Ireland’s rugby team are so good at the moment that if World Cup semi-finalists England are to have any hope of beating them in the Six Nations this weekend they would need Ireland to play with 13 or 14 players – so says former Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip.

Ireland have conquered everything in front of them in the Six Nations this season, claiming bonus point wins in each of their three victories.

As they look for a second consecutive Grand Slam it is England who stand in front of them this weekend, but Heaslip doesn’t think that there is much that will stop Andy Farrell’s charges. As it stands England are winless in their past four meetings with Ireland.

Speaking to the Rugby Union Daily podcast Heaslip, who played 95 times for Ireland, said: “I haven’t seen what the bookies are saying, but in order for England to win, Ireland have to go down to like 14 or 13 players and I think England need a couple of trick plays up their sleeve.

“They only know winning,” he added. “It’s a pretty powerful mindset coming into it and fills them with confidence. It kind of reminds me of that Richie McCaw-Dan Carter side with New Zealand.

“That period from 2007 to the 2015 World Cup when they were just so, so dominant.

“It builds a bit of a flywheel momentum for these guys. They don’t take anything for granted, that’s for sure.

“Andy Farrell won’t let them take anything for granted. But they’re not fearful of going to Twickenham now, but they should definitely understand the history between the two sides.

“Farrell is definitely one of the best people to remind them of that,” he said.

England versus Ireland at Twickenham kicks off on Saturday evening at 18:45.