RUGBY/UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS: Ireland coach Mike Ruddock is confident his team will give their all as a galvanised group against England for this 'Cup Final', writes JOHN O'SULLIVAN

THE A4 sheet outlines a series of short, concise aspirations bundled together as a mission statement. It was compiled and agreed by the management and players and offers an insight into the mindset of the Ireland team as they prepare for the Under-20 Six Nations Championship game against England at Adams Park tomorrow night.

Ireland are chasing a Grand Slam, while England, beaten in France last weekend, know that a victory will allow them to pip their opponents to outright tournament honours. The Irish team’s progress to this point has been underpinned by doughty defence and a remarkable resilience and self-possession under extreme pressure.

Those characteristics form a central part of what’s written on the piece of paper. “Cup Final”, “intensity” and “physicality”, are a sample of the phrases contained within. To get to this point of the campaign the Irish team has accounted for Wales, Italy, France and Scotland but according to coach Mike Ruddock, it was the win over the French that fostered a sense of belief that the group could go on and achieve something special.

“The crucial part was the result in France (Ireland’s first win on French soil in this age grade). The galvanising effect it has had for their group is huge. Those last four or five minutes – we were probably under pressure for the whole of the second half – when we had to survive being camped on our line, making tackles, repelling attacks repeatedly, getting bodies under ball-carriers on our line and then turning over a scrum. Those sorts of experiences have stood to this group.

“That has given us the confidence to go to England and perform. What’s pleased me is the way we have come together as a group. Every time they (the players) have come in the emphasis from them has been to try and get better. That’s been the impressive part of this group, that quest to improve all the time.”

Ireland have been fortunate with injuries, wings Barry Daly (broken thumb), Sam Coghlan Murray (ankle) and hooker Niall Scannell, the only casualties at various points in the campaign. Ruddock conceded: “It has been a massive factor in shaping our team spirit, team cohesion and obviously our results.”

A key component in the unbeaten run has been defence. Ruddock explained: “The senior guys from last year have been very good. We sat down at the start of the season and presented our defensive structures to the boys, took some feedback and as a group we agreed our systems. Everyone has bought into it.

“You can only get off the line if we manage to slow down their ruck ball. We have worked a lot on the breakdown, our techniques there. The biggest thing is the continuity of selection breeds an understanding and trust.

“(Sports psychologist and former Armagh footballer) Enda McNulty came in for a session with us on Tuesday night. He’d been in at the start of the season and assisted with our preparations. He asked for some reasons why we had been successful in creating a tough defence to break down and the players spoke about a session we did before we played against Wales.

“Players came in from the Leinster academy, we had two teams, put the suits on and battered each other. With thanks to those lads they helped shape the belief we had in the defensive system that day. It’s kicked on from there.”

The Ireland coach accepts his team will have to be more ruthless and precise in attack if they are to realise the ambition of claiming a second Grand Slam at this level, following a previous success in 2007. Des Merrey and Scannell are introduced to the frontrow from the last day, with Kyle McCall switching to tighthead prop. The Ireland team flew to London yesterday to complete their preparations.

IRELAND U-20: S Layden (Connacht); C Finn (Connacht), C Farrell ( Ulster), JJ Hanrahan (Munster), Foster Horan (Leinster); P Jackson (Ulster, capt), L McGrath (Leinster); D Merrey (Leinster), N Scannell (Munster), K McCall (Ulster); I Henderson (Ulster), D Qualter (Connacht); C Gilsenan (Leinster), A Conneely (Connacht), J Conan (Leinster). Replacements: J Rael (Munster), P Reilly (Leinster), J Cawley (Leinster), T Beirne (Leinster), J Coghlan (Leinster), K Marmion (Connacht), C Marsh (Leinster), S Olding (Ulster).