Manu Tuilagi will start an England game for the first time since 2014 after being named by Eddie Jones in the side that will take on Ireland in Dublin in their Guinness Six Nations opener.
Owen Farrell has recovered from thumb surgery to captain the side and starts at fly-half with Henry Slade joining Tuilagi in midfield.
Tuilagi last started for the Red Rose in their summer tour of New Zealand almost five years ago but did come off the bench this past autumn in England’s impressive win over Australia.
Elsewhere, Elliot Daly holds on to the No.15 jersey and is joined by Jonny May and Jack Nowell in the back three.
Up front Mako and Billy Vunipola are back in tandem for the first time this season, Mako joining Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler in the front row and Billy at No.8 with Tom Curry and Mark Wilson either side in the back row.
In the second row, Saracens teammates George Kruis and Maro Itoje are paired together.
The bench is packed with experience as the likes of George Ford, Courtney Lawes and Chris Ashton are named.
While Dan Robson will make his debut if introduced, the bench is rounded out by Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Harry Williams and Nathan Hughes.
That means there is no place in the matchday 23 for both Joe Launchbury and Mike Brown but Jones is feeling confident ahead of their opener against the reigning Grand Slam champions.
Eddie Jones said: “I think it is quite clear to beat Ireland you have to beat them in the contest area. They are very good at the breakdown and in the air. Both those areas are a priority for us.
“It is well documented no one thinks we can win but I can tell you everyone inside our camp believes we can win. We are hugely looking forward to the weekend.”
On England’s preparation in Portugal he added: “This camp has been vitally important for us to get our understanding on how we want to play the game.
“It has been also enormously important for us is to get that togetherness off the field and the senior players and staff have been working very hard in those areas.
“We have a great group of players, hardworking and a good mix who have come together really well.”
England starting XV for Ireland
15 Elliot Daly (Wasps, 25 caps) 14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 40 caps) 13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 17 caps) 12 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 27 caps) 11 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 29 caps) 10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 65 caps) 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 80 caps)
1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 51 caps) 2 Jamie George (Saracens, 32 caps) 3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 17 caps) 4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 26 caps) 5 George Kruis (Saracens, 27 caps) 6 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 8 caps) 7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 5 caps) 8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 36 caps)
Replacements
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps) 17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps) 18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs, 15 caps) 19 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 68 caps) 20 Nathan Hughes (Wasps, 18 caps) 21 Dan Robson (Wasps, uncapped) 22 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 51 caps) 23 Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks, 42 caps)
