Cueto: Time to perform

Mark Cueto admits England owe everybody a big performance against Ireland.

Mark Cueto insists Ireland will encounter a fired-up England side at Twickenham on Saturday, and he admits there is a debt to be paid by the men in white.

Two appalling performances against Scotland and France have undermined the quality that does exist in the England camp, frustrating fans, players and coaches alike.

Cueto insists the buck most stop with the players, and he acknowledges the fact that he and his teammates owe everybody a performance on Saturday.

"There is so much talent in this squad, the lads don't deserve to go out and play the way we did," said the Sale Sharks wing.

"It is down to us, but the amount of potential and ability in the squad is unbelievable.

"We owe it to ourselves, individually and collectively, and we owe it to the management to go out there and perform.

"The supporters want to see performances, results, tries and all the rest of it.

"Effectively, there is not a massive difference between the players and fans - we both want exactly the same thing."

In quite unexpected circumstances, it is Ireland and not England who go in search of Six Nations glory at Twickenham, knowing a slip-up by France would open the door to their first triumph in the six-team format.

In Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy and Geordan Murphy, the Irish boast some of the most dangerous backs in world rugby.

However, victory has come without their backline really functioning as of yet, and Cueto acknowledges the fact that England will have to overcome a 15-man team come Saturday.

"It is a massive test for us. Ireland are a strong, well-balanced side.

"They've got a big pack which can provide the platform for the likes of Ronan O'Gara to kick to the corners and relieve and exert pressure, while Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy and Shane Horgan give them balance out wide.

"We are under no illusions about how difficult it is going to be. There are no easy games at this level, and whether it is by one point on Saturday, we will take a win."