Henry Pollock to Start for England as Maro Itoje Reaches 100 Caps Against Ireland

Henry Pollock to Make First England Start as Maro Itoje Earns 100th Cap Against Ireland

Henry Pollock has been named to make his first start for England in their upcoming Six Nations clash with Ireland, while captain Maro Itoje is set to earn his 100th cap in a landmark moment for the team. Pollock, who has impressed off the bench, is installed at No 8 in a reshuffled back row that sees Tom Curry promoted from the bench and Ben Earl moving to the openside flank.

Team Selection and Tactical Changes

In other key changes, Tommy Freeman relocates to the wing from outside centre, where Ollie Lawrence returns to the starting lineup. Tom Roebuck is omitted from the matchday 23, with Henry Arundell selected to start again after avoiding a ban following his red card against Scotland. On the bench, Jack van Poortvliet and Marcus Smith provide backline cover, replacing Ben Spencer and Fin Smith, while six forwards are included as reserves, featuring Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill, who had started five of England's last six games.

Head coach Steve Borthwick expressed confidence in the selection, stating, "We're expecting a huge contest at Allianz Stadium and we're excited for it. We know the challenge Ireland will bring and we've selected a side that we believe has the right balance to meet it."

Pollock's Rise and Itoje's Milestone

Pollock, a tourist with the British and Irish Lions last year, has won his first seven England caps as a substitute since scoring two tries on his debut against Wales in the final round of the 2025 championship. His promotion to the starting lineup marks a significant step in his international career.

Meanwhile, Itoje becomes only the ninth player to reach a century of England caps, following teammates Jamie George and George Ford, who achieved the milestone during 2025. The 31-year-old lock made his debut in the 2016 Six Nations and has been a first-choice pick under both Borthwick and his predecessor Eddie Jones.

Borthwick praised Itoje's achievement, saying, "To reach 100 caps for England is a remarkable achievement and speaks volumes about Maro's consistency and professionalism over many years. He leads through his actions every day, sets the standard for others and cares deeply about representing his country. We're all incredibly proud of what he has achieved, and I know it will be a special day for him and his family."

Context and Recent Form

England's 31-20 defeat at Murrayfield ended a winning run of 12 matches, dealing a significant blow to their Six Nations title hopes. They were beaten by Ireland in Dublin during last year's championship, though they narrowly defeated Andy Farrell's side on their last visit to Twickenham thanks to a Marcus Smith drop goal.

The match at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, promises to be a pivotal encounter as England aim to bounce back and honour Itoje's milestone.