Defending champions Ireland have named the side that will face England in Saturday’s eagerly-anticipated match on the opening weekend of this year’s Six Nations, with Sam Prendergast starting at out-half.

Ireland kick off a campaign at home in which they will aim to become the first nation to win the competition outright for three years in a row.

Saturday’s match at Aviva Stadium kicks off at 4.45pm.

The side is the first to have been picked by Simon Easterby, who has been placed in interim charge of Ireland while Andy Farrell is on secondment with the British and Irish Lions ahead of their tour in Australia this summer.

England, meanwhile, named their first side of this year’s Six Nations on Tuesday, with brothers Tom and Ben Curry starting together for the first time.

More to follow…

Ireland team vs England

Starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12. Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 James Ryan, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Ryan Baird, 7 Josh van der Flier. 8. Caelan Doris (captain) (47)

Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Thomas Clarkson,19 Iain Henderson, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23. Robbie Henshaw

England team vs Ireland

Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Maro Itoje (c) 5 George Martin, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Curry, 8 Ben Earl.

Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Tom Willis, 22 Harry Randall, 23 Fin Smith

Six Nations 2025 fixtures: Ireland

• February 1: Ireland (h)
• February 9: Scotland (a)
• February 22: Wales (a)
• March 8: France (h)
• March 15: Italy (a)