Six nations 2025: Curry twins to face England Ireland

Twins Tom and Ben Curry will play together for England for the first time after being selected as the initial flicker in a six nations opener of the team against Ireland on Saturday.

The 26-year-old sales pair will start on either side of the number eight Ben Earl, including the back-in option Olli Chasam, Chandler Cunningham-South and six forward on a bench with Tom Willis.

Uncapted wing Caden Murle is preferred on the left wing for Oli Sleeveghe, excluding her shoulder with an exeter founder Emmanuel Fei-Vaboso.

Alex Michelle has recovered from the knee problem to start in scramas-huff, with Marcus Smith in Fly-Haf and in Freddy Steward in the absence of George Ferbank.

Henry Slade and Oli Lawrence continued their midfield partnership, while Luke Kovan-Diki started on the hooker, when Jamie George was dropped from the game with a hamstring issue.

Maro Itoze, who replaced George as captain two weeks ago, will resume his second line combination with George Martin.