We're going to wrap up now as Andy Farrell's press conference is over, but we'll leave you with the current table before this weekend's fixtures.

France are in great shape at the top of the table, but behind it is wide open with both England and Ireland knowing a win could propel them back into championship contention.

You can find reaction to Ireland's team news and more on our Irish Rugby page.

We will be back on Saturday for the big game at Twickenham.

See you then!

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Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park says the bonds built on last summer's British and Irish Lions Tour to Australia has forged a "brotherly rivalry" between the Irish and English camps.

The sides meet in their latest Six Nations encounter at Twickenham on Saturday (14:10 GMT) and both sets of players will know one another only too well with 18 Irish and 15 English on the same Lions squad last summer.

While Test matches between the nations are always dominated by an age-old rivalry, Gibson-Park feels that has only grown stronger and now has something of a family feel between these groups of players.

"I think there was a bit of 'mateship' created between us and to me, that adds to a rivalry," the 33-year-old told reporters at this week's news conference.

"When I think of the inter-pros in Ireland, they are my favourite games to play because you know the lads. I've spoken on it before that it's a brotherly kind of rivalry.

"We played with these guys for two months over the summer and got to know them pretty well, some great fellas. To me, that adds to the challenge and the rivalry."

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Andy Farrell on facing England: "We've been trying to grow the squad giving them different experiences like Paris or last week but I suppose as a group, game three Twickenham it is trying to learn from Paris and past experiences from Twickenham.

"We have won pretty important games there and also lost there a few times recently, similar story to a couple of years ago with Scotland being England and England being told they had to have a reaction and they did and won.

"We're ready for anything being thrown at us and we expect England to have a reaction given what they have been saying. The Grand Slam is on but the competition is still there for them and I hope us as well."

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Andy Farrell on England's threat from high ball: "It's an important part of the game, everyone knows that and a big part of England's game, rightly so, they use it as a weapon and we have to be ready for that and what we want to impact the game with as well."

Andy Farrell on racist abuse directed at Edwin Edogbo: "It's all about how he is and affecting him or not. He is fine thankfully but it's disgusting. There is no need for it in society. I didn't read it and I didn't want to I don't want to give people anything to think they deserve that. As far as I'm concerned Edwin is fine, he is strong and he has been brought up in the right way."

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The Irish Rugby Football Union had to turn off comments on a social media post which congratulated debutant Edwin Edogbo, following replies which contained racial abuse.

Munster forward Edogbo came off the bench and played the final 10 minutes of Saturday's 20-13 victory over Italy in the Six Nations.

The IRFU confirmed in a statement that the comments made on the social media post on Saturday are now subject to investigation.

"We're aware of some targeted abuse online in recent days and continue to work with Signify and the relevant authorities to report it," the full IRFU statement read.

"We will also continue to fully support all affected by the cowardly actions of a minority and investigations are under way alongside our partners Signify.

"It is clear that racist abuse has no place in Irish society and the IRFU has a zero tolerance policy towards racism of any form."

Andy Farrell on Ciaran Frawley's reaction to being selected: "He's 100% excited. He has certainly been frustrated with his lack of game time, certainly in the autumn but being able to give him a game with Ireland XV kept him ticking over and we have seen in training how sharp he is and how eager he is to get going. He'll be ready to go."

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Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

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Andy Farrell had some big selection calls to make for this weekend but Stuart McCloskey's inclusion was never in doubt.

The Ulster centre, who for so long was edged out by Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki, has been Ireland's standout player of the tournament.

McCloskey was one of the few positives for Ireland against France a fortnight ago and he was at his best in the win over Italy, notching two try assists - the latter a quarter-back style pass for Rob Baloucoune - and forcing a big turnover at the end of the first half with his team under severe pressure.

In this year's Six Nations, McCloskey tops Ireland's stats for try assists (three), offloads (four) and turnovers won (four). The 33-year-old's Test renaissance has certainly been one of the feelgood stories in the Irish camp of late.

Andy Farrell on including Jack Crowley and Ciaran Frawley: "Because of what we have seen and how he has come through and performed and playing confidently. The two lads [Jack and Sam] came into camp and probably have been in better form, I'm not saying they were in bad form but you see in training what way you're going to go with performance and you back what you see.

"I suppose, sometimes, you see people come from the back and have nothing to lose, get over themselves and just rip in. We have seen that not just with Jack but with someone as experienced as James Ryan, not selected to start in the first game and came on against France had a storming game."

Andy Farrell on leaving out Sam Prendergast from the matchday squad: "Everyone gets feedback we talk it through and use it in the right manner and see where we are going to go in the not too distance future. It is the same for everyone.

