LONDON CALLING FOR HUGE CLASH
protect us, we had to go out and win again. That’s all part of the challenge. We need to go to Twickenham and try to test that record out, I guess.
“It won’t be uppermost in our thinking because you can be distracted looking back when you need to be moving forward.
“We didn’t feel our five-year run in the Six Nations here protected us. And I’m sure Eddie Jones and the boys will be fully focused on winning the game.”
It was Sexton’s lastgasp drop-goal in Paris that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the opening game and kicked off this Grand Slam shot.
“We’ll look back at that when we lift the trophy next week, hopefully a Grand Slam we can look back at that five minutes and say that was a huge moment in our success,” said the no 10.
“But look, it’s very muted upstairs, it’s a very strange feeling to win the championship with a game to go and so much still to play for, and we know how difficult it’s going to be with England.
“The shoe is on the other foot now after last year and I’m sure they’ll be licking their lips.
“That was all our motivation last year, we definitely didn’t want to lose at home.
“I’m sure it will be the exact same for England, I know a lot of them personally from Lions trips and they are very, very proud people. They’ll be gunning for us.”
Skipper Rory Best said Ireland will need their best performance yet as England, the dethroned champions, seek to avoid a third defeat on the spin.
“We’re going to have to probably save the best for last,” said Best.
“The key for us is to make sure we approach it as we do every game and never get too ahead of ourselves.”