BOSS WARY OF ROSE THREAT

FROM BACK PAGE crushing way for us to finish a year of being unbeaten, a potential opportunity that has only been done twice before.

“I’d be more motivated and scared by that than thinking about how fantastic it would be to do something that would be another step for this group into kind of stretching themselves beyond what they’ve done before.”

Schmidt confides that he and his players would be happy to take a 3-0 victory at a venue where Ireland have not won in eight years.

He added: “That’s because we know what’s at stake and what’s at stake is an unbelievable opportunity to win a

Grand Slam and also to go a year unbeaten.”

While England boss Eddie Jones has made seven changes to his side as the Red Rose try to avoid a third defeat on the spin, Schmidt has gone for just one – Iain Henderson (inset) in for Devin Toner in the second row.

“I don’t know about the players but I’d be very much a glass half full person,” the boss said.

“I get excited about the group we have and how hard we work but I’d be very balanced from the perspective of being a pragmatist at the same time.

“There’s no point in dreaming beyond this Saturday because this Saturday is a finite point for us where a number of things have to happen and go right.”