Cowan-Dickie on bench for Irish clash

By Mark Stevens
22/8/19

Exeter Chiefs hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has been named on the bench by England head coach Eddie Jones after he today announced his squad to play Ireland as part of the Quilter Internationals on Saturday at Twickenham Stadium (KO 3pm live on Sky Sports).

The Cornishman has started both games against Wales in recent weeks, but makes way in the starting XV for Saracens No.2 Jamie George, who is among a number of changes Jones has made to his line-up.

Captain Owen Farrell (inside centre), Manu Tuilagi (outside centre) and Ben Youngs (scrum half) all start their first match of the series, while Jonny May will make his first appearance this season on the left wing with Joe Cokanasiga switching to the right wing.

George, Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler are named in the front row. Tom Curry and Sam Underhill return from injury to play in the back-row alongside Billy Vunipola, while George Kruis starts in the second row alongside Maro Itoje.

Jones said: “The players have come back in a very good physical and mental state and we have had a good preparation this week. We purposefully made the week short looking ahead to the World Cup where this might happen beyond our control.

“It is the third of four games for us and come the 8th of September, when we get on the plane, we want to be ready to go. This is another step forward for us.

“This weekend we will be looking to gain more game fitness and testing different sorts of game strategies. We have a specific way of how we want to play and the focus is very much on ourselves.”

On England’s last game at Twickenham before heading to Japan, Jones added: “We have been so appreciative of the support we have had at Twickenham this year and this is our last match there before the tournament, so we look forward to playing well in front of our fans.”

England starting XV v Ireland

15 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 32 caps)
14 Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 6 caps)
13 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 34 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, capt 71 caps)
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 45 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 57 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 87 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 60 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 38 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 23 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 28 caps)
5 George Kruis (Saracens, 34 caps)
6 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 11 caps)
7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 43 caps)

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 13 caps)
17 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 53 caps)
18 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 87 caps)
19 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 73 caps)
20 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons/Sale Sharks, 13 caps)
21 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 2 caps)
22 Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
23 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 42 caps)