Ireland v England: Teams
Paul O'Connell accepts it is time for Ireland to deliver against England on Saturday.
Last Updated: 26/08/11 3:12pm
Paul O'Connell accepts it is time for Ireland to deliver after highlighting the significance of Saturday's World Cup send off against England.
The Irish, who are missing Brian O'Driscoll and Sean O'Brien to injury, are in desperate need of victory after collapsing to three successive defeats in their warm-up Tests.
England visit Dublin intent on avenging the hiding that ended their Grand Slam dream in March and with Jonny Wilkinson back directing operations.
O'Connell knows that generating momentum for the World Cup is imperative and wants his team to begin realising their potential.
Important
"If I say it's a must win game and we don't win, what happens?" said the Lions captain.
"When you lose games, no matter who you play for, you rebuild afterwards.
"It's an important game, there's no doubt about that. We really want to come out of the right side of the result.
"We have an excellent side, the best I'll have gone to a World Cup with. We just need to produce what we're capable of.
"We wished we'd done slightly better than we have done in the first three weeks, but that's the way it goes.
"The last three weeks have been a mix and match of players and our performances have been disappointing.
"Hopefully we can now get back on track with a big performance against England.
"If we produce a good performance against England it will stand us in good stead for the World Cup."
O'Connell understands that England will be fired by the memories of their 24-8 defeat at Aviva Stadium five months ago.
"The best way to get ready for the World Cup is to play matches of as high an intensity as possible," he said.
"It's a home game against England. We know they're up for it after what happened in March. We can't go into it half-hearted.
"It will be high intensity and good for us. Whatever happens, happens, but this is the way we want to prepare for the World Cup - as hard and fast as we can.
"After we beat England in March there was plenty of talk about this game almost straight away.
Physical
"It will be very tough, England are always very physical.
"They have a very strong side with a very good line-out. They have a big strong pack that will be physical.
"We got on top in the midfield in the last game but Alesana Tuilagi is a serious player in the centre.
"Mike Tindall is very physical and experienced. England are strong all over the pitch.
"Jonny combines a good running game with a good kicking game.
"Obviously he punishes any indiscipline and is very good at taking drop goals.
"He's good at keeping the scoreboard turning over as well."
England were forced to make a late change to their bench when flanker Tom Wood was ruled out by a "mild calf strain". He is replaced by Tom Palmer.
Ireland: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Eoin Reddan; 1 Cian Healy, 2 Jerry Flannery, 3 Mike Ross, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 5 Paul O'Connell (capt), 6 Stephen Ferris, 7 David Wallace, 8 Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: 16 Rory Best, 17 Tom Court, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Conor Murray, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Fergus McFadden
England: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Mike Tindall (capt), 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth; 1 Andrew Sheridan, 2 Steve Thompson, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Louis Deacon, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 Tom Croft, 7 James Haskell, 8 Nick Easter
Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Simon Shaw, 19 Tom Palmer, 20 Joe Simpson, 21 Toby Flood, 22 Delon Armitage
