Haskell ready for the game of his life

RUGBY: MARK RODDENmeets the number seven, who says England are eager to get their own back on the Ireland team that 'ruined everything' last year

JAMES HASKELL says England’s players are preparing to play the biggest game of their lives against a team that “ruined everything” for them last season.

England stayed on course for their first Grand Slam since 2003 with a narrow win over Scotland at Twickenham but Haskell believes they will have to improve considerably to finish the job this Saturday.

“Rugby is all about finals and big occasions and you don’t get bigger than Ireland at Lansdowne Road,” the England flanker says.

“You don’t use the words Grand Slam – it’s a final. It’s the biggest game any of us are going to play in. It’s a test to this team, it’s a test of our mettle and it’s about standing up and getting counted.”

Ireland have won six of their last seven matches against England in the Six Nations and Haskell featured in the most recent defeats – a 20-16 reverse at Twickenham last year and a 14-13 loss at Croke Park in 2009.

“Ireland are, and have been, a quality side for a long time that have fallen short on some key occasions for one reason or another,” the former Wasps player says. “They’re a quality outfit and they’re going to be bitter after that loss against Wales – especially with the controversial nature of that try.”

While Ireland cursed their luck in Cardiff, Haskell was putting in a man-of-the-match performance on Sunday. However, the Stade Français player knows Declan Kidney’s team are likely to be much more incisive than Scotland.

“They’ve got a lot of ball players and a lot of dangerous players around the field. They’ve got a really powerful backrow that like to compete very hard and carry the ball very strongly. They’ve also got dangerous centres and Brian O’Driscoll can score a try out of anything. It’s about being conscious of what they’re going to bring, but getting stuff right and imposing our game.”

One opponent the number seven is keen to test himself against is Seán O’Brien, a player he’s already discussed with Michael Cheika, his club coach.

“He’s a guy that often breaks through the first tackle and carries the ball very strongly. But listen, teams are full of guys like that. You have to respect them and realise they’re dangerous threats but we’ve got to make sure our defence is on the money and we’ve got to get up in their face.”

England have been here before of course. Ten years ago Keith Wood helped prevent a Grand Slam but England coach Martin Johnson captained the English side that won 42-6 win two years later.

Haskell knows England have one hand on the Six Nations trophy and have a great opportunity to complete a Grand Slam. But he insists they will not need any added incentive to beat Ireland.

“I think we’ll focus on that as the week builds but the good thing about rugby is you don’t need motivation, you don’t need talks, to get ready for a game like that. Ireland beat us last year – ruined everything – and we know we’ve got to go over there and make a good account of ourselves.”

Haskell says that the off-colour display against Scotland will see a few players getting “a kick up the backside” this week.

“But we got another win. That’s four wins and it’s four more wins in a row than I’ve ever had with England so I’m pretty pleased.”

The 25-year-old will not want to stop at four.