Murley to make England debut, Curry brothers to start against Ireland

England will give Harlequins winger Cadan Murley his debut against Ireland on Saturday after Steve Borthwick named his team on Tuesday for the Six Nations opener, with twins Ben and Tom Curry to start in the back row together for the first time.

Alex Mitchell has recovered from injury to start at flyhalf, with Marcus Smith at 10 and Fin Smith on the bench.

Maro Itoje will captain the side for the first time, having taken over from Jamie George, who is absent from the Dublin clash through injury. Luke Cowan-Dickie will start at hooker, with Theo Dan on the bench.

Despite England's struggles in attack in their November internationals, coach Borthwick has kept faith with his regular centre pairing of Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade, while Freddie Steward is at fullback.

Saracens No 8 Tom Willis is set to win his second cap off the bench, while Harry Randall provides scrumhalf cover.

TEAM

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 35 caps), 14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 15 caps), 13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 31 caps), 12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 69 caps), 11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped), 10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 39 caps), 9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 18 caps), 1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 66 caps) – vice-captain, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 44 caps), 3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 45 caps), 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 88 caps) – captain, 5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps), 6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 56 caps), 7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 6 caps), 8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 37 caps)

REPLACEMENTS

16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 16 caps), 17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 6 caps), 18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps), 19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps), 20. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 11 caps), 21. Tom Willis (Saracens, 1 cap), 22. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 11 caps), 23. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)