The world champions, who have lost their opening two matches in the championship, flew out to Dublin on Thursday without flanker Lewis Moody who has an infected finger.

The Leicester man may join up with the rest of the team on Friay but his chances of playing are rated very slim by coach Andy Robinson.

Nevertheless skipper Robinson remains confident in the ability of his team to stop Irelands Grand Slam hopes dead in their tracks.

There is no lack of confidence in the team, the Sale Sharks star insisted.

We have had a good weeks training and we are all looking forward to the challenge.

If Moody is ruled out, Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell will move into the starting line-up with Sales Chris Jones taking his place on the replacements bench, but Robinson took it all in his stride.

We have had the injuries and everything else but I still believe in this team, the former Wigan rugby league star added.

Ive no doubts in my mind about this team. I know if we get our game right we will win the games. There is no doubt about it.

Robinson described the clash with Ireland as a massive challenge but, despite Englands slump, he has no regrets about stepping in as captain after Jonny Wilkinson - Lawrence Dallaglios original successor - was struck down by injury.

None at all. Its something I am enjoying despite our opening results, he insisted.
Robinson admitted it was hugely deflating to lose to Welsh and French sides who, by his own admission, were not playing particularly well.

He said: Thats probably one of the most disappointing things. As a team we know weve not performed well. In the last game against France we performed well for 40 minutes but 40 minutes is not good enough at this level.

The first game we lost by two points, the last game we lost by one point.

If we were losing these games by 10, 16 points, then you could say right, were not good enough but I feel we have got the team to win these games and it is by our own doing that we have lost, so we need to put the game together for 80 minutes.

Unfortunately we have not been able to do this thus far but I know the guys are more determined than ever to make sure that happens this weekend.