After comfortable wins over Italy and Scotland, the English return to Twickenham for their first match since lifting the World Cup, and Woodward promised his remodelled side would be up for it. "Yes there is a bigger edge to this game," he said. "Especially when you hear words coming across from Ireland like 'are England tough enough for this game?'

"That was quite a good media story coming over the Irish sea! We know that this is the biggest challenge since the World Cup final, Ireland are a very strong side and we are playing our first competitive game at Twickenham so there is a bit of an edge.

"We have made a few changes, some forced some otherwise and that always adds a bit of edge to the team. We are really looking forward to the game, the weather forecast is good and like every game at Twickenham it is just going to be a magnificent occasion.

"We all get involved in this game as though this is going to be our last game, that is the only way to approach it and there has been a real edge this week. I am really looking forward to this game as much as ever as being in charge of the England team."

England are bidding to make it 23 consecutive victories at their stronghold and Woodward said he was expecting a spine-tingling atmosphere.

"There are two things, we haven't been back at Twickenham for nearly a year and it is the first time we have been back as world champions with our full strength side playing, so it is going to be a huge atmosphere and it is a real competitive game.

"This isn't a game that England expect to win by a hatful of points, this is a real game that we are going into. We have the utmost respect for the Irish team who with a little more composure would have beaten the Australians in the World Cup but that is the difference between winning and losing.

"It is going to be a great day and the players know that as well.

"Motivation doesn't come into this game -- you almost have to calm things down, keep people talking about the process, the performance and not about the occasion."

Ireland meanwhile received an eve-of-match boost when flanker Victor Costello was cleared to play after shaking off an ankle injury.

AFP - 2004