Caelan Doris expects fierce challenge from England in Six Nations opener

Ireland captain Caelan Doris has described England as the "ultimate test" as his team prepares to kick off their Six Nations title defense with a highly anticipated showdown at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.

The reigning back-to-back champions enter the tournament as pre-tournament favorites, having won four of their last five encounters with England.

However, Steve Borthwick’s side will be eager to make a statement, particularly after their last-minute 23-22 victory over Ireland in last year’s championship, which denied the Irish a second consecutive Grand Slam.

Despite reaching the semi-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, England endured a challenging 2024 campaign, losing seven of their 12 Test matches. Borthwick’s squad will be aiming to silence critics and gain momentum with a strong start in Dublin.

While England’s recent form has been inconsistent, Doris remains cautious about underestimating their potential.

"It’s always the ultimate test coming up against these guys," said Doris. "There’s a rich history and a massive rivalry there over the last number of years."

Reflecting on last year's encounter at Twickenham, Doris acknowledged that Ireland had been in strong form before England produced a powerful performance to snatch victory in the fourth round.

"We’d had a pretty good run [last year], fourth round going in over there and there was a lot of belief," Doris explained. "We also respected them massively and knew that there was a big performance brewing from them."

The Irish captain is well aware of the physicality England brings to the contest, particularly in their set-piece play.

"They are always very abrasive, confrontational, strong set piece, very good lineout and maul, and they maul more than most teams," Doris noted.

As Ireland looks to claim an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title, Doris emphasized the significance of opening the tournament at home.

"Starting off here in Dublin against England, it doesn’t get much better or bigger than this."