England v Ireland LIVE: Six Nations 2024 latest build-up and ...

“Let’s be clear on Ireland – right now we can all agree they are the best team in the world,” were the words Steve Borthwick used when assessing England’s round four opponents, adding his voice to a theme that has developed throughout the tournament.

Former Wales captain Sam Warburton holds a similar view that has been greeted with indignation in South Africa given the Springboks retained the World Cup last autumn.

It will take the rivals’ two-Test series in July to settle the debate, but for now Andy Farrell’s green machine appear invulnerable as they aim to become the first side to win back-to-back Grand Slams in the Six Nations era.

Rory Best remembers the speech well. It was 2016, and Andy Farrell had just arrived in Ireland to oversee the defence, regathering himself after a bruising World Cup with England. A disaster of a tournament on home soil had seen Stuart Lancaster and his staff sacked – Farrell, still considered a rising star of the coaching ranks, had a reputation to rebuild.

Joe Schmidt gave him an opportunity; in the eight years since, Farrell has most certainly taken it, first as an assistant, and then as the top man himself.

“Andy came in and said, ‘How can we get better? How can I get more from the players both on and off the pitch?’,” recalls Best, Ireland captain at the time of Farrell’s arrival. “From the first meeting he ever stood up in front of us as an Ireland team back in 2016, he really inspired us because he has presence but also a real awareness of what each individual needs.

“A lot of time you sit in team meetings as a player and you are thinking, ‘What do I need to say that they will be happy with?’. He has challenged the squad to move beyond that and say what they think. And now the people in that room know what everyone is actually thinking instead of a facade you are putting on. He has done an unbelievable job.”

Harry Latham-Coyle interviews Rory Best about what makes this current Ireland side so special:

Perhaps the only minor question left to answer for Ireland comes at fly half. This is not to diminish what Jack Crowley has done by stepping into Johnny Sexton’s shoes. There were genuine concerns ahead of the tournament that Sexton was irreplaceable in the Irish system and as their emotional leader but Crowley has directed the attack to impeccable results

But there’s a nagging feeling that Crowley has not been truly tested yet and that as long as Ireland’s attack is humming along in cruise control, he hasn’t proven he can overcome adversity at Test level. This, of course, is not his fault – after all, it’s unfair to hold someone responsible for playing in a team that’s too good – but if England are to spring an almighty Twickenham surprise, then the route to victory probably runs through disrupting Crowley.

Read Luke Baker’s full preview as we may be about to move a step closer to the answer of whether Crowley really is Sexton’s heir apparent:

It has fast become rugby’s great puzzle – how do you stop Andy Farrell’s Ireland? The green giants of the Six Nations march towards history and a second consecutive grand slam with inexorable intent, carrying the confidence and certainty befitting one of the best teams of the modern era. In the last two years, their record reads played 25, won 23, lost two; the last time Ireland lost to someone other than New Zealand or France, Joe Biden had been in office for a fortnight.

How do you beat them? The answer at the World Cup was to produce something resembling rugby perfection. In the All Blacks’ quarter-final win in Paris, New Zealand turned the ball over thrice in 80 minutes; they did not allow Ireland a single scrum feed. Ireland were rattled, ruffled and roughed up, but were the girth of Jordie Barrett’s thigh away from victory; New Zealand still required a remarkable 37-phase defensive stand to cling on at the end.

Good luck England.

Read Harry Latham-Coyle’s full preview of this afternoon’s clash:

Jamie George has warned history-chasing Ireland that his England team are ready to “defend our home” today.

Andy Farrell’s men are hunting a fifth successive victory in the fixture that would place them on the brink of completing back-to-back grand slams – an achievement last managed by France in 1997 and 1998.

England, meanwhile, have been licking their wounds after a comprehensive defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield that leaves them facing another championship of underachievement.

Victory over Ireland would be the highlight of Steve Borthwick’s 20 matches in charge and while the visitors are overwhelming favourites to triumph, George believes the Twickenham factor will level the playing field.

“We believe that we’re going to win. We don’t want anyone, any opposition, to come to Twickenham and have an easy ride,” England’s captain said. “We have respect for them. I can’t emphasise enough how much respect we have for Andy Farrell and Peter O’Mahony’s team. They’ve got brilliant players across the board.

“But this is England. This is Twickenham. This is home. And we’re going to defend our home, like every Englishman would. Ireland have got to come and get the result here. And we’re a team that’s hurting off the back of the Scotland result, hugely motivated and hugely excited about the potential of where we can go. It’s about time we put that out in the field.”

Nika Amashukeli will take charge of England vs Ireland in the 2024 Six Nations.

The trailblazing Georgian returns to the tournament after making history at the World Cup in the autumn.

The 29-year-old became the first referee from Georgia to officiate at the event, and the youngest whistler since Wayne Barnes in 2007 to be appointed to a men’s World Cup panel.

Here’s everything you need to know about today’s referee:

Ireland could secure successive Six Nations crowns with a game to spare as they travel to Twickenham to take on England today. Andy Farrell’s side remain unbeaten in this year’s championship and will hope to make history as the first men’s team to secure back-to-back grand slams since the tournament’s expansion to six teams.

After taking on England, Ireland host Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on Super Saturday — but the title could be sewn up before then.

The defending champions currently top the standings by six points with two rounds to play. The maximum tally that second-placed Scotland can reach with two bonus-point victories is 19.

Ireland will thus be crowned champions if they beat England and score four tries, taking five match points and their tournament tally to an unassailable 20. Ireland will also win the title if they beat England without a bonus point and Scotland fail to take the full five match points against Italy in Rome.

The question was posed this week as to whether this Ireland side is the greatest team in Six Nations history as they prepare to go to Twickenham to face England.

Ex-Wales captain Sam Warburton made the claim as Andy Farrell’s men aim to become the first side to win back-to-back grand slams since the tournament expanded.

And they are well on their way to achieving that goal, recording bonus-points wins over France, Italy and, most recently, Wales as part of a record-equalling 11-game winning run in the Six Nations.

No one has got close to Andy Farrell’s charges so far, their smallest winning margin being 21 points, and they are favoured by 12 on the handicap on rugby betting sites against England.

Here are our betting tips and predictions ahead of the clash:

Hugo Keenan returns to the Ireland side after injury in an otherwise familiar line-up. Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continue in midfield with Garry Ringrose fit but unable to force his way in.

There are six forwards on the bench, but lock James Ryan will miss the rest of the tournament with a “freak” bicep injury suffered in training.

Ireland XV: 15 Hugo Keenan; 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe; 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong; 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 Tadhg Beirne; 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris

Replacements:16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Jack Conan; 22 Conor Murray, 23 Ciaran Frawley

England hand a first international start to Immanuel Feyi-Waboso after a try-scoring cameo from the bench against Scotland, with Alex Mitchell also fit to return at scrum half.

George Martin adds extra weight to the tight five as Ollie Chessum shifts to the blindside to give Steve Borthwick three lineout jumpers. Marcus Smith is fit again and makes the bench, while Harlequins teammate Danny Care is set to win his 100th cap.

England XV: 15 George Furbank; 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Tommy Freeman; 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George (c), 3 Dan Cole; 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Martin; 6 Ollie Chessum, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Ben Earl

Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Chandler Cunningham-South, 20 Alex Dombrandt; 21 Danny Care, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Elliot Daly