For players such as Elliot Daly and Billy Vunipola, the Six Nations tie in Dublin is a final opportunity to ensure they are selected for the Lions tour
Wherever Warren Gatland is basing himself in the UK at the moment, I imagine a whiteboard is never far away. There’ll be about 45 names on it and I’d have thought that by this stage he has a pretty good idea of his preferred starting lineup for the first British & Irish Lions Test against South Africa. Given Warren is going to be in Dublin this weekend, it is the final audition for several players to force their way into that 45, or make sure they don’t get a strike through their names.
All over the pitch are key individual match-ups and, although players won’t say so in public, they know an impressive personal performance could make all the difference. This match is particularly significant because it is unlikely to be the high-tempo affair of England v France. It will be physical, it will be attritional and as a result it will be similar to facing the Springboks. As for England players, they have the benefit of performing away from home, on which Warren places great importance.
Related: Points, punts and the breakdown: key areas to watch in Six Nations crunch | Robert Kitson
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