Form is key to Irish hopes

England v Ireland / Under-21: Ireland will be hoping to maintain the excellent form they have shown to date in the under-21 Six Nations Championship when they take on England at Kingsholm tonight.

Mark McCall's charges drew 20-20 in France and then hammered last season's Grand Slam champions Wales, 30-19, at the Sportsground last time out.

The Irish side shows two changes from the Welsh game, with Cork Constitution flanker Brendan O'Connor and Belfast Harlequins prop Declan Fitzpatrick ruled out through injury. O'Connor is replaced by former schools international Kevin McLaughlin and former CBC Monkstown schoolboy Keith Doyle comes in for Fitzpatrick.

England manager Peter Drewett, admitted: "The Irish team is the form side at the moment and this match is an important one for us in terms of testing the progress we've made so far this season."

Ireland have been superbly led by David Gannon and will be looking for a big performance from the pack. They may not have the sheer pace of their opponents out wide but do possess an abundance of footballing ability.

England haven't had a challenge at this level this season, beating both Italy and Scotland with relative ease. Ireland in contrast are battle-hardened and it would be churlish to suggest that they are not capable of rising to the occasion.

ENGLAND: J Clarke; M Garvey, C Bell, A Reay; U Monye; A Jarvis, C Stuart-Smith; N Wood, R Hawkins, D Wilson; J Percival, C Day; B Russell, B Skirving, W Skinner. Replacements: S Friswell, T Warren T Parker, M Hopley, R Wigglesworth; B Davies, James Bailey.

IRELAND: A Finn (Dolphin); R Lane (UCC), J Hearty (Blackrock College), G Telford (Dungannon), T Bowe (QUB); G Steenson (QUB), T O'Leary (Cork Constitution); J Wickham (Clontarf), D Fogarty (Cork Constitution), K Doyle (UCD); D Gannon (Blackrock College, capt), S O'Connor (Cork Constitution); K McLaughlin (UCD), J Heaslip (DU), O Hennessy (Dungannon). Replacements: C Geoghegan (UCD), S Bennett (Bath), N McComb (Dundee HSFP), D O'Brien (Old Belvedere), R Shaw (London Wasps), M Glancy (Loughborough University), B O'Donnell (UL Bohemians).