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“If we don't improve, if we...

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“If we don't improve, if we don't take it up another level, you're not going to beat England"

98FM
98FM

10:09 12 Mar 2018


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Former Ireland international Alan Quinlan believes a massive improvement is needed if Ireland are to seal a Grand Slam.

Joe Schmidt's charges kept the dream alive by beating Scotland 28-8 at the weekend at Lansdowne Road. That victory coupled with England’s loss to France secured the Six Nations championship for Ireland.

The former Munster man has a warning for the players as they prepare for the trip to Twickenham, performances so far won't be good enough to best the English. He joined Dave McIntyre on Monday's OTB:AM:

“20 points was a lot and it flattered us a little bit, but we’ve four wins and that’s the important thing.

“There is no doubt about it we’ll be sitting here next Monday morning and we’ll be saying we needed we had to change those gears to go from third/fourth up into fifth for a few occasions and we’ll be here as Grand Slam winners.

“If we don’t improve, if we don’t take it up another level you’re not going to beat England, we can’t get lulled into this scenario ‘England are not as good as they were’, they are very capable.

“If Eddie Jones makes the changes, puts Owen Farrell into 10 and Te’o and Joseph into centre, that’s a serious midfield. If he picks some back row players, will be bring Simmons in?

“Don Armand the Exeter player, he’s very underrated and unheralded, he’s been fantastic for Exeter, he could start.

“I think that balance of Courtney Lawes, Robhsaw and Hughes, there all big strong men and the game has changes so much, we’ve seen it throughout this tournament, there’s a contest at every breakdown.”


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