Beirne, Osborne and Loughman all start but no Prendergast in Ireland team to face England
Kildare's Tadhg Beirne and Jeremy Loughman will both start for Ireland away to England this weekend. Photo: INPHO
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named three Kildare men in his squad for Saturday's Guinness Six Nations clash against England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, with Sam Prendergast out of the number ten jersey - and out of the 23 entirely.
His brother, Cian, is also out in the cold for the second week in a row, having missed the Italy game last week despite going well against France in the opening round.
Tadhg Beirne returns to the starting XV having come off the bench against the Italians, while Jamie Osborne and Jeremy Loughman retain their places in the starting lineup for the third game in a row.
Caelan Doris will lead the side for the Round 3 clash in London, as Ireland bid to build on last Saturday's defeat of Italy at Aviva Stadium.
Osborne, Robert Baloucoune and James Lowe are named in an unchanged back three, with Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose continuing in midfield. Jack Crowley comes in at fly half to partner Jamison Gibson-Park in the half-backs.
In the pack, Loughman, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are selected in the front row, Joe McCarthy and James Ryan are retained in the engine room, with Beirne, Josh van der Flier and captain Doris in the back row.
Farrell has plenty of experience to call on as Rónan Kelleher, Tom O'Toole, Finlay Bealham, Nick Timoney and Jack Conan make up the forward replacements, with backs Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley and Tommy O'Brien completing the Match Day 23, as Ireland revert to a 5/3 split having gone 6/2 in the opening two rounds.
Looking ahead to Saturday, Andy Farrell said: "Games between the two sides have been nip and tuck over recent times and there’s great familiarity and respect across both camps. We know their strengths and our aim is to deliver the best version of ourselves to put us in a position to get the performance that we want.
"Backed by thousands of travelling Irish supporters who travel from all over the world whenever we play in Twickenham, it will be another special occasion and a challenge we’re excited to face."
Saturday's match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV, with live radio commentary available on RTÉ Radio 1.
Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jeremy Loughman, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Ronan Kelleher, Tom O’Toole, Finlay Bealham, Nick Timoney, Jack Conan, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, Tommy O’Brien.
