Six Nations: Pressure is on Ireland, insists Johnson

RBS Six Nations Championship: Ireland v England
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 19 March Kick-off: 1700 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC One, BBC One HD, Red Button, online and BBC America; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and online; text commentary online

England's last three Grand Slam attempts

England manager Martin Johnson believes there is more pressure on Ireland to win on Saturday even though his team are one victory away from a Grand Slam.

"The pressure is probably on them in a way, in this situation," said Johnson.

"They've had a couple of disappointing results. I think there's more pressure on them than there is on us."

Ireland narrowly defeated Italy and Scotland and have been on the wrong end of tight results against France and Wales in this year's Six Nations.

England are hoping to secure their first Grand Slam since 2003, and Johnson added: "I think we have put down some markers [in the championship] and if we can finish it off on Saturday it will be great.

"We have been in two or three really close games and have just managed to keep ourselves the right side of it. Ireland haven't and lost them.

"Days like Saturday are about being able to control the ball in the heat of the game and the heat of the battle and giving ourselves opportunities.

"If we do that, then we need to take them."

It's a big game, more so for England because there's a Slam at the end of it Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll

Ireland are determined to avoid going through a championship without a victory in Dublin for the first time since 1999, but skipper Brian O'Driscoll believes there is more at stake for England.

"Any time we play England there's great passion," he said.

"It's a big game, more so for England because there's a Slam at the end of it, but from our own point of view, it's another chance to play top-class opposition.

"We also have big motivation in that we lost our only other home game in this Six Nations to France and we don't want to lose two from two.

"If we needed added impetus, that will be right up there.

"When you win two and lose two and don't have anything tangible to play for - we're not going to win a championship or Triple Crown - it's an opportunity to build something heading into an important six or seven month period.

"We'd prefer to win more game than we lose in this Six Nations and that's what this game gives us the opportunity to do."

England's stand-in captain Nick Easter says his side will have to be at their very best to beat Ireland.

"To win in Dublin, with the occasion and what is at stake, you have to bring your best game," he said.

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"The Irish haven't delivered their best game in the Six Nations so far and I am sure that will come [on Saturday]."

Easter leads the side in place of Mike Tindall, who was injured on Sunday in the victory over Scotland.

England will face an Ireland side with something to prove at the Aviva Stadium following their controversial defeat by Wales last weekend.

"When the fixtures came out most people thought this would be the hardest game and I don't think we'll be disappointed," Easter commented.

"We realise after last week's not-so-hot performance that it was a good kick up the backside in order to make sure we do produce the goods on Saturday."

To complete the Grand Slam in the city where they last won it in 2003 under the captaincy of their current manager Johnson, England will have to defeat opponents who have beaten them in six of their last seven meetings.

For Easter it is a first opportunity to win a major competition with England.

"It is going to be a pretty easy game to captain in terms of the build-up because these guys will need no motivation to get up for the game. This is a bigger Test match than most.

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"There are some guys there who I don't think ever get nervous, the younger ones sit in the changing room chomping Haribos and having a laugh.

"You have guys like Ben Youngs and Toby Flood who have played in big finals for Leicester and they have that experience to fall back on."

For fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, the encounter has refreshed memories of that Grand Slam match in Dublin seven years ago.

"I'll never forget that match in Dublin - it was a big day," Wilkinson recalled.

"We got off to a good start and managed to keep the pedal down, a strategy that will stand us in good stead again this year.

"No one in the England camp underestimates how tough it'll be to win there again. It's a sensational end to the championship."

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Ireland: 15-Keith Earls, 14-Tommy Bowe, 13-Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12-Gordon D'Arcy, 11-Andrew Trimble, 10-Jonathan Sexton, 9-Eoin Reddan; 1-Cian Healy, 2-Rory Best, 3-Mike Ross, 4-Donncha O'Callaghan, 5-Paul O'Connell, 6-Sean O'Brien, 7-David Wallace, 8-Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Leo Cullen, Denis Leamy, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, Paddy Wallace.

England: 15-Ben Foden, 14-Chris Ashton, 13-Matt Banahan, 12-Shontayne Hape, 11-Mark Cueto, 10-Toby Flood, 9-Ben Youngs; 1-Alex Corbisiero, 2-Dylan Hartley, 3-Dan Cole, 4-Louis Deacon, 5-Tom Palmer, 6-Tom Wood, 7-James Haskell, 8-Nick Easter (captain).

Replacements: Steve Thompson, Paul Doran-Jones, Simon Shaw, Tom Croft, Danny Care, Jonny Wilkinson, David Strettle.

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