Combined XV: Ireland v England
- 2233
One of the most highly anticipated clashes of the 2019 Six Nations kicks off today with Ireland hosting England.
Ireland dominated last year losing just one game all year and famously toppled the All Blacks in Dublin.
Follow today's clash LIVE in App
Ahead of kick off we select a combined XV from today's starting line ups:
15. Elliot Daly - England
The Englishman gets the nod over Robbie Henshaw purely down to the fact that Henshaw has just one test cap worth of experience in position.
Both players are world class operators with Daly's mammoth boot also giving him an inside line to the jersey.
14. Kieth Earls - Ireland
Either way this selection went there was always going to be one unfortunate absentee. May is one of the most underrated players in the England squad with his superb aerial abilities and stellar finishing. However, Earls just gets the edge with his fantastic footwork and work ethic.
Earls is a fine finisher in his own right but does plenty off the ball that makes him so valuable to Ireland's cause.
13. Garry Ringrose - Ireland
Contrasting styles when you look at today's 13s. Ringrose is a solid defender and has the speed to beat a defender on the outside while Slade has a bit more of a playmaking approach to the game.
12. Owen Farrell - England
Shifting Farrell to inside a centre for our team allows us to fit in two of the best flyhalves in the game into the squad. The Sexton-Farrell axis worked wonders in New Zealand in 2017 and the pair just work too well together to not give them a go in the same line up.
Manu Tuilagi could easily make either the 12 or 13 jersey if he were fit and perform at the highest level while Bundee Aki has made himself almost undroppable in a hotly contested Ireland midfield.
11. Jacob Stockdale - Ireland
Arguably one of the, if not the, best finishers in the game right now. Stockdale is impossible to leave out. He has been scoring tries for fun for both club and country recently and could well match or even better his try-scoring record he set in the Six Nations last year.
10. Jonathan Sexton - Ireland
Moving Farrell to inside centre made this call much easier. Both players are class operators with Sexton's form with Ireland last year earning him the title of World Rugby Player of the Year.
9. Conor Murray - Ireland
Murray is another Irishman who is arguably the best in his position. Returning to the Ireland set up following a lengthy injury layoff, Murray has looked sharp for Munster and will be a threat in all facets of the game for Ireland.
8. Billy Vunipola - England
Another incredibly tight call with CJ Stander being arguably the best no.8 in the world last year but the sheer brilliance of Vunipola gives him the edge.
The hard-hitting, big ball carrying England no.8 can a turn a game on its head. Both players are extremely hard grafters that any coach would love to have in their starting XV.
7. Josh van der Flier - Ireland
Two talented opensides contest for this jersey, as they do at just about every breakdown. Both players have the attributes and skills to swing the vote either way but in the end van der Flier's experience gets him the jersey.
The Irishman also had a fantastic game against the All Blacks that also swings the vote his way.
6. Peter O'Mahony - Ireland
Impossible to leave O'Mahony out of this team. The Irish blindside is a world-class operator in everything he does. He is lineout ability is simply sublime while his physicality and intensity on the pitch is hard to match.
5. James Ryan - Ireland
Up against a well rounded George Kruis, James Ryan still manages to claim the no.5 jersey with little fuss. At the Agen of 22, Ryan is already amoungst some of the best second rowers in the game. Physically, lineout ability, ball carrying, Ryan has it all.
4. Maro Itoje - England
Itoje joins Ryan in the second row for what could realistically be the Lions locking pair in South Africa in 2022. The pair are two of the most talented young forwards in the game at the moment and the head to head battle in Dublin between them will be one of the highlist of the game.
3. Tadgh Furlong - Ireland
Kyle Sinckler was one of the top performers for England last year but Furlong still makes this decision an easy one. The Irish tighthead is the best tighthead in the game with his overall game tough to match.
2. Jamie George - England
The Saracens hooker beats the Irish veteran to the jersey on the fact that he brings more to the plate in open play. Both players are classy operators at set piece time but George's engine is bigger than the that of the Irishman.
1. Mako Vunipola - England
A tougher decision that one might think. When you look at the pair's age Cian Healy is in the twilight of his career while Vunipola is in his prime. However, you wouldn't be able to tell with their performances on the pitch.
Both are strong scrummagers and hard workers around the pitch. Vunipola just takes the jersey on his overall conditioning and ball carrying skills.