ENGLAND V IRELAND MATCH PREVIEW

   After a two week break to debate strategy, rest bruised muscles and egos as well as recharge tired legs and ambitions, the six European teams in question prepare to do battle once more. All have had time to mull over results, as well as look ahead at what's to come. The pick of the three games this weekend is without a doubt the huge confrontation due to take place on Saturday between hosts England and the now tournament favourites Ireland. And rightly so as these two sides have easily put in the best performances thus far within the competition. Ireland, especially, currently look to be a very complete team and present a formidable challenge to England’s ultimate success. Indeed, under Joe Schmidt’s leadership, they are beginning to make that outstanding display against the All Blacks look less and less like a lucky blip. England on the other hand is a team fast improving and can only hope that their home advantage pays dividends.

    

The one on one battles within this game are frankly remarkable; England's forwards have looked nigh on unplayable at times and will offer this savvy Irish pack a testing workout come the final whistle. An abundance of powerful ball carries has meant England have dominated the gainline thus far, meaning it's all on Ireland to think up a way of suffocating the likes of Billy Vunipola at the breakdown. No doubt the signature Irish choke tackle will be used to deadly effect, if any English players should wander too far from their support. Shorn of Dan Cole due to a slipped disk, Lancaster will be hoping that the cobwebs gained by David Wilson's lengthy time off through injury have been shaken off. Wilson will be up against arguably Europe's premier loose head Cian Healy. In the second row, Courtney Lawes will finally discover his true worth as line out technician as he faces the guru that is Paul O'Connell, all of which makes the set piece battle impossible to call.

   

                                                     England take on Ireland at Twickernham. Photo: RFU

The theme of ‘experience verses youth’ continues in the backline as Jonathan Sexton takes on his Lion's fly half apprentice Owen Farrell. The latter has continuously been given the benefit of the doubt, not least with regards to getting his backline firing and, even his much heralded goal kicking has been poor (only 60% so far). This all adds pressure, given his under 20's England teammate and a former Junior world player of the year George Ford now sits on the bench waiting to be given a chance to claim the 10 jersey for his own. Meanwhile, the talisman that is Brian O'Driscol, will make rugby history when he takes the field to earn his 139th international cap equalling George Gregan's record and emphasising the gulf in experience between him and his opposite numbers. England's centre pairing have been on fine form given their limited game time at this level and will look to push on, despite most of the English press focussing on a certain league star's decision to switch codes at the end of the season. All indicates that being part of the English midfield will continue to be a tough position for any player to hold down.

  

On to the head to heads then and at either end of the pitch whether it be the front row tussle between Wilson and Healy or the battle between the ever reliable Mike Brown and Rob Kearney you'd be forgiven for spending your money tentatively at the bookies office.

As for me, however, the real fight will be between the two number nines, Danny Care and Conor Murray. Both have looked mighty impressive in their own ways. Murray has honed his organisational skills excellently to complement his both physical and abrasive style of play. Almost a more youthful carbon copy of Wales's, Mike Phillips, but less prone to on field spats (not forgetting the off field ones with boy band members) he is starting to really make a name for himself at this level. On the other hand, Care has now shaken off his off field antics as well as rectifying his sometimes woeful kicking from hand. His dangerous snipes and eye for a napping defence have ignited a once stagnant England attack and makes this a mouth watering match up indeed.

Prediction:

     On a neutral field of play most would give this game to Ireland as their overall game is all but flawless when compared to other teams outside the Southern hemisphere. However, it really does come down to the forwards again, and, if the boys from the emerald isle can suffocate England's game plan, as they did against Wales, it could be a horrid affair for the men in white. Lastly, despite what some are calling a good omen for Ireland in this week’s media announcement of a genetically modified potato resistant to blight, we have to remember that this is Twickenham, the beating heart of English rugby and a ground that hasn't seen an English loss to any team outside the big three for almost two years. Therefore England to shade it.

   The teams:

For England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Luther Burrell, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Jonny May, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Danny Care, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 David Wilson, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler

Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 David Attwood, 20 Ben Morgan, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 George Ford, 23 Alex Goode

For Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy

Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Martin Moore, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Issac Boss, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Fergus McFadden

Date: Saturday, February 22
Venue: Twickenham
Kick-off: 16:00 GMT

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Assistant Referees: Romain Poite (France), Leighton Hodges (Wales)

TMO: Jim Yuille (Scotland)

By Alex Dodd