Curry twins to start together in England back row

Men's Six Nations: Ireland v England

Venue: Aviva Stadium Date: Saturday, 1 February Kick-off: 16:45 GMT

Coverage: Listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app; watch on ITV1.

Twins Tom and Ben Curry will play together for England for the first time after being picked as the starting flankers in the team's Six Nations opener against Ireland on Saturday.

The Sale pair, 26, will start either side of number eight Ben Earl, with back-row options Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South and Tom Willis on a bench containing six forwards.

Uncapped wing Cadan Murley is preferred on the left wing to Ollie Sleightholme, with Exeter flier Immanuel Feyi-Waboso out after dislocating his shoulder.

Alex Mitchell has recovered from a knee problem to start at scrum-half, with Marcus Smith at fly-half and Freddie Steward at full-back in the absence of the injured George Furbank.

Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence continue their midfield partnership, while Luke Cowan-Dickie starts at hooker after Jamie George was ruled out of the game with a hamstring issue.

Maro Itoje, who replaced George as captain two weeks ago, will resume his second-row combination with George Martin.

England team to face Ireland

England: Steward; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Murley; M Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje, Martin, T Curry, B Curry, Earl

Replacements: Dan, Baxter, Heyes, Chessum, Cunningham-South, Willis, Randall, F Smith