SIX NATIONS SQUAD UPDATE WEEK 3

HOT OFF THE PRESS:

England starting XV v Ireland - Itoje replaces Launchbury with Lawes on bench and Marler replaces Mako Vunipola. Elliot Daly gets his opportunity off the bench (at last).

Mike Brown; Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell, Jack Nowell; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley (capt), Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Chris Robshaw, James Haskell, Billy Vunipola

Daly will make his England debut this weekend

Ireland have a fitness concern over Jared Payne, so Stuart McCloskey could be asked to step up, with Luke Marshall and Keith Earls also options. Cian Healy and Mike Ross come into the front row, with Simon Zebo back after missing the France game.

Ireland squad: Forwards: Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Rory Best (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Ultan Dillane (Connacht), Dave Foley (Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Leinster), Tommy O'Donnell (Munster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), CJ Stander (Munster), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Nathan White (Connacht).

Backs: Keith Earls (Munster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Jared Payne (Ulster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster).

Scotland have made one change to their starting XV for the match against Italy in Rome with Tim Visser replacing Sean Lamont on the wing. Uncapped prop Rory Sutherland is on the bench, as are Moray Low, Peter Horne and Ryan Wilson.

Flying Dutchman back for Scottyland

WORCESTER & NEWCASTLE CLOSE GAP ON BATH

The latest English Premiership table shows London Irish cast adrift at the bottom with 13 pts, following their recent loss to Exeter, whilst Worcester on 18 pts, and Newcastle with 20 pts continue to stretch away following great wins against Sale and Northampton respectively. The next two clubs are Bath (!!!) on 23 pts, with a game in hand, and Gloucester with 29pts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/english-premiership/table

The club in the much coveted fourth place, qualifying for Champions Cup is Quins on 37 pts, a considerable 14pts ahead of Bath, who even if they win their spare game against Sale with a bonus point, will still have 9 pts to make up. Bath's remaining fixtures look tough including 8/10 of the sides above them. They won't get relegated, but with the salary cap set to increase to £7m+, they will need to achieve at least Europa League status if they are to retain and attract the best talent - coaches as well as players, as there are bound to be changes if results don't improve quickly.

Funboy Three perform "Under Pressure...."

ENGLAND HAS NO WORLD CLASS PLAYERS

That is not my view, but that of Eddie "Soundbite" Jones, who has said it will take him three years to build England into a world class team with world class players capable of beating the Southern Hemisphere teams in their own backyard. Manu Tuilagi, the Leicester centre, is often touted as "world class" but has not played for England since June 2014, so cannot qualify if he is not playing. Dan Cole, the England prop, agrees with him, and says "there are no stand-out individuals in our team that would make a World XV."

"Soundbite" has also recalled Luther Burrell from the wilderness to replace Ollie Devoto in the England squad for Ireland game this weekend. Luther was not selected in England initial Six Nations squad, and was also left out of the RWC squad by Stuart Lancaster. Burrell is joined by Exeter Chiefs centre Sam Hill, Semesa Rokoduguni and Marland Yarde among the 14 backs selected. Josh Beaumont, who sustained a dislocated shoulder while playing for Sale on Saturday, is also replaced, with Matt Kvesic coming in, alongside other forward reinforcements in Kieran Brookes, Matt Mullan and Luke Cowan-Dickie.

Luther brings his power...