Joe Schmidt has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes to the Ireland team to face England. Jordi Murphy comes in for the injured Jamie Heaslip in the only change to the starting team.
Tommy O'Donnell is the one of two changes to the bench after Jordi Murphy's elevation to the starting team, while Eoin Reddan comes in for Isaac Boss on the bench.
Cian Healy has another chance to get some more minutes off the bench after his long lay off from injury, while Jack McGrath retains the faith of Schmidt to start opposite Dan Cole in the English scrum. While Mike Ross will renew rivalries with Joe Marler after the Harlequins prop got on top of the Leinster tighthead in the Champions Cup.
Felix Jones beats off competition from Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald to keep his spot on the bench as the utility back.
There are only eight players who started the game in Twickenham last year, after injuries to Andrew Trimble, Jamie Heaslip, Chris Henry and Cian Healy, while Brian O'Driscoll's retirement has shorn Ireland of some experience against England.
Nevertheless, the game could be balanced Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton's performance against the English halfbacks of Ben Youngs and George Ford.
Ireland Team To Face England:
15. Rob Kearney
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Jared Payne
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Simon Zebo
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray
1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Paul O'Connell (c)
6. Peter O'Mahony
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Jordi Murphy
Replacements:
16. Sean Cronin
17. Cian Healy
18. Martin Moore
19. Iain Henderson
20. Tommy O'Donnell
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Ian Madigan
23. Felix Jones
Photo Credit Stephen McCarthy / Sportsfile
