Tipperary's Alan Quinlan predicts easy victory for Irish rugby team against England

Ireland will "batter" England when the teams meet at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm), as the build-up to next month's Rugby World Cup continues.

That's according to former Irish international Alan Quinlan, who says that England's preparation has been "a disaster" since coach Eddie Jones left.

Speaking to LuckyBlock.com the Tipperary man says "Ireland are 15-20 points better than England. England have dished up two very average performances against Wales. They will get better but need to and quickly.

"Ireland will have far too much for England in Dublin.

"That’s amazing to say when you think about where England should be. Their whole preparation has been a disaster with Eddie Jones going.

"The rugby World Cup cycle has been badly managed and run on so many levels by England and this England side has hit a brick wall for the last two years.

"Unless they find something out of the ordinary they are not going to have a successful World Cup".

Quinlan says he was "shocked" that England's Owen Farrell escaped a ban after receiving a red card for a high tackle against Wales, which would have ruled him out for the upcoming World Cup. 

"I think there will be a real backlash to this. I am sure he is very relieved, as are England. It is a total contradiction, what the panel is saying, what the TMO was saying and what the pictures are showing.

"But it is what it is. It is a boost for England. As I've said before Owen isn't a dirty player, he is aggressive and physical,  but he has got to be very careful going forward on the type of tackles he is putting in. He has to go much lower. The upright tackles have got to be eradicated from the game and that's the whole reason they are being scrutinised so much. 

"It has cropped up again. It is a real issue. It was really grim. This is a flaw in his game and will cause England a problem just at the time they need togetherness. Owen has never shirked away from physical challenges. It is the bloodline from his dad, hard as nails.

"I am not sure why his technique has always been high and maybe it has come from the rugby league breeding and it is causing him problems. You have got to protect the players; their behaviours and techniques have got to change. It was very hard to mitigate against. He put in a heavy shot and made contact in the head. That just can’t happen".

Alan Quinlan goes on to say that Ireland are in a good place but cannot be complacent.

"Ireland are in a good place. We haven’t seen their big guns yet. We will see ten or eleven of the perceived first team starting against England. You can’t judge Ireland on the Italy game.

"It is a big game and of course they will want to win but it is not a necessity they do with a wide expansive free flowing game. They don't need it.

"What they have served up in the last 18 months as regards their attacking game has been very good. Ireland will hold a little bit back in terms of their attack on Saturday. They will not be showing their full hand.

"The only concern I would have is that most people could pick the Ireland 15 on paper. 

"Might that lead to any complacency with players? That’s me trying to find some chink in the armour. It is always a mental challenge when you are in a good place where you don’t drop your standards. I am sure they are very aware of that".