San Francisco Frontiers - Pressure on Prendergast as Ireland launch Six Nations title defence against England

The 21-year-old has been selected to start at fly-half by interim Ireland coach Simon Easterby, with Jack Crowley on the bench.

Munster's Crowley featured throughout Ireland's title-winning campaign last year but fell behind Prendergast during the November internationals, with Ireland looking for a successor to retired star Johnny Sexton.

Crowley appeared to be the heir to Sexton following the 2023 World Cup only for Leinster rising star Prendergast, who made his Test debut as a replacement in Ireland's win over Argentina in November, to start in the subsequent victories over Fiji and Australia.

But if those games were the audition, this weekend's match at Lansdowne Road is very much the first night for Prendergast, passed fit despite training with a heavily strapped leg.

"We felt like he did really well in November," said Easterby ahead of his first game in charge of Ireland, with head coach Andy Farrell seconded to the British and Irish Lions.

"We feel like he's the right man this weekend to lead the team. He's a lot of experience around him."

- England put faith in Smith -

England coach Steve Borthwick has opted for Marcus Smith instead of Fin Smith in the key role, deciding against an all-Northampton half-back pairing of fit-again scrum-half Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith.

Borthwick's men won just five out of 12 Tests in 2024, a sequence that included five straight defeats, with their game-awareness called into question.

But England were the only side to beat Ireland in last year's Six Nations as they denied the eventual champions a Grand Slam.

England go into this year's edition with lock Maro Itoje succeeding Jamie George as captain.

Luke Cowan-Dickie takes over at hooker from George, sidelined by a hamstring strain.

But Borthwick's most eye-catching selection involves Tom and Ben Curry, who will become the first twin brothers to play for England when the 26-year-old Sale duo fill the flanker positions either side of No 8 Ben Earl.

Borthwick's desire for a dynamic loose-forward trio leaves him without a specialist line-out jumper in his back-row, a potential weakness the former England lock feels Ireland will be keen to exploit.

"I am sure (Ireland forwards coach) Paul O'Connell and the Irish line-out will look at this and try to attack us in that area," said Borthwick. "We will have to be very good."

Ireland, however, will be without Joe McCarthy after the lock suffered a head injury in training. Tadhg Beirne has been moved into the second row in McCarthy's absence, with Ryan Baird now starting at blindside flanker.

England have not finished higher than third since last winning the Six Nations in 2020 and they arrive in Dublin with an off-field crisis engulfing the Rugby Football Union.

Bill Sweeney, the RFU chief executive, will face a no confidence vote in March after it emerged he was paid £1.1 million ($1.4 million) for the 2023/24 financial year, which included a bonus of £358,000, despite the RFU reporting a record annual operating loss of £37.9 million and 42 staff being made redundant.

"It's not something that we've discussed in camp," said ex-England captain Borthwick.

"We're on the eve of the Six Nations; we are playing against one of the world's best teams in Dublin, and in this incredible tournament. That's what is on the players' minds."

D.Robinson--SFF