Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

An incredible reception for Keith Earls, who leads Ireland out on to the pitch. That's really gotten this crowd going.

The place has filled up nicely. There are seas of green everywhere you look. Real sense of excitement in here now.

It's getting close to crunch time for Ireland in terms of head coach Andy Farrell selecting his final World Cup squad - and this evening's captain James Ryan knows it.

The second row believes there will be an extra edge to the Irish players heading into what are their final two warm-up games before France.

Farrell will announce his 33-man World Cup squad on 28 August, with five players having been cut earlier this week.

"It's just a reminder now that the squad has to be cut," said lock Ryan

Read more of Ryan's thoughts here.

Image source, Inpho

Both sets of players giving enthusiastic renditions of their national anthems.

We're nearly ready to rock. Just a few moments until kick-off.

What a lovely moment that was as Keith Earls leads the sides on to the Aviva pitch alongside his three daughters.

When (or if) he sets foot on the pitch during the match he will be winning his 100th Ireland cap.

Bit of a stunning scoreline coming out of Wales as South Africa hammer their hosts 52-16.

Read more here.

Jack Conan has been a growing concern for Ireland since he limped out of their win over Italy a fortnight ago with a foot injury.

Head coach Andy Farrell had reassuring news for Irish fans this week, though, as he said back-rower Conan, prop Dave Kilcoyne and hooker Ronan Kelleher will all "definitely" be available for France.

Read more here.

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Well, kind of...

It's a World Cup home send-off for Ireland this evening but it will also almost certainly be a hugely special occasion for wing Keith Earls.

The 35-year-old will win his 100th international cap if he comes off the bench against England - and he says it would be a mixture of relief and pride if he does.

"I suppose in the last couple of years I was genuinely thinking every time I stepped on to the field it could be the last time," he said.

Read more of Earls' thoughts here.

Image source, Getty Images

England head coach Steve Borthwick:

"I think the preparation for such a great Test match has been overshadowed. The messaging and the furore around it [the Owen Farrell controversy] has moved off rugby.

"It's disappointing because we want to be talking about rugby and looking forward to a great Test match. We should be talking about the excitement of the World Cup but we aren't."

Image source, Getty Images

An appeal against the decision to overturn the red card given to England captain Owen Farrell against Wales will be heard next week.

Farrell's yellow card was upgraded to red by the new 'bunker' review system after a high tackle.

A disciplinary panel reviewing the incident on Tuesday found mitigating factors and overturned the dismissal.

Read more.

Image source, Getty Images

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

While Ireland would no doubt rubbish the significance of a warm-up game that happened four years ago, some of today's team may have revenge on their minds after the events of Twickenham in 2019.

Back then, Ireland were, like they are now, the number one team in the world.

Widely fancied ahead of the tournament in Japan, the mood around Joe Schmidt's side plummeted after a 57-15 trouncing by Eddie Jones' England.

Four years on, Ireland are hunting a 12th straight Test victory and have the chance to secure a major psychological boost against one of their greatest rivals and kick-start their pre-World Cup momentum.

None of the Irish team covered themselves in glory that day, but it was an especially harrowing afternoon for Ross Byrne, who took a lot of flak for his performance and who starts at fly-half today.

The perfect chance for redemption? It's certainly shaping up that way.

Thursday's media briefing with Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was a lively one.

The Englishman doesn't often get involved in commenting on his son Owen, captain of England, but he gave his thoughts when asked about the controversy over the fly-half's current disciplinary process.

Farrell's World Cup participation is in fresh doubt after World Rugby's appeal against a decision to overturn last Saturday's red card against Wales.

His comments are worth watching and you can read more here too.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell speaking on RTE:

"It's an opportunity for everyone to show what a good team-mate they are and we are looking forward to pushing on from the Italy game.

"We have had a great week and we are looking forward to backing that up with a good performance. The learning from the Italy game is to be more clinical."

Back-rower Cian Prendergast was handed his first Ireland start when head coach Andy Farrell named what is a strong side for this evening's clash with England in Dublin.

Prendergast starts at number eight in a team that includes 11 of the starters that sealed the Grand Slam with victory over the English in March.

Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose are the centre partnership with Ross Byrne at fly-half as Farrell changes his entire starting XV from the win over Italy a fortnight ago.

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Byrne, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, O'Mahony, van der Flier, Prendergast.

Replacements: Herring, Loughman, Bealham, McCarthy, Doris, Murray, Crowley, Earls.

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George Ford starts at fly-half for England in Dublin following the news that captain Owen Farrell could yet be banned for his red card.

World Rugby is going to appeal against the decision to overturn Farrell's red card against Wales last weekend.

Head coach Steve Borthwick said Farrell "would otherwise have played".

It means Ford makes his first start for England since 2021 after coming on as a replacement in the win over Wales and kicking the winning points.

England: Steward; Watson, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly; Ford, Youngs; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Ribbans, Lawes (capt), Earl, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Dan, Marler, Sinckler, Chessum, Willis, Care, Smith, Lawrence.

Image source, Getty Images

There's plenty of colour in the streets around Dublin's Aviva Stadium as the fans arrive for this evening's encounter.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

After a build-up dominated by the ongoing 'circus' surrounding England captain Owen Farrell, it's time for a bit of actual rugby.

With Farrell excluded from today's squad by Steve Borthwick as the fly-half awaits his appeal hearing on Tuesday following a rollercoaster fallout to his red card against Wales last week, and Johnny Sexton still suspended, it means both England and Ireland are without their skippers today.

But still, this should be a tasty Test match.

For an Ireland team featuring several of their Grand Slam-winning stars, this is their last chance to face a tier one nation before their third World Cup pool game against South Africa on 23 September.

Ireland got the job done fairly comfortable against Italy a fortnight ago, but it was far from being a performance to jack up excitement for a tilt at the Webb Ellis.

With a strong team named and a packed Aviva Stadium today, Andy Farrell will be expecting a markedly improved display before heading to France for their final warm-up game against Samoa next week.

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The World Cup in France is looming ever closer and the build-up for both Ireland and England will crank up a notch or two with this evening's clash in Dublin.

Tonight's hosts saw off Italy a fortnight ago at the Aviva Stadium while England edged Wales in their last outing.

Both head coaches have named strong starting line-ups for a match for which the build-up has been dominated somewhat by the controversy surrounding England captain Owen Farrell.

That issue will put aside come kick off at 17:30, of course, and we will bring you all the action on our live text commentary service - with a match report and reaction to follow.

Enjoy!

Image source, Inpho