Rugby World Cup
Brad Barritt returns with Sam Burgess on bench in England squad to face Ireland
Tom Hamilton
September 1, 2015
© David Rogers/Getty Images

England have handed Brad Barritt his first start since November ahead of Saturday's Test against Ireland while Sam Burgess is named among the replacements.

Barritt and Jonathan Joseph become the 13th different centre partnership in the Stuart Lancaster era in a team which shows five changes from the one that fell to France in Paris, with Tom Wood, Geoff Parling, Ben Morgan and Anthony Watson also starting.

Saturday's Test is the last before England's World Cup opener against Fiji on September 18 and Lancaster has opted to keep the same front-row that started in Paris on August 22. Joe Marler, Tom Youngs and Dan Cole link up with Parling and Courtney Lawes in the second-row.

The back-row shows two changes with Tom Wood and Ben Morgan starting alongside skipper Chris Robshaw with Ben Youngs and George Ford paired once again at half-back.

Barritt and Joseph start in the centres with Jonny May, Anthony Watson and Mike Brown forming the back three.

Hooker Jamie George could win his second cap for England if given his chance from the bench while Mako Vunipola and Kieran Brookes will cover the front-row. Billy Vunipola and Joe Launchbury are the replacement forwards while Richard Wigglesworth, Owen Farrell and Burgess cover the backs.

England

Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Brad Barritt, Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Geoff Parling, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw (captain), Billy Vunipola

Replacements: Jamie George, Mako Vunipola, Kieran Brookes, Joe Launchbury, Billy Vunipola, Richard Wigglesworth, Owen Farrell, Sam Burgess

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© Tom Hamilton