Sat, Mar 29, 2003 page20

• England, Ireland tilt in Grand Slam decider

  • AP
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  After three near misses, now could be the time for England to win that elusive Six Nations Grand Slam.

  With the World Cup just seven months away, Martin Johnson's star-studded team would then travel to the finals in the knowledge that it has also beaten New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

  Since the last World Cup, where England lost in the quarterfinals to South Africa, Johnson's men have won 30 out of 34 tests. Three of the losses were in matches with the Grand Slam on the line.

  That's why a victory over Ireland at Lansdowne Road tomorrow, when the Irish also will be chasing their first Grand Slam since 1948, would be such a confidence booster heading into the World Cup in Australia.

  ``We know what's happened the last three or four years and we are determined not to let it happen again. It's as simple as that,'' said England captain Martin Johnson.

  ``It's been disappointing and I'm sure everyone's disappointed. I'm sure the fans are and we just want to put it right. But generally in rugby you get what you deserve.

  ``We are away from home in a hostile environment and it's a very good team we are playing against. If we don't play well they could not only beat us but beat us well. We've got to produce something of the order of what we've produced all season,'' Johnson said.

  ``There's no magic little button you press. It's just hard work. A Grand Slam is a Grand Slam, and it would be great to do it in World Cup year to go as European champions.''

  While England has strolled to victories over France, Italy, Wales and Scotland, the Irish come off a last-gasp 25-24 victory over the Welsh in Cardiff, where Ronan O'Gara kicked a matchwinning drop goal deep into injury time.

  Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll, one of the best centers in world rugby, admitted that scare might just be the warning that his team needed to raise its game against the English.

  ``We've fought through for 80 minutes and sometimes 90 minutes in games to beat off sides when it looked as though we were going to lose at the death,'' he said.

  ``So I think to be playing not at our best but still winning gives us an awful lot of confidence.

  ``We know that when we do hit our top form then we're capable of beating anyone in the world and we'll need to have that if we're going to beat England.''

  His partner at center, Kevin Maggs, hopes to celebrate a first Irish Grand Slam for 55 years while making his 50th appearance. He says all the pressure will be on England.

  ``Let's not forget England have beaten everyone at Twickenham, including all the southern hemisphere teams. They are the number one ranked team in the world right now, but they lost the last time they were in Dublin,'' Maggs said.

  ``The last four years, when they have been up for the Grand Slam they have failed at the final hurdle. So we hope that won't be different this year.''

  Today -- before Ireland and England face each other in Dublin for the Six Nations title, Grand Slam and Triple Crown -- last year's champion France plays Wales in Paris and Scotland hosts Italy in Edinburgh.

  The Welsh look almost certain to finish last while France, four points from four games, are in a good position to hold onto third place.
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