Ire versus England - RTÉ 2 Saturday Aug 19th 17.30pm

I really don't know what state England rugby is in. The manner of their win against Wales takes some of the pressure off them - but if the One Pumpers annihilate the Welsh this afternoon then they'll be under a bit more pressure for a result.

Ireland I think are fine. I don't think the players seem too stressed, there is a confidence coming across in the interviews and the team picked looks strong with plenty of bench impact. I don't think these games are important - but when we've suffered in the warm ups we've suffered in World Cups so we do actually need to impress this evening and honestly it's a game we should be winning by a score.

I'm not sure England have the hard carriers for their style of play and I hope I'm not proven wrong. Vunipola isn't the wrecking ball he was, they've additional ballast with Lawes at 6 but of their front five I really only rate Genge as being standout in delivering gainline.

Tuilagi and Stuart give them a bit of extra go forward but overall it's not an intimidating England pack and I question if they've got the play makers in the backs to make up for it. I would only consider starting Daly at 15 but Stuart doesn't have the versatility so Daly goes to wing where he's wasted in my opinion. Tuilagi is a great option for Ford to have outside him, but you would wonder how much hands Daly will get on the ball in phase play and whilst the England set piece has been solid enough they haven't shown much capacity to use it as an attacking platform bar the Maul.

Both teams have highlighted the breakdown so the clear-outs are going to be fierce, that's my main concern from an injury POV.

A few of the Irish lads need big games. 1 - 7 are nailed on but Prendergast needs to have a very lively performance to show that he's the right man for backrow cover. Coombes is waiting in the long grass with a keyboard army at the ready so Prendergast has to take this chance or the debate will rage on. And on. And on.

Byrne needs a big game and I suspect he'll make way early enough for Crowley. In what capacity that happens I don't know, you could see Byrne moving to 12 and Aki moving to 13 or a straight swap at 10. I wouldn't be massively surprised to see Crowley come in at 12 or 15 either.

Gibson Park is another who needs a good outing. Murray had an excellent second half of the season and Casey is constantly improving. Park played some great rugby last year but had a poor final against La Rochelle where his decision making and in particular his execution let him down. I'd have had him nailed on starter earlier in the season and I suspect he's still first choice but am certainly less confident about it.

On the bench I think Bealham is safe as houses as is Doris and Murray. I don't know if Earls makes the cut but his selection for this evening puts him ahead of Stockdale for me in the pecking. Similarly I think this confirms Herring is next in line after Sheehan and possibly ahead of Kelleher with the latter's absence now a concern. I rate Herring and wouldn't be concerned starting a RWC final with him at 2 but I hope Sheehan stays fit.

McCarthy has probably done enough and Loughman has an opportunity to force a last minute decision on 3rd choice loosehead, particularly if he gets a decent chunk of time.

Interesting day of rugby ahead all the same. Ireland and South Africa will know a bit more about each other by the close of business!

@sydthebeat