British and Irish Lions

The Irish mission is tough enough, given England's world champion status and a ten-match winning run stretching back to last summer.

But England are also back on home soil for the first time in a Test match since last November's stunning World Cup triumph Down Under.

And losing at Twickenham is not something they experience too often.

It hasn't happened in international rugby since the 1999 World Cup, when an Andrew Mehrtens-inspired New Zealand triumphed 30-16.

Since then, England have gone 22 Tests unbeaten, while their last home defeat in Five or Six Nations rugby was so long ago - 1997 - that Britain had a Conservative Government.

No-one doubts that Ireland will provide the stiffest examination of England's RBS 6 Nations campaign, and red rose supremo Sir Clive Woodward has conceded that his players must step up a gear following away victories over Italy and Scotland.

The Irish, with centre genius Brian O'Driscoll now fully recovered from injury, and a pack that steam-rollered Wales into submission last time out, are good enough to push England hard.

But Woodward and company like nothing more than a challenge, and it would be no surprise if England produced their best display for several months.

A Twickenham full house will demand it, and England have a tendency to deliver when it really matters.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.

Check out the video from the day the HSBC Cubs met The British & Irish Lions at the Vale of Glamorgan in a day they will remember for the rest of their lives.