Heaslip says Irish pack will front up to English

CONFIDENCE in the Irish pack may have been dented following last weekend’s sub-par performance against Wales, but Ireland No 8 Jamie Heaslip believes they are prepared to match England up front in tomorrow’s Six Nations clash at Twickenham.

Past England victories have been hammered out on the anvil of their forward power but despite being outfought by the Welsh pack for long periods a week ago, Heaslip is confident Ireland have the ammunition and the muscle up front to subdue the English in this department.

“I thought the pack went fine last time out,” insists Heaslip, who was second best on the day to the irrepressible Ryan Jones. “It’s just that against Wales we didn’t get enough of the ball. The reason Wales got the upper hand in the back row was because they got more ball, particularly in open spaces.