Joining the squad for his first cap is Worcester back row Mark Hopley who starts at number eight in place of the injured Chris Goodman. An injury to Ross Broadfoot gives Falcons fly half Toby Flood his first start as Ryan Davis moves back to inside centre.
With Northampton Saints winger Paul Diggin also not considered due to injury, Topsy Ojo of London Irish joins the replacements.
Coach Nigel Redman said: "Ireland are always very strong and physical, particularly at home. We've watched their game against Scotland and they contested the breakdown very well and that's an area we needed to be sharper in.
"There are 10 changes to the starting side that played France for various reasons but all these guys train together as a squad during the week. Experience told us that we'd need this depth and that's the reason we extended the training squad to 26 players.
"As coaches it's a great chance for us to work with different players from all the clubs and get to know more about them and keep them all in our thoughts. At this level especially you don't always know who's going to be the best in a particular position and you have to consider everyone.
"Hopley was on the bench against Ireland for us last year and was a part of the trial games against France at the start of the season. We have some outstanding talent at back row with the likes of Goodman, Seymour, Rees, Haskell and Hopley and this is a fantastic opportunity for Mark.
"Opportunities come in many ways and injuries sometimes allow us to give some players the chance to come in and show us the work they've been doing and make us pick them next time.
"Topsy Ojo is another great example. He was in the U19 squad last year and he's in the Intermediate National Academy and he's available to us for the next two years."
England U21s
15. Olly Morgan - Gloucester
14. Tom Biggs - Leeds Tykes
13. Matt Cornwell - Leicester Tigers
12. Ryan Davis - Bath
11. Tom Varndell - Leicester Tigers
10. Toby Flood - Newcastle Falcons
9. Ben Foden - Sale Sharks
1. Michael Cusack - Leeds Tykes
2. Neil Briggs - Rotherham
3. Aston Croall - Saracens
4. Richard Blaze - Worcester
5. Tom Ryder - Leicester Tigers
6. James Haskell - London Wasps
7. David Seymour - Saracens
8. Mark Hopley - Worcester
Replacements
16. Stuart Mackie - Newcastle Falcons
17. Matt Hampson - Leicester Tigers
18. Sean Cox - Sale Sharks
19. Richard Thorpe - London Irish
20. Lee Dickson - Newcastle Falcons
21. Simon Whatling - Worcester
22. Topsy Ojo - London Irish
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