After narrow defeats to Wales and France in their opening two encounters, the world champions are under pressure to raise their game but Robinson has taken the setbacks in his stride.

''You have to be prepared for criticism. We knew all along that if England lose it was going to come my way, and rightly so. I'm the head coach,'' Robinson said.

''The only place you are going to turn it round is on the training pitch and in the next game. You are not going to turn it round by harking back to the past. You have to look forward.

''The message is clear. We are setting ourselves up with the belief to win this game. We've had two tough matches and we've only played in fits and starts. We need to put a performance together.''

England's disappointing second-half performance against France last time out, when they relinquished a 17-6 interval, does not auger well for their chances of toppling an Irish side unbeaten in six starts this season.

Once again, injuries have forced Robinson's selection hand, with Phil Vickery following his fellow tighthead prop Julian White on to the casualty list and flanker Lewis Moody highly unlikely to feature because of a septic finger that has required hospital treatment.

Bath's Matt Stevens will make his first RBS 6 Nations start as replacement for Vickery, and Gloucester openside Andy Hazell stands by to take over from Moody, with Sale Sharks forward Chris Jones joining the bench contingent.

''We knew it was a tough series of matches, and Sunday is a huge game, but that's why we are in the sport. You are here to take on the challenges to your ability,'' said Robinson.

''They (Ireland) have won two out of two, they're playing the English, it's their first game at home and they are going to want to perform.

''Ireland are very adept in their tactics, and their home record is outstanding, so I am not even thinking about what happened here in 2003,'' added Robinson, in reference to England's stunning 42-6 victory over Ireland at Lansdowne Road that clinched the title as Grand Slam champions.

''I am not into sentiment, and that game is not relevant now.

''What is important is that you must get your tactics right against Ireland, ahead of all the other sides in the championship, because they are one of the most streetwise packs in world rugby.

''I don't want to go on about how well we trained, because we trained well before Wales and France and we lost. It's about performing on the day, about what we do on Sunday.

''We just have to improve the win percentages. That will make a big difference for us. We have lost games because of small margins of error that we inflict on ourselves, and we have just got to get those things right - the line-out and contact areas.''