Regardless Ben, the older brother by 90 minutes, described the occasion as “very special”.
“When you go back home and you look in your room and there is artwork that you have made at primary school and high school – there is one of me in an England shirt,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on Tuesday.
“Everything has led up to this moment.”
While they are the first twin brothers to play for England, Emma and Jane Mitchell were part of the women’s team that won the Rugby World Cup in 1994, while Poppy and Bryony Cleall have been part of the Red Roses set-up more recently.
The combination of the Curry brothers and the mobile Earl in the back row suggests England will compete hard at the breakdown in an attempt to break up the rhythm of an Ireland side who are aiming to land a third successive Six Nations title.
“What I see with Ben, Tom and Ben Earl are three players with incredible work rate and intensity in the way they play, which is needed against Ireland,” said Borthwick.
“This is an exciting team that wants to play and has athleticism and uses ball movement to get our supporters jumping up and down in excitement.
“A style that will have our supporters proud walking into work on Monday six inches taller and feeling brilliant because of the way their England team played.”
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