Five key battles ahead of the Ireland v England game

Healy v Cole

If Healy is recalled to the starting XV on Sunday he will come against Dan Cole once again, as the two continue their rivalry. The scrum is going to be a huge factor in who will win on Sunday and they will both look to get the better of each other. In 2013 when these sides last met at the Aviva, Healy was lucky to not have been sent off after a nasty stamp onto the ankle of Cole and it remains to be seen if Cole still holds a grudge and we will have to wait and see when they both step out onto the field on Sunday.

O’Brien v Robshaw

This should be an interesting battle between two of the best opensides in Europe. O’Brien will look get some go forward ball whenever he can and gain some metres for his side, while Robshaw will look to do what he does best and put in tackle after tackle and win his side penalties from the breakdown.  With only two tries in the last two games between these sides, it could be a game where the forwards decide the outcome and whoever comes out on top between these two players is anyone’s guess.

Sexton v Ford

Out of the five head to heads this is the most important one for the game at the Aviva on Sunday. Sexton was magnificent against France last time out with some majestic kicking from hand and finished with a 100% kicking success from the tee. As for Ford he has taken his chance as England’s first choice Flyhalf and was superb in their wins over Wales and Italy. With Ireland and England games proving to be low scoring affairs in recent years both players will need to at their best from the tee if they are to keep their sides Grand Slam ambitions alive.

Payne v Joseph

Sunday see’s the battle between two new 13’s for Ireland and England with Jared Payne looking to keep Jonathan Joseph quiet. Payne will only be making his 4th appearance in an Ireland jersey and so far has not put a foot wrong and will look to make sure Joseph has a quiet game. After an impressive season for Bath, Joseph was given his chance in Stuart Lancaster’s starting XV and has taken the opportunity with three tries in two games. He will look to cause the Irish defence all sorts of problems on Sunday with Payne looking to stop him in his tracks whenever the ball reaches him.

Kearney v Goode

Rob Kearney has been one of Ireland’s most consistent players over the last five years and will look to continue his fine form in an Ireland Jersey when he takes on England on Sunday. With Mike Brown ruled out after failing to recover from concussion, Alex Goode will start at full-back and will look to impress Stuart Lancaster. Kearney will look forward to going up against Goode rather than Brown, and after an impressing under the highball against France last time out he will look to do the same against England with Goode looking to come out on top against the 2009 and 2013 British and Irish Lions player.

Ciaran Fallon