Six Nations 2026: What changes might England make for Ireland game?

Henry Arundell’s red card at Murrayfield and subsequent potential ban could open up a spot on the left wing.

The 23-year-old received two yellow cards on Saturday – the second for dangerously taking a player out in the air – and may miss the game against Ireland.

Fit-again centre Ollie Lawrence came into the campaign with a knee injury, which helped prompt Tommy Freeman’s switch from the wing to outside centre.

Freeman is usually deployed on the right wing but has played on the left, starting there in England’s last win over Ireland in 2024.

Given England’s struggles in the air against Scotland, a swap back to the wing seems logical because of Freeman’s aerial dominance.

But establishing the Northampton Saint at 13 has been a clear goal of the England coaching staff.

Would a like-for-like swap with Elliot Daly be more beneficial for Freeman’s long-term growth as a centre? Or now that Lawrence is fit, is he better deployed back at centre, allowing Freeman to return to the wing?

Tom Roebuck struggled to impose himself in the air against Scotland – a rarity during his time in an England shirt – which could still open up a spot for Daly, even if Lawrence comes into the centre and Freeman moves out.

Wingers Cadan Murley and Ollie Hassell-Collins, who would need to be called into the squad, are also sharp finishers and scored in England A’s recent win over an Ireland XV.

“I stand by what I said last week. I wanted to see Ollie Lawrence at 13 and Fraser Dingwall at 12, with a back three of Tom Roebuck, Tommy Freeman and Freddie Steward,” former England wing Ugo Monye told BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly.

“If you want to play so heavily on this kicking game, then select your best wingers for it.”

Murley endured a tough debut against Ireland in last year’s Six Nations, while Hassell-Collins was dropped after the opening two rounds of the 2023 tournament.