Ireland v England: Matt Banahan at centre for Six Nations decider as Mike Tindall ruled out
England will go into their Grand Slam decider against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday without their captain, Mike Tindall, who has been ruled out with an ankle ligament injury sustained against Scotland.
Central role: Matt Banahan will replace Mike Tindall in Dublin Photo: AP
By Mick Cleary 5:19PM GMT 16 Mar 2011
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Telegraph Sport can reveal that, in the only change in the starting line-up, Matt Banahan takes over in the centre with Harlequins No 8 Nick Easter set to assume the captaincy role he filled when Tindall left the field at half-time last weekend.
England have not been fazed by the loss of their captain, a stand-in throughout the championship for Lewis Moody, setting great store on the leadership qualities of not just Easter but several influential figures around him.
They might have been tempted to recall the experienced Tom Croft to the startng line-up but have put their trust in rookie Northampton flanker Tom Wood, who has served England well since being a surprise call-up at the start of the championship.
Croft, who came on to score England’s only try in the 22-16 Calcutta Cup win, continues on the bench. Saracens’ David Strettle comes in to take Banahan’s place among the replacements.
England announce their side at lunchtime ahead of their departure for Dublin. Tindall was a try-scorer when last England won a Grand Slam in 2003, beating Ireland 42-6 in the final game. England have not won the title since, with Ireland lording it over them in this fixture winning six of the past seven encounters.
England are not concerned by their mediocre recent past, nor by the feverish atmosphere that is likely to await them when they land in Ireland on St Patrick’s Day.
As James Haskell, their man of the match against Scotland last week, put it in his inimitable fashion: “Unless they firebomb the bus or come storming the hotel with placards, it’s all a bit of an irrelevance.
“Does all the pomp and circumstance that goes into a week like this put us off? No, it doesn’t. Ireland have the most passionate fans in the world.
"That’s something that you’ve got to thrive on. There are going to be nerves, there’s going to be fear but excitement also. It’s a grand final. All that matters now is that you don’t leave anything in the changing room. You’ve got to put it all out there even if your leg is hanging off.”
England’s preparations have been meticulous, Haskell revealing that he has been wearing a wrist gadget to gauge his sleep patterns, along with GPS monitoring. Science will only get England so far.
Haskell believes that the presence of the man who led England to the Grand Slam eight years ago before winning the World Cup will be a guiding influence.
“There are a lot of people who have tasted hostile environments and that filters down,” Haskell said. “And with Martin Johnson at the helm he’ll steer us through.”
Johnson has offered his support to the earthquake-affected people of Christchurch as he outlined England’s intention to recce new locations and facilities now that the International Rugby have confirmed that all seven World Cup games scheduled for Christchurch will be moved.
The two quarter-finals that were due to be staged in the city will take place in Auckland.
“We feel for the people of Christchurch but accept that this is the right decision for the tournament,” Johnson said.
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