Time to peer over the settee again? Never mind last year's record 40-pointer, and in Dublin at that, on a line through New Zealand, Scotland and Wales today's meeting at Twickenham suggests it's no contest. The hamper set at Twickers will be expecting a feast, which, of course, might suit Ireland just grand if they can starve them for the first quarter or so.

For there's also a line through France in Paris which gives cause for encouragement. And this Irish performance should be far more in keeping with what happened in Stade de France. In a curious way, the increasingly wayward and headless display against Wales will have been a reminder.

In all of this, the most uncanny similarities of all are with Connacht. Same coach, same halfbacks and same undulating learning curve. When the western province did for Ulster they thought they knew it all, but promptly took the basics of Warren Gatland's philosophy for granted and produced their worst display of the season in losing to Leinster. That timely kick up the rear was the backdrop to the first of their two wins over Northampton.

That Welsh defeat will have been a timely kick up the rear for Ireland as well. The self-same Connacht halves should also have no fears about their Northampton counterparts, even if Matt Dawson and Paul Grayson weren't in harness for both European games.

More pertinently, McGuinness especially and Elwood know the Gatland way and are likely to play better than they did against Wales.

Nor is there compelling evidence to suggest that England will gain a decisive foothold in the setpieces - an enduring strength of the Irish pack throughout the season. The Lions' awesome foursome predictably hasn't had the hoped-for, knock-on effect.

Indeed, for a stage in the second period against Wales, none of them were on the pitch.

However, it's still been a very competitive pack despite that, thanks to the unstinting donkey work of Reggie Corrigan and Paddy Johns, and the inspirational play of Malcolm O'Kelly. And however punch drunk they might be, you'd expect Keith Wood and Paul Wallace to drag up big games for this one. It is not an exceptional English front-row, and though Garath Archer has been outstanding, Martin Johnson is another fatigued-looking Lion.

The selection of Tony Diprose ahead of the abrasive Dean Ryan tallies with England's modus operandi. He's a visionary number eight, especially behind a dominant tight five.

Where it could get scary for Ireland is if it gets loose. Wales tried to engage England in pyjama rugby and ended up naked. And when the pace has quickened in Irish games thus far (against New Zealand, briefly against Italy and Wales) Ireland haven't looked up to it.

A pure, footballing and quick English three-quarter line will be far more adept at broken rugby.

Ireland need to keep it structured and will assuredly strive to do so, as in Paris. There, they were focused and fired up. Under Gatland, the master motivator, you'd expect them to be well primed again. Mentally, all the old Irish cliches apply as well.

Psychologically, other things point to an improved effort.

They're facing Ireland's eighth whitewash and probably don't deserve it nearly as much as other Irish sides (last season's springs to mind, for starters).

So, a good old narky Irish performance might ensue. Shades of 1994 and all that. Expect a few, ahem, skuffles early on. David Corkery and Victor Costello, for certain, will be itching to show Clive Woodward a thing or two.

No matter how close Ireland get, however, they have a mental block about stepping over the winning line. And the closer they get, and the more they want it, the more difficult it becomes.

In the heel of the hunt, this Irish team remains in a Catch 22: desperately need a win, but don't know how to get one. England, by contrast, don't how to lose to their Celtic cousins, and so are entitled to be almost blase about winning a fourth successive Triple Crown.

The more blase the better from an Irish viewpoint. The English have an innate superiority complex when it comes to the Irish. They can't help it, they were born with it. Hence, in eight European ties earlier this season, the Irish won four of them.

What's more, Ireland have tended to play better away from home lately, and pushed England close at Twickenham two years ago before Will Carling came off and Dean Richards stuffed the ball up his jumper.

There are six survivors from that game, and five from the win two years before, aside from which the eight English-based players should have no fears of players whom they meet every week.

But when the need for scores is most acute, England have the proven firepower to get them - especially through the creativeness and potent running of their midfield, and the sublime boot of Grayson.

Nor will they be caught by surprise quite as much as France were.

However, this may be an Irish side that has forgotten how to win, but it doesn't roll over and have it's belly tickled either.