Your guide to Ireland's Six Nations opener against England | Time, TV, tickets and teams

Back-to-back Six Nations champions Ireland host neighbours England in a mouth-watering opening fixture on Saturday. 

Ireland are bidding to become the first country to claim three consecutive titles since the championship was expanded 25 years ago.

Ireland claimed Grand Slam success in 2023 and were only denied a repeat of that feat last year by a last-gasp Marcus Smith drop goal in a 23-22 loss to England.

They have an immediate opportunity to avenge the dramatic Twickenham defeat when Steve Borthwick’s men visit Dublin on Saturday evening. Here’s what you need to know:

Where is the game on?

Ireland kick-off their Six Nations campaign with a home fixture at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

What time does it start?

The game is set to get underway at 4.45pm.

Where can I watch the match?

The game will be broadcast live on Virgin Media and Virgin Media Player with coverage from 4pm. 

Are tickets still available?

As is generally the case when the neighbours clash, tickets for the game are completely sold out with a huge interest in the fixture from both sides of the pond. 

What are the odds?

Both Ireland and England come into this game as evens to take the win, while a draw is priced at 16/1.

What are the teams? 

Interim head coach Simon Easterby’s maiden starting XV since since taking over from Andy Farrell on a temporary basis shows only two personnel changes to the team which began the 22-19 win over Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies on November 30.

Ireland lock Joe McCarthy will miss Saturday’s game through injury, with moving Tadhg Beirne into the second row to replace him. Ryan Baird has been given a rare international start after being named at blindside flanker.

Leinster fly-half Sam Prendergast is again preferred to Munster’s Jack Crowley, while centre Garry Ringrose is the other man recalled, replacing Robbie Henshaw to resume his partnership with Bundee Aki.

England, however, have sprung a surprise by uniting the Curry twins in their back row for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener.

For the first time, Tom and Ben Curry will feature together in the starting XV, filling the flanker positions either side of number eight Ben Earl. Tom Curry is given the number six jersey.

In another selection twist, Cadan Murley will make his debut on the left wing after being given the nod ahead of Ollie Sleightholme, who filled the position in England’s most recent outing against Japan in November.

IRELAND: H Keenan (Leinster); M Hansen (Connacht), G Ringrose (Leinster), B Aki (Connacht), J Lowe (Leinster); S Prendergast (Leinster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); A Porter (Leinster), R Kelleher (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), R Baird (Leinster), J Van der Flier (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster, capt).

Replacements: D Sheehan (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), T Clarkson (Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), J Conan (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), J Crowley (Munster), R Henshaw (Leinster).

ENGLAND: Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Cadan Murley, Marcus Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje (c), George Martin, Tom Curry, Ben Curry, Ben Earl.

Replacements: Theo Dan, Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Willis, Harry Randall, Fin Smith.