England national team head coach Steve Borthwick has made three significant changes to the lineup for the upcoming Six Nations match against Ireland. The most important decision is fielding 21-year-old Henry Pollock in the starting fifteen at the number eight position. The young Northampton Saints player will replace the previous leaders of the pack following a disappointing defeat to Scotland. The match in London will be a crucial test for the rebuilding team ahead of the decisive phase of the tournament.

Henry Pollock's debut

The young talent from Northampton Saints has received his first chance to play in the starting lineup for the England national team in a prestigious match against Ireland.

Maro Itoje's milestone

Experienced rugby player Maro Itoje will make his 100th appearance for the national team, making him one of the most decorated players in the squad.

Ollie Lawrence's return

After health issues, Ollie Lawrence returns to the midfield, allowing the coach to optimize the setup of the backline.

Head coach Steve Borthwick has taken a bold step by entrusting the role of starting forward to 21-year-old Henry Pollock. The talented Northampton Saints player, who has so far made seven appearances for the national team exclusively as a substitute, will make his starting lineup debut during Saturday's clash with Ireland at Allianz Stadium. This decision follows England's heavy defeat to Scotland (30-21) and signals a desire to refresh the back-row play. Pollock will play at number eight, which forced reshuffles among the other players: Ben Earl will move to openside flanker, and Tom Curry will take the blindside flanker position. The Six Nations is the world's oldest recurring rugby tournament, with a tradition dating back to 1883. The rivalry between England and Ireland for the Millennium Trophy is one of the most prestigious fixtures in the competition.In addition to changes in the pack, center Ollie Lawrence returns to the lineup after recovering from a knee injury. His presence allowed Tommy Freeman to be moved to the wing, which is intended to strengthen England's aerial game. Another significant event will be Maro Itoje's 100th cap for the national team, joining an elite group of distinguished rugby players. On the bench, Marcus Smith and Jack van Poortvliet will provide dynamism in the second half of the match. Borthwick emphasized that Pollock now has the chance to show his full potential in front of his home crowd in a high-stakes match. „Henry is a player with immense talent whose development I've followed for years; the time has come for him to make his mark on the game from the first minute.” — Steve Borthwick[{"side1": "Scotland", "side2": "England", "score1": 30, "score2": 21}]100 — such a milestone match will be played by Maro Itoje against Ireland[{"aspect": "Number 8 position", "before": "Ben Earl", "after": "Henry Pollock"}, {"aspect": "Center", "before": "Tommy Freeman", "after": "Ollie Lawrence"}, {"aspect": "Wing", "before": "Tom Roebuck", "after": "Tommy Freeman"}]

Mentioned People

  • Henry Pollock — 21-year-old rugby player playing at number eight for Northampton Saints and the England national team.
  • Steve Borthwick — Head coach of the England national rugby union team, responsible for selecting the lineup for the Six Nations.
  • Maro Itoje — Outstanding English rugby player playing his 100th match for the national team.