Listen to the full preview via the WNR podcast above 

With a Triple Crown on the line and a potential golden chance at a Grand Slam if Ireland win, this Saturday's match against England is bigger than it already was.

We got our Wednesday Night Rugby pundits Keith Wood and Gerry Thornley to preview the game and to pick apart the myriad talking points.

Because many of the Irish players in the squad have won at Twickenham before, Keith believes a trip to the home of English rugby should hold no fear for Joe Schmidt's men.

But he does expect England to try to disrupt Ireland's potent line-out.

"I think they'll be trying to do a number on the Irish line-out which has performed incredibly well. It gave Ireland a fantastic platform a couple of weeks ago and England won't want that to be the case again. I think you're going to see an incredibly physical back row again and that's why it becomes interesting to see how Ireland play and if they move it far enough away for the back row not to get into the game, it can put an awful lot of pressure on England," said Keith who believes Ireland need more intensity than against Wales and to kick less.

But England are missing tighthead prop Dan Cole and Gerry thinks his absence will hurt them.

"There is no doubt that Cole is a much more established international than [Dave] Wilson. As props go, he's almost like an auxiliary flanker at the breakdown, the way he gets over the ball. He's so difficult to dislodge. They're going to be down a few turnpver penalties and steals," said Gerry before addressing the battle that decided that last Twickenham match between the two sides.

"The scrum is a key area of the game. If England get any momentum in...I was there two years ago and the mood music changes throughout the stadium and the pitch. They scored 27 of their 30 points directly and indirectly from the scrum. Now with Cole gone, they're certainly going to get nothing like it."  

But who are Keith and Gerry backing to win? Listen in via the WNR podcast. 

The lads also discussed Munster's appointment of Anthony Foley as their next head coach. 

His close friend Keith believes he is the "right man at the right time". Gerry praised his intelligence but also used the "cautionary tale" of Eric Elwood as a local hero turned manager. 

 

Image: Chris Robshaw of England and Paul O'Connell of Ireland with the RBS Six Nations Trophy ©INPHO/James Crombie