CHANCE FOR ROAR TALENT
ENGLAND’S rugby stars have been told a “war” must be won if they are to emerge from the Six Nations with Lions’ credentials intact.
Warren Gatland has chosen not to be in Paris this evening where Wales can win a fifth Grand Slam in 16 years.
Instead the Lions head coach will be masked up at the Aviva Stadium on his final Six Nations scouting mission.
Until a week ago England’s World Cup finalists were doing a good job of playing themselves out of the British and Irish squad for this summer’s proposed tour.
Victory over France breathed new life into Red Rose hopes. But if they can’t back it up against Ireland, England are staring at their second worst campaign in Six Nations history.
Defence coach John Mitchell said: “We are under no illusions as to what to expect.
“Ireland are a tenacious side and a tenacious country. They fight bloody hard for each other. They’ll rip in, no doubt about that.
“It’s going to be a war at the breakdown. But we’re ready for all that.”
England have won the last four games between the nations and Ireland’s players will not have forgotten how they were left a “bit broken” – to quote their then boss Joe Schmidt – by the manner of defeat when Eddie Jones’ side last paid a visit.
Clearly fearful of the praise that accompanied victory over France, Jones has spent the week trying to keep his team on edge.
Mitchell said: “You never have Ireland’s number. This game will be different to the last match and we need to be very clear about that.
“It’s going to be highly unstructured, a lot of kicking in the air and very physical. Ireland will rely on crumbs that can come from the aerial contest.”