Ireland make three changes for Six Nations grand slam tilt against England

The Ireland trio of Ryan Baird, Jamison Gibson-Park and Robbie Henshaw will make their first starts of this year’s Six Nations on Saturday against England. The lock Baird and centre Henshaw replace the injured Iain Henderson and Garry Ringrose after last week’s bruising 22-7 round-four win in Scotland.

Scrum-half Gibson-Park came off the bench in Edinburgh and has been preferred to Conor Murray in the only unenforced alteration to Andy Farrell’s starting XV.

Hooker Dan Sheehan and No 8 Caelan Doris have been passed fit after their premature withdrawals during the Murrayfield mayhem.

But Ronan Kelleher, who suffered a recurrence of a shoulder issue against Scotland, has joined Henderson (arm) and Ringrose (head) in being ruled out. Rob Herring, second-row Kieran Treadwell and versatile back Jimmy O’Brien have been added to the bench.

Ireland will complete their fourth grand slam with victory over an England side thumped 53-10 by France last Sunday.