England Player by player

15 Alex Goode Age: 24. Height: 1.81m (5’11”). Weight: 85kg (13st 5lb)

James Haskell: Size and power must be respected
James Haskell: Size and power must be respected

15 Alex Goode Age: 24 . Height: 1.81m (5’11”). Weight: 85kg (13st 5lb)

A gliding, penetrative outhalf, masquerading as a fullback, with a gorgeous right boot that will keep Ireland pinned in their 22 if the chasers fail to pressure him.

14 Chris Ashton

Age: 25 . Height: 1.82m (5’12”) . Weight: 92kg (14st 6lb)

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Will probably adopt Zebo as his new enemy now that O’Gara is unlikely to feature. Provocative, annoyingly so, but can score from anywhere if afforded space.

13 Brad Barritt

Age: 26 . Height: 1.86m (6’1”). Weight: 95kg (14st 13lb)

Shut up all the people who labelled him nothing more than a grunt merchant with some dashing breaks against New Zealand last December. Has been dreaming of smashing O’Driscoll.

12 Billy Twelvetrees

Age: 24 . Height: 1.91m (6’3”). Weight: 100kg (15st 10lb)

The suspicion here is that Mike Catt got his way on selection with Twelvetrees in ahead of Manu Tuilagi. A decent alternative playmaker but his inexperience to this level of intensity can be exposed.

11 Mike Brown

Age: 27 . Height: 1.83m (6’) . Weight: 89kg (14st)

A highly respected fullback and nimble counter attacker but his lack of game time as a winger could be exposed by Sexton and Murray.

10 Owen Farrell

Age: 21 . Height: 1.88m (6’2”) . Weight: 96kg (15st 1lb)

Looks even stronger than Sexton in defence, may even have a greater weaponry, and will be keen to atone for a miserable kicking return at Thomond Park in Limerick in December.

9 Ben Youngs

Age: 23 . Height: 1.78m (5’10”). Weight: 92kg (14st 6lb)

So dangerous attacking around the ruck, this perpetual motion scrumhalf will be offset by the greater passing range Danny Care will add circa 60 minutes.

1 Joe Marler

Age: 22 . Height: 1.84m (6’). Weight: 110kg (17st 4lb)

Still only 22, but seems to have been around a lot longer, in the Cian Healy mould and appears to have control of that temper.

2 Tom Youngs

Age: 26 . Height: 1.75m (5’9”) . Weight: 102kg (16st 0lb)

This is what happens when you turn a powerful, naturally aggressive centre into a hooker. Throwing a potential weakness, but ferocious in the loose.

3 Dan Cole

Age: 25 . Height: 1.89m (6’2”). Weight: 118kg (18st 8lb)

Could be viewed as the premier tighthead in European rugby by the end of this tournament. Excellent scrummager but equally effective around the breakdown.

4 Joe Launchbury

Age: 21 . Height: 1.98m (6’6”). Weight: 115kg (18st 1lb)

Huge and versatile, the Wasps kid has limitless potential. Concerns about his aggression were dismissed when standing up to Eben Etzebeth in November.

5 Geoff Parling

Age: 29 . Height: 1.98m (6’6”). Weight: 114kg (17st 13lb)

A journey man, struggling for recognition at Newcastle, has moved to centre stage these past 12 months with some clever lineout work and athletic ball carrying.

6 James Haskell

Age: 27 . Height: 1.94m (6’4”). Weight: 114kg (17st 13lb)

Only selected due to Ben Morgan’s injury, nevertheless, his size and power must be respected but hassle him early and the crowd will become a hugely effective 16th man.

7 Chris Robshaw

Age: 26 . Height: 1.88m (6’2”). Weight: 110kg (17st 4lb)

Lacks the punch of O’Brien but his carrying and tackling statistics will be similar. Like Heaslip, this represents the biggest test of his captaincy.

8 Tom Wood

Age: 26 . Height: 1.95m (6’5”). Weight: 109kg (17st 2lb)

A world-class blindside, devilish at the breakdown and a tackling machine, his skills at the base of the scrum are untested.

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent