Sam Prendergast will be in the spotlight when Ireland begin their quest for an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title against England in Dublin on Saturday. England have not finished higher than third since last winning the Six Nations in 2020 and they arrive in Dublin with an off-field crisis engulfing the Rugby Football Union.

England's Ben Curry is confident their lineout will hold up just fine against Ireland amid talk the hosts will target that area in Dublin on Saturday.

The 26-year-old flankers, who both play for English Premiership club Sale, will fill the flanker positions either side of number eight Ben Earl.

DUBLIN (Reuters) -Ireland flyhalf Sam Prendergast will start his first Six Nations game in Saturday's opener against England and marshal an almost full strength side as the holders bid to win a third successive title for the first time.

Johnny Sexton has been helping form Ireland's masterplan for their Six Nations opener against England on Saturday.