Joe Schmidt also gives a first start to 22-year-old flanker Josh van der Flier after a superb breakthrough year with Leinster to date.
Before this season, the Leinster flanker had made just two starts in the competition but, trusted by new head coach Leo Cullen, he has thrived this season. Indeed, the uncapped 22-year-old has been one of the most prolific tacklers in the tournament to date, and gets his chance in the absence of Sean O'Brien.
He is joined in the back-row by Leinster colleague Jamie Heaslip and arguably Munster's best player of the past 12 months - CJ Stander, who has looked a real force during his short time in international rugby.
While Heaslip, Stander and van der Flier face the unenviable task of shackling Billy Vunipola, the world-class half-back pairing of Leinster's Jonathan Sexton and Munster's Conor Murray will look to dictate play against George Ford and Ben Youngs.
And it's not just in the starting lineup that there are new faces. On the bench is arguably the most obscure name in Ireland's squad, Connacht's Ultan Dillane.
The second row is as unknown outside of the GUINNESS PRO12 as he is exciting. With just 17 league appearances to his name, the French-born second row has been turning heads with a string of impressive performances for Connacht this season.
Named the province's player of the month for December, the 22-year-old has timed his rise to prominence perfectly - and with a Paul O'Connell-shaped hole in Ireland's pack, the opportunity is there for him to step up to the big stage.
England team to face Ireland:
15. Mike Brown (Harlequins), 14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), 13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), 12. Owen Farrell (Saracens), 11. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), 10. George Ford (Bath Rugby), 9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), 1. Joe Marler (Harlequins), 2. Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), 3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens), 5. George Kruis (Saracens), 6. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), 7. James Haskell (Wasps), 8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Replacements: 16. Jamie George (Saracens), 17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens), 18. Paul Hill (Northampton Saints), 19. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), 20. Jack Clifford (Harlequins), 21. Danny Care (Harlequins), 22. Elliot Daly (Wasps), 23. Alex Goode (Saracens)
Ireland team to face England:
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster), 14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), 13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht), 12. Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch/Ulster), 11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), 10. Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster), 9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), 1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster), 2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), 3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), 4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), 5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), 6. CJ Stander (Munster), 7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), 8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
Replacements: 16. Richard Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster), 17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), 18. Nathan White (Connacht), 19. Ultane Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht), 20. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster), 21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster), 22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), 23. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)
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