England face Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday in the pivotal encounter of Group A in the Autumn Nations Cup.

Here, the PA news agency examines five talking points heading into the fixture.

Irish softies

Ireland have been described
Ireland have been described as “softies” (Brian Lawless/PA)

United Nations of Ireland

War on the floor

Sam Underhill (left) and Tom Curry (middle) will target the breakdown
Sam Underhill (left) and Tom Curry (middle) will target the breakdown (Adam Davy/PA)

Ambition please

Putting smiles on the faces of fans watching the Autumn Nations Cup at home amid the gloom of a second lockdown has been a mantra for England since they entered camp for the first time in mid-October, but monotone wins against Italy and Georgia will not have captured imaginations. Ireland is a fixture with the capacity to ignite the campaign but for that to happen there must be a so far unseen intent to expand horizons beyond an unrelenting kicking game and set-piece dominance.

Caps wipeout

Owen Farrell (right) and Ben Youngs are veteran half-backs
Owen Farrell (right) and Ben Youngs are veteran half-backs (Andrew Matthews/PA)

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