"Sam's a fantastic international player and he's on a journey and is learning and that will never stop. That is the same for Ciaran Frawley. We have talked all along about the four lads competing with each other and the balance is right for the team this weekend."

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell on the five changes: "As always there are a few different reasons that get put together but the main point to get out of selection is what is the right balance for us in terms of where we are at and who we are playing against.

"A few lads promoted from the bench, a bit fresher and a few lads who haven't played coming into the squad which has freshened things up and different combinations."

Andy Farrell is in the hot seat now for his press conference and we'll bring you what he says.

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Ireland scored three tries in a dominant second-half display as they launched their bid for an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title with a bonus-point victory over England in Dublin.

With the hosts struggling out of the blocks, an early score from England debutant Cadan Murley helped the visitors lead deservedly at the break.

A well-worked Jamison Gibson-Park try was the champions' only score in the opening 40 minutes, but second-half tries from Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne and returning hooker Dan Sheehan sealed a win for Simon Easterby in his first game as Ireland interim head coach.

It was, however, a sixth defeat in seven matches for England boss Steve Borthwick and a loss for Maro Itoje in his first Test since replacing Jamie George as captain.

Having impressed early on, England had to settle for late consolation scores from Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

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The Irish scrum is back under the microscope.

Having been shredded by South Africa - the most fearsome pack in world rugby - in November, Ireland's scrum held up reasonably well against France.

But it was put under severe pressure against Italy last week. As a result, Andy Farrell has brought Tadhg Furlong - who was lifted into the air by Italian loose-head prop Mirco Spagnolo - back into the starting XV.

With nine Lions Test caps to his name, Furlong's nous up front is important to have from the start.

Farrell also has considerable front-row experience on the bench in Finlay Bealham and Ronan Kelleher but they will face a robust examination against an English scrum which has looked effective in this year's tournament.

England wing Henry Arundell has been backed to "play super well" in against with Ireland at Twickenham after keeping his place despite a red card last weekend.

Arundell was sin-binned for not releasing his opponent early on in the match and then received a second yellow for taking out Kyle Steyn in the air.

The Bath wing received an automatic 20-minute red card that meant his team-mates played with 14 men for a total of 30 minutes.

Coach Steve Borthwick has opted to keep faith with the exciting wing, who has scored four tries in two games - a hat-trick against Wales and England's opening try at Murrayfield - and is the top scorer in the Six Nations so far.

"Saturday [against Scotland] didn't go the way he wanted it to, the way I wanted it to go for him, and he was bitterly disappointed as we all were. Now we back him to go and play super well this weekend.

"I want the ball in his hands. Every England supporter will want the ball in his hands in a bit of space this weekend."

A disciplinary hearing on Tuesday found that "no further sanction was appropriate", freeing Arundell to play.

A statement said: "The player accepted that he had committed the acts of foul play that resulted in the showing of the two yellow cards.

"In the circumstances (including that the first yellow card had been issued for a 'technical offence', and that the second yellow card had been issued for a very different act of foul play), [it was decided that] the sending off of the player had been a sufficient sanction."

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

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England boast plenty of speed out wide in Henry Arundell and Tommy Freeman, but Rob Baloucoune's return after more than three years out of the Test scene gives Ireland a much-needed injection of pace.

Baloucoune enjoyed an excellent Six Nations debut last week. He displayed superb footwork and agility for his try and showed that he is no slouch in the air, which will be crucial against an England team who love to kick the ball.

And while left wing James Lowe is not as fast as he used to be, he looked fired-up against Italy after being left out of the squad for the France game.

Lowe relishes a battle with England, too. He was sensational in last year's meeting, notching three try assists in Ireland's 27-22 win.

Farrell could do with that kind of display from the 33-year-old on Saturday.

Just a reminder that Andy Farrell is going to address the media at 12:00 GMT so we will bring you updates from his press conference.

Saturday will be a big day for Northampton Saints' Henry Pollock to show he can start games regularly at Test level.

The 21-year-old has been deployed as an impact replacement for all seven of his caps under Steve Borthwick, but former England wing Ugo Monye is excited to see him from the start against Ireland

"He is a lightning rod for excitement, and his international career only started not even a year ago, yet he has become an icon on and off the pitch," Monye told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.

"People love him and gravitate towards him.

"When he was warming up, people were going, 'Henry, look, it is Henry!' They were buzzing. That does not typically happen with a back-row player anywhere in the world ever - a winger, 10 or nine maybe."

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