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

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

The 23-year-old received two yellow cards on Saturday – the second for dangerously clearing a player in the air – and could miss the match against Ireland.

Center back Ollie Lawrence came into the season with a knee injury, which helped push Tommy Freeman to switch from winger to outside midfield.

Freeman is usually deployed on the right wing but 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 switch back to the wing makes sense due to Freeman’s dominance in the air.

But establishing Northampton St at the age of 13 was a clear goal for the England coaching staff.

Would a reciprocal swap with Elliot Daly be more beneficial to Freeman’s long-term growth as a center? Or, now that Lawrence is fit, would he be better off moving back to central midfield, allowing Freeman to move back 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 place for Daly, even if Lawrence comes into the middle and Freeman is out.

Wingers Cadan Morley and Ollie Hassell-Collins, who should be called up to the squad, are also highly skilled and scored in England’s recent win over an Ireland XV.

“I stand by what I said last week,” former England winger Ugo Mooney told BBC Rugby Union Weekly. “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.”

“If you want to play hard in this kicking game, use your best wingers for it.”

Morley endured a difficult start to Ireland in last year’s Six Nations, while Hassell Collins was ruled out after the opening two rounds of the 2023 tournament.