Grand Slam showdown 'ideal test for England'

CLIVE WOODWARD has called on England's Grand Slam-chasing players to prove they are equally formidable away from fortress Twickenham when they face Ireland in Sunday's Dublin decider.

The England coach is "excited" by the prospect, which he believes is the ideal test to gauge England's progress in the build-up to the World Cup in Australia later in the year.

"I'm excited, not nervous," said Woodward. "I'm looking forward to the week.

"There are four games out of the way and now we're looking forward to Sunday.

"I think we've got a good team. We've improved as the tournament's progressed. It's a big year and a big game.

"We said we didn't want to talk about the Grand Slam until we came within one game of it. Now we're totally focused on Sunday's game. Our home record is outstanding, with 21 wins from the last 21 games, and we've lost a couple of big games away from home in the past, but that is all history now.

"To me it's great we're playing away. For England, in terms of our development, this is an ideal test. We're playing away against another great team."

England were denied the Grand Slam in Dublin two seasons ago when they went down 20-14 in a game postponed until the autumn because of foot and mouth. But Woodward is adamant this game has just the sort of pressure his side need to experience before heading Down Under for the World Cup.

"We've got to accept all the pressure and attention because it is a big game and a taste of what will happen in October and November," he said.

"When we play at the World Cup if you don't win the big games you're on the plane home. Both camps are in the same boat."

Even though lock Ben Kay came off with a painful-looking shoulder injury against Scotland, scrum-half Matt Dawson had 13 stitches in a cut nose and centre Mike Tindall was replaced after suffering a bruised thigh, Woodward expects to have a full complement to pick from when the players assemble at their Pennyhill Park Hotel training quarters at Bagshot tomorrow.

"We've taken no injuries out of Saturday's game and I'm just looking forward to getting the players together," said the coach, who is not anticipating many changes when he names his side tomorrow. He said: "I've looked at the tapes of our game and of the A team. There are maybe one or two issues to look at but obviously there'll be very few changes."

Looking ahead to Sunday's match, he added: "Ireland, by their standards, would have been fairly disappointed with some of the aspects of their game against Wales, but they won the game.

"This championship is never easy. All the games are potential banana skins and well done for winning four out of four to Eddie O'Sullivan, the Irish coach.

"To me it proves the Six Nations is the prime championship in world rugby. It's better than the Tri-Nations because there are more teams, more personalities, more variety and more thrills. This year's been no exception. The bottom line is that Ireland have won four out of four. They're on their home ground and they'll be confident."