We'll have to wait until after this afternoon's France and England game at the Stade de France to see if Saturday's visit to Twickenham is a dead-rubber for Andy Robinson's side, or conversely, a potential championship winning fixture. Either way, we can guarantee a close game, if only because the oneeyed (not literally of course) English coach could be fighting for his job. Three defeats in the one Six Nations season just wouldn't wash with the 157 'Old Farts' at the RFU.

With the South Stand at the cabbage patch half-ways towards completion, Twickenham will have a slightly unfamiliar look to it but that shouldn't stop the memories flooding back for this Irish side. Just two years ago, 6 March 2004 to be precise, Eddie O'Sullivan's side became the first side to beat the newly crowned World Champions in what was undoubtedly the coach's finest hour, or rather 80 minutes, in the Irish job. That afternoon, Ireland were magnificent, no question.

The line-out operation designed by Niall O'Donovan nicked almost a dozen of Steve Thompson's throws in a supreme effort, while Mike Ford's defensive system never cracked in the face of extreme English pressure. Allied to all this were the multiple breaks by the exceptional Gordon D'Arcy, and the marvellously executed right-toleft move that resulted in Girvan Dempsey's gameclinching try.

That try, that performance and that result arguably signalled the end of Clive Woodward's tenure in charge of England, and arguably earned Eddie O'Sullivan a role in the Lions set-up at the same time, but while that game may have bright memories for most, the sentiments from Ireland's previous four visits to Twickenham are undoubtedly a lot darker. The aggregate score from those fixtures between 1996 and 2002 is 158 points to 61; numbers that put across the poundings Ireland have taken in London in recent times far better than words.

But will that win back in 2004 represent a once-in-ageneration achievement? The record books state as much, as the last time before 2004 was 1994 and the last time before Simon Geoghegan's year was Ginger McLoughlin's one back in 1982. But make no mistake about it, an Irish victory's certainly on the cards, which probably says as much about the state England are in rather than what Ireland have done thus far. Andy Robinson's side look utterly predictable in everything they attempt and while they may have the biff to pull it off on occasion, they're not going to be regular winners if they continue down the conservative bump and grind path they appear to have decided upon. The continuing battle of wills between Martin Corry and Lawrence Dallaglio can hardly be helping matters.

Robinson needs to decide which player will lead his side into the World Cup and dispense with the other one as soon as possible. It's the only way. Not that that's his only problem. Charlie Hodgson went on record twice last week stating that the English midfield partnership of Mike Tindall and Jamie Noon is too one dimensional. Both are wrecking balls, while the out-half would prefer a sculptor in the mix instead. You'd think opinions like that would be kept in-house but Hodgson obviously feels he has to get his message across somehow.

It hardly points to a happy camp.

As for Ireland, they certainly have the talent to work around England's approach to the game but they too haven't played to the level that they're capable of. O'Sullivan continually points out that Ireland are in a period of transition but to the outside eye it's been difficult to see what's changed in the way the team approach the game, bar their new found penchant for kicking the ball less and holding on to it more.

But whatever the current state of both sides, next Saturday's encounter will go a long way to determining their future well-being.

RBS SIX NATIONS ENGLAND v IRELAND Saturday, Twickenham, 5.30 Referee J Jutge (Fra) Live, RTE 2/BBC 1, 5.00