Anthony Foley insists Ireland will be under no illusions as to the size of the task they face when they take on England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Ireland’s Six Nations campaign got off to the best possible start at Lansdowne Road when they beat Graham Henry's side 54-10. But Foley maintains nothing will be taken for granted against England. After all, his first two appearances at Twickenham have been occasions to forget.
The first was Ireland's hammering by the English in the spring of 2000, the second Munster's narrow Heineken Cup final defeat to Northampton that May.
And if that was not reason enough, the Munster back row is all to aware of England’s formidable record at home, not least against Ireland. "I've been there before and it hasn't been enjoyable," he said.
"The last time we won there was 1994 and we always go over there with great hopes and expectations of getting a victory, but we've got a realistic view that if we just don't perform we're not going to get anywhere close.
"They are a world-class side and they beat Australia and South Africa in the autumn at Twickenham, and you really have to look at what they've done there to realise how hard it will be for us. I don't know who was the last team to be them over there but I'm sure it was a long time ago".
New Zealand last beat Clive Woodward's side at Twickenham, in a 1999 World Cup group game. England's March 1997 loss to the French was the last Twickenham defeat in what was then the Five Nations Championship.
"We pretty much have our feet on the ground about that because there are a few of us on the team that were in the team the last time and who went over and got 40 points put on us, and this English side are well capable of doing that again," Foley said.
"We've got to go out and take every minute as it comes out on the pitch and try and perform to the best of our ability. Otherwise we could be standing behind the goalposts for a lot of the game".