16, if the Irish win the game first in London.
Ireland are top of the Six Nations table with 15 points -- three of them bonus, having score a minimum of four tries in each game to date. Scotland are second with 9 points and England third on 8 points. Following impressive wins over France, Italy and Wales the bookies have Ireland at 4/1 on to win on Saturday. Center Garry Ringrose returned to training after missing the Six Nations so far, but he was not included in the squad, and full back Hugo Keenan, who picked up an ankle injury against Italy, will start at Twickenham.
The 27-year-old Keenan, who has played Sevens Rugby for Ireland, has admitted that he was tempted to return to Sevens squad ahead of this summer’s Olympics, but says that right now he has no plans to make the switch, as he concentrates on regaining full fitness after having to go off injured in the win over Italy on Feb. 11.
The Dubliner is a big Chelsea fan and while he was out injured in recent weeks he was able to travel to Wembley two weeks ago to watch the League Cup final where the Blues lost to Liverpool. Hopefully he will have better luck on Saturday at Twickenham.
No country has ever won back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams. France were the last to win consecutive Grand Slams in 1998 when it was the the Five Nations. Italy made it Six in 2000. It’s looking good, but we can never take England for granted, especially on their home turf. Only 15 Irish teams have beaten England at Twickenham and it remains a special prize. This talented group, however, are tipped to make it 16 on Saturday.
While no match is easy to predict in the Six Nations championship any more, Ireland’s against England in Twickenham will probably be the defining moment for the future of these two teams.
If England cause a shock and beat their opponents, it will herald a major shunt forward for Steve Borthwick’s squad while also reducing Ireland’s double slam ambitions to a season where they would have to beat Scotland to ensure they win the championship - a lesser goal.
Ireland’s win in London two years ago was the start of a 20 out of 22 run of wins under Andy Farrell, who has been the out and out best northern hemisphere manager in the interim.
Despite going down to 14-men, England put it up to Ireland before going under in the Aviva Stadium last year and that stubbornness will no doubt be in evidence again when the game kicks off on Saturday (midday Eastern USA time).
England will provide a stern test
By P.J. Cunningham
Ireland are now on the cusp of greatness - a win in Twickers will be a record 12th success in a row in the Six Nations which will break a record held by England from seven years ago.
England will come out all guns blazing with big forwards hoping to steamroll the confidence out of the Irish scrum and maul. Should they succeed, it could be a hard graft to get back on the front foot but Farrell has got his charges used to thinking their way out of adversity.
The hope is we have a fully fit squad to choose front with Hugo Keenan a major plus were he to declare himself fit for the fray.
The era of favoritism weighing us down is long gone thanks to Farrell and should we manage to cut loose and win with a bonus point, it will mean we already have wrapped up the title with a game to spare. The back to back Grand Slams will mean another victory is required against the dangerous Scots in Dublin the following week.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O'Mahony (capt), Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Ciarán Frawley.
England: George Furbank; Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Jamie George (capt), Dan Cole; Maro Itoje, George Martin; Ollie Chessum, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Chandler Cunningham-South, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Elliot Daly.
