Andy Robinson: Now Twelvetrees faces a real test as he bids to bring down O'Driscoll

By Andy Robinson

Published: 18:05 EST, 9 February 2013 | Updated: 19:28 EST, 9 February 2013

Games like Ireland against England in Dublin are what make the Six Nations such a unique and special tournament. I'm expecting it to be an absolutely cracking match between two highly committed and skilful teams.

Whoever wins is going to be two parts of the way towards a Grand Slam and favourite to lift the Six Nations Trophy, although I still expect Wales to have an influence on the overall outcome.

But, for now, let's just concentrate on the here and now because there are so many intriguing aspects that will decide the outcome in Dublin.

Will Manu get the message?

Brad Barritt has been an important cog in England's progression. If you look at it on a purely one-on-one basis then Manu Tuilagi would get the nod because of the power and threat he provides. But, by selecting Barritt, Lancaster has sent a clear message that nobody is guaranteed a place and that players who perform well will be rewarded.

Billy Twelvetrees made an impressive start against Scotland last week and deserves to retain his place. He will face the stiffest of midfield tests against the experience of Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy, but long term, I believe he has a bright international future.

Stern test: Billy Twelvetrees made an impressive debut against Scotland but now he faces Brian O'Driscoll

The selection of Barritt ahead of Tuilagi is similar to Dylan Hartley being left on the bench behind Tom Youngs. It challenges those players by saying: 'How are you going to respond?' Hartley responded well off the bench last week; now Tuilagi needs to respond in the same way.

It's great for England’s progression and a bold statement from Lancaster. I expect to see a fired-up Tuilagi when he comes on in the second half.

Put O'Driscoll on the back foot

I worked with Brian O'Driscoll on the 2001 and 2005 Lions tours and was immediately struck by his extraordinary competitiveness. You cannot help but admire the way he fights for absolutely everything.

He is fit and hungry and by not being captain he has been able to become a senior back bencher and focus on his own game.

Leader: O'Driscoll scored a try in Ireland's opening-day win in Cardiff

Picking up good vibrations!

With their sun-bleached hair and tanned skin, England’s newest rugby sensation Billy Twelvetrees and his three older brothers look more like Beach Boys than rugby lads. 

Billy, 24, twins Joseph and Matthew, now 25, and Jonathan, 27, used to visit the beach in Salcombe, Devon, during family trips from Sussex to their holiday home. 

But it was less a case of surf’s up and more getting stuck into a ruck on the sand. Their father, Kevin Twelvetrees, remembers jovial but competitive games.

‘We went to the beach with Ben Gollings (a former England Sevens player) and his family and we would always play rugby when the tide was out,’ he said.

‘It used to get quite serious. A family friend who was a part-owner of Leicester Lions pointed out that Billy looked good for his age and convinced him to go up for a trial.’

Sunday may be a more hostile environment when England run out in Dublin — but Billy will be hoping he is still getting good vibrations at the end of the game.

He turns over ball like a back-row forward and has such a low centre of gravity that he can break tackles and create space as well as anybody. He still has the pace to accelerate away and he is such a threat you need two players to stop him.

There isn't a weakness to O'Driscoll's game, but the way England can negate him is to stop him getting the ball on the front foot, and that must be the entire team's responsibility. Every England player must be committed to compete at the breakdown.

Don't choke it in the tackle, England

The tackle area is all important. Against Ireland you have to contend with the so-called 'choke tackle' and their ability to hold opponents up and create turnovers from mauls. Ireland will look to isolate the ball carrier and hold him up rather than putting the player to ground. They will look to get underneath the player, securing a vice-like grip, in order to hold the player up and trap the ball.

The 'choke' works when a ball carrier slows down going into contact or becomes isolated. The Irish will shout to the referee 'it's a maul', so they are managing the referee as well. England must use their leg strength and drive through the tackle, keeping body positions low to accelerate through the defender. You then need close support around you to smash the ball carrier through the tackle and prevent the tacklers from achieving the choke. Then to get quick ball you need to play it a second earlier than you normally would.

No armchair ride for Ben this time

England were able to play the way they did last week because they delivered quick ball. This is a different game and they will have a number of players against them who are exceptional at slowing the ball down. Players like O'Driscoll in midfield and O'Brien, Heaslip and Best up front.

If they're not slowing the ball down they'll be looking to target Ben Youngs. He won't get the armchair ride he got last week so again England must get close to the ball carrier to enable them to repeat the success they had against Scotland.

Target: Ben Youngs had a relatively straight-forward ride against Scotland but that will be different in Dublin

Play an off-loading game means there is always a risk of isolation, so all 15 players must be alert to the off-load. If they just go in ones or twos then they will lose the ball. There will be times to off-load but they have to win the collisions first.

Farrell must cope with the pressure

England are likely to get in the region of six to seven chances in this game. Owen Farrell has been so assured with his goal-kicking in the last two games at Twickenham but it will be an altogether more hostile experience playing in Dublin.

If he can kick his goals early and settle everybody down it will be so important to England's chances because they cannot expect to start the game as if they were finishing against Scotland last week. They must start afresh and build their way back into this match.

Having a player of Farrell's calibre and goal-kicking ability in their ranks should give England huge confidence. But even if he misses a couple of kicks it is important he continues to play the running game England are attempting, and having Billy Twelvetrees outside him will really help him.

Deadly: Owen Farrell's goal-kicking at Twickenham has been assured but a hostile Dublin will be a different test