Joe Schmidt wants to see how the newcomers in his Ireland team to face England cope with the tough test at the highest level.

Stuart McCloskey and Josh van der Flier are the new debutants in a Six Nations XV shorn of frontline players due to injury.

The central partnership is particularly fresh given that McCloskey will line up alongside Robbie Henshaw.

Speaking at the team announcement, Ireland head coach Schmidt will be watching to see how the new players cope.

"One of the things that aided us in the last two years is the continuity from week to week, from game to game. But I expressed this last week that it's an opportunity to give a few opportunities to guys in a very, very tough environment and see how they acquit themselves," he said.