Louise Gwilliam
BBC Radio 5 live rugby producer in Dublin

There was early morning sunshine at the Aviva. The lawnmowers were out and there was an army of people putting green flags on every seat.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Inpho

John Bull meets Sherlock Holmes meets the Vengaboys.

There is a lot going on here.

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

Just spoke to England coach Eddie Jones in the Aviva tunnel. He says England fans can expect a performance that is “very brutal, very committed, and something to be proud of.”

Simon Gleave
Head of sports analysis, Gracenote

• Manu Tuilagi starts his first Six Nations match since the 30-3 Grand Slam match defeat in Cardiff six years ago. The only other England players starting today who also started that match in 2013 are Ben Youngs and Owen Farrell.

• England's back row of Mark Wilson, Tom Curry and Billy Vunipola has never started a Test match together before. Wilson and Curry will both be playing their first match in the Six Nations Championship.

• At 20 years and 231 days old, Tom Curry is the youngest player to start a Six Nations match for England since Owen Farrell in 2012. Curry will be England's youngest back row starter in the professional era.

Image source, Gracenote

Image source, PA

Centre Manu Tuilagi will make his first Six Nations start since 2013 in the England team.

The 27-year-old, who has suffered a string of injuries over the past few seasons, starts at 12 in the absence of injured Ben Te'o.

Elliot Daly is preferred at full-back to Mike Brown, who is left out of the 23-strong matchday squad.

George Kruis partners fellow Saracen Maro Itoje in the second row.

England: Daly; May, Slade, Tuilagi, Nowell; Farrell, B Youngs; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Kruis, Wilson, T Curry, B Vunipola.

Replacements:Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Williams, Lawes, Hughes, Robson, Ford, Ashton

Simon Gleave
Head of sports analysis, Gracenote

• Ireland have the most settled team of the six countries playing this weekend with 12 of the starting XV against England last year also starting today. Seventeen of today's 23 were part of the 23 in last year's Grand Slam winning match.

• Aged 36 years and 171 days, Ireland captain Rory Best becomes the oldest player to start a Five/Six Nations match for Ireland today, beating John Hayes' record by 33 days.

• The Ireland half back partnership of Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton start a Six Nations match together for the 27th time today, breaking the competition record held by their compatriots Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara.

Image source, Gracenote

Image source, Getty Images

Robbie Henshaw will switch from his usual midfield role to full-back for Ireland's opening Six Nations game.

Henshaw, 25, will be making his first appearance in an Ireland number 15 shirt since making his debut against the United States in June 2013.

Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki resume their centre partnership.

Conor Murray returns at scrum-half after missing the autumn international series with a neck injury.

Ireland: Henshaw; Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best (capt), Furlong; Toner, James Ryan; O'Mahony, van der Flier, Stander.

Replacements:Cronin, Kilcoyne, Porter, Roux, O'Brien, Cooney, Carbery, Larmour.

Tom Fordyce
BBC chief sports writer in Dublin

Doozy of a day in Dublin. A nip in the air being met with many a nip on the hipflask.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, PA

The history books show that England have lost on six of their past seven Six Nations visits to Dublin.

The world rankings have Ireland two places higher than today's opponents at second in the world.

The bookies make the hosts 4/5 odds on favourites to retain their Six Nations title.

Every swing-o-meter going is pointing green.

But Eddie Jones, relishing the chance to instill a a bit of underdog mongrel in his side, says the mood in the England camp is as insulated and unique as the Eden Project.

"It is well documented no-one thinks we can win but I can tell you everyone inside our camp believes we can win," he said.

Time for the bubble to fly. Or burst.

Image source, Getty Images

"Go through the two teams and pick a combined Anglo-Irish XV. The only two English guys I’d go for would be Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola." Eddie O'Sullivan, Ireland coach, 2001-8., external

"Ireland, with smaller numbers, are pushing the All Blacks very close. I do think they have the capacity to be the best." Paul O'Connell, Ireland captain, 2004-15.

"Praise makes you weak." Eddie Jones, England coach, 2016-present.