Preview: Ireland v England

Ireland, the  team who have provided the fairytale storyline of this World Cup, will have many a neutral behind them in this clash.

There was a time a few short years ago when Ireland beating England seemed unthinkable.

As Ireland improved, England always seemed to have more to give and have better players to call on, and so it would prove for years as even when the Irish got closer, the English would always have more in the tank when it mattered.

That changed in 2013 when Ireland beat England at home, and this year - crucially with both sides at full strength this time - lost out by a 7-pointer - in a hugely competitive game at Twickenham.

Ireland have clearly continued to improve since then, as we all witnessed when they expertly closed the door on New Zealand last week, and England will hold no fear for them now.

Technically Ireland’s improvements are enormous as is evidenced when you watch their powerful low scrummaging, their well worked mauling and their often textbook tackling.

But technique only takes you so far and what Ireland have in spades is a self-belief and spiritedness that other teams would kill for.  When Lynne Cantwell revealed to the Irish Times that their pre-match huddle after the New Zealand haka was “let’s go f****g mental” you get the vibe - nothing technical needed there.

If this is a tight game, and nothing I have seen so far suggests otherwise, you would back Ireland in the final phases to pull through through their belief in each other alone, but they will have to be at their best again as they were last weekend.

Player for player they are facing, in my view, the most talented team left in the tournament - and the most experienced - and while Ireland will be well aware that England haven’t clicked just yet as they might, if they have an off patch, they could suffer.

Ireland hold assets of their own though; their back row has been superb and in that area they will need to match England’s toe for toe. Niamh Briggs is an asset all on her own with her metronomic boot and with Emily Scarratt also in superb kicking form, Irish discipline will need to be water tight within at least 30 metres of the posts.

The tight exchanges in this clash will be fascinating.  England were  at times pushed around by Canada up front and put simply ,their pack will not have liked it one bit. Used to bullying teams with their own power and strength, how they bite back here will be a sub-plot all on its own - Ireland have unsurprisingly stuck with the same starting team which beat New Zealand.

And what of England  - surely the clear favourites now the Black Ferns are out?

If only sport was so simple.

As I have said, in my view England have the most talented all-round squad left in the tournament.

They have better strength in depth than Ireland and will have a stronger more experienced bench.

That may or may not be crucial depending on what happens in the opening hour, but it is an important factor.

In drawing with Canada, England will recognise that they had a bit of luck on their side. On the day, they made uncharacteristic errors and Canada played better all round rugby. But defensively England worked impressively hard - Maggie Alphonsi made 29 tackles alone - and even when they struggled up front they held out and did what they needed to do.

But this is a World Cup and form counts for everything.

Occasionally this year England have often looked less than the sum of their parts and they need this to change on Wednesday night.

One huge asset for them is the fact that so many of their players have been here and done it - for Ireland everything from here on in is new.

As well as Ceri Large did to create chances  against Canada, Katy Mclean’s return is important for the security and experience she brings and England will surely not repeat the error-strewn performance we saw at the weekend.

If England can shake off the shackles of the likes of Claire Molloy at the breakdown and get front foot ball, they will fancy their chances to take their opportunities. Danielle Waterman has in the main been in excellent form at fullback and her ability to hit top speed from a standing start means England have the kind of threat to hit their line that will cause trouble for Ireland’s defence.

There’s a school of thought that suggest that England peaked in 2012 - when they basically won everything going - but that’s a bit too simplistic. Their two wins over Samoa and Spain last week included some brilliant play and one average game doesn't take away from their ability.

In naming Alex Matthews instead of Heather Fisher, who is dropped completely, the England coaches have recognised they need some more of the ball carrying power this young back row brings, and they have tempered it by choosing a more experienced scrum half in Toya Mason over Mo Hunt, who is unlucky to lose her spot considering she has been, in my view,  one of England's best players at the tournament,

They’ve also swapped hookers, with Victoria Fleetwood starting - again another strong running forward - and with Marlie Packer to come off the bench, Ireland’s pack will have to be at their defensive best

England will be acutely aware that in getting rid of New Zealand, this is their best chance to win a World Cup since they last lifted it in 1994. Taking it is another matter.

ENGLAND:1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester); 2 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield) ; 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol); 4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks); 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps); 6 Alexandra Matthews (Richmond); 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens); 8 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield, vice-captain) ; 15 Danielle Waterman (Bristol); 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester); 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield); 12 Rachael Burford (Thurrock); 11 Kay Wilson (Bristol); 10 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, captain) ; 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps)

Replacements; 16 Emma Croker (Richmond); 17 Laura Keates (Worcester); 18 Rebecca Essex (Richmond); 19 Marlie Packer (Wasps); 20 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield); 21 Ceri Large (Worcester); 22 Claire Allan (Richmond)

IRELAND:Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exile), Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster), Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht), Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster), Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt), Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Heather O'Brien (Highfield/Munster)

Replacements: Sharon Lynch (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster), Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster), Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster), Larissa Muldoon (Bristol/Exile), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Hannah Casey (Saracens/Exile)