Who will emerge on top in the bruising gain-line battle?
I know England were beaten up in the World Cup final against South Africa, not just at the scrum but in phase-play, too. Still, everything about the team they have picked suggests that Eddie Jones is going to go away from the way they played against New Zealand and focus on winning the gain-line and the set-piece exchanges.
Again, that was something that happened for them in their two matches against Ireland last year, at the Aviva Stadium in the Six Nations and then when they thrashed Joe Schmidt’s team in a one-sided World Cup warm-up encounter.
With that in mind, the midfield match-up is a really interesting one. Manu Tuilagi is back, and England will attempt to get into the game by launching him from off-the-top line-outs. They did that in France with some success, even in the 16 minutes before he pulled his groin and went off.
If Ireland hold firm, and with a hefty centre partnership of Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw they have a good chance of doing that, it could be even more of a kick-fest. CJ Stander has a big role to play in the visitors’ attacking game as well. He is still the go-to carrier in their pack.
Kicking will still play a part if England gain some momentum. Expect grubbers in behind from George Ford,
Owen Farrell and Elliot Daly, as well as Henry Slade, if and when he comes off the bench.