Gloucester lock David Attwood promised to meet Ireland A’s physical challenge head-on on Sunday as England Saxons go looking for revenge for their Churchill Cup final defeat.
The Saxons were left battered and bruised last summer as Ireland A overpowered them en-route to a convincing 49-22 victory.
Coach Stuart Lancaster responded to that defeat by drafting heavy hitters Attwood and Wasps’ George Skivington into the boiler room.
And Attwood says he is fully prepared to roll up their sleeves and get down and dirty.
He said: “We have a good week’s training and everyone is looking forward to getting out there and putting in a big performance.
“But we know that we need to be ready for a battle right from the off because Ireland are going to be a very physical side so we have to be prepared.
“They are always going to be a physical side so the first thing we need to do is win that battle before we think about playing. “If we don’t do that and get that right then we are going to be struggling so it’s very important. But that is not something I am worried about at all.
“The physical side of the game is part of the game that I enjoy and really relish so I won’t be backing away from that.
“It’s going to be a great day for me making my debut and I’ll have a few supporters in the crowd which will be great.
“I really feel like I have settled in well since I joined Glucester in the summer and so I was delighted to get the call up.”
Attwood is not the only England youngster to be given a chance to shine by Lancaster.
Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs forms an exciting half-back partnership with Shane Geraghty, who will be hoping for a better performance against Irish opposition after his horror show in the Heineken Cup against Munster last week.
Saracens tyros Alex Goode and Andy Saull are given the nod at full-back and No.7 respectively with clubmate Brad Barritt starting at centre.
