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"It almost has the look of a championship decider".

Gerry Thornley wasn't playing down the importance of Ireland's upcoming Six Nations game against England on Wedensday Night Rugby.

Gerry and Keith Wood analysed Ireland's win over Wales but also looked ahead to the Twickenham challenge to come as excitement over a possible Grand Slam tilt grows.

"They're going to test Ireland in ways that Scotland and even Wales didn't do, particularly up front," said Gerry. 

"One ventures that Joe Schmidt, genius that he is, will have to come up with a completely new gameplan to overcome the English. They're not going to get the same return out of the English lineout or maul. They're going to have to resort to more of a ball in hand game and maybe a higher tempo game to move that juggernaut pack around - a bit like they did against the All Blacks."  

Gerry also feels it is impossible to gain a judgment of England's threat from the "mud bath" against a dire Scotland. But he does believe that England see this Six Nations as a stepping stone towards next year's World Cup on home soil, whereas Ireland are targeting it as one to win for a variety of reasons.

Keith expects Schmidt to keep faith with Andrew Trimble on the wing and leave out challengers for the jersey like Simon Zebo. 

"I thought Andrew Trimble was fantastic [against Wales]. He was one of the guys picked to do a job and you can't ask any more of a player. Now it depends. If the coach decides to play in a completely different way and might want someone like Simon Zebo who would be more flash and has an ability to unlock things in a way that maybe Trimble doesn't. But for me, I think you stick with what's there already." 

Image: England captain Chris Robshaw and Ireland captain Paul O'Connell with the RBS 6 Nations Trophy ©INPHO/Billy Stickland