England v Ireland

[Chobbsy]

Ellis will definitely be in the squad, maybe even start for once

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51544414

[strawclearer]

Ellis will definitely be in the squad, maybe even start for once

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51544414

Whoever starts against Tadhg Furlong - and I suspect it will be Marler - will have their hands full in what may well be the key battle, certainly for the first 60 minutes!

[JP14]

Start Genge and bench Obano, but I know Jones will start Marler and bench the former.

[RichieB]

Just hope Manu isn't risked if not 100%. If they do, I fear the worst for the rest of the season. Not pessimistic, just some sense of foreboding!

[ABClub]

Start Genge and bench Obano, but I know Jones will start Marler and bench the former.

Marler's a fantastic loosehead. Definitely a better player than Obano. He doesn't put in as many big hits as Obano but is still the significantly stronger player in defence. No slight on Obano who deserves to be called up ahead of Ben Moon or Alec Hepburn in my opinion. Both the Chiefs are good players as well. Depth at loosehead is very good.

Mako and Marler have been about so long I often feel that many take the strengths in their games for granted. Both have strengths and weaknesses like almost all props but they are fantastic players.

I hope Genge starts off the back of his bench performances but would definitely have Marler in the 23.

[JP14]

Obano has been carrying a lot better since his return from his knee injury, and will be very likely to be in the mix for France 2023, we might as well start now.

[LE18]

Start Genge and bench Obano, but I know Jones will start Marler and bench the former.

Marler's a fantastic loosehead. Definitely a better player than Obano. He doesn't put in as many big hits as Obano but is still the significantly stronger player in defence. No slight on Obano who deserves to be called up ahead of Ben Moon or Alec Hepburn in my opinion. Both the Chiefs are good players as well. Depth at loosehead is very good.

Mako and Marler have been about so long I often feel that many take the strengths in their games for granted. Both have strengths and weaknesses like almost all props but they are fantastic players.

I hope Genge starts off the back of his bench performances but would definitely have Marler in the 23.

Mako is not available for this game, hes away in Tonga, personal reasons with Billy.

[JP14]

33 is cut to 27 Players:

Forwards
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)

Backs
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

[Soggypitch]

If Manu's properly fit he must start. Slade on the bench.

Hope Earl gets a start at 8 and it's a bout time Thorley was given a chance on the wing in place of Daly or move Daly back to 15 and put Thorley to 11.

Jack Nowell is such a loss (Watson/Nowell by far our best 15s), but his whole career has been blighted through injury. Thinking about it Watson has not faired much better!

[JP14]

Obano recalled to the training squad, Jones has said an extra prop was needed because of "niggles" but it is unclear whether it is Marler or Genge he will be covering for.

[mol2]

Mako is not available for this game, hes away in Tonga, personal reasons with Billy.

That's one way of avoiding a repeat of having his defects in the scrum exposed by a powerful font row.

[Leicestertinytiger]

Okayyyyy........

Is Jones feeling right? Lock at flanker, flanker at 8, centre on the wing......

[JP14]

6-2 split again with Joseph on the wing and Thorley dropped? Reminds me of when I played Rugby Challenge 3 and had Joseph at 14 and Watson at 13 by mistake .

Jokes aside that is frankly appalling team selection.

[Flash]

Is 5 2nd rows in a match day 23 a record?

[CitizenSmiff]

Absolute nonsense selection again, essentially pub league formations around Christmas time when half your squad is too hungover to play. Joseph isn't even that great at his actual position.