Preview: Ireland's focus must be inward against England

With a losing run, and fires being put out both on and off the field, this is the last game the Greg McWilliams will have wanted.

Just over four weeks ago Ireland were preparing for a Six Nations campaign in high spirits.

Even with an inexperienced squad, and their Sevens stars unavailable, the prevailing emotion was one of hope as they geared up for their first season with a professional XVs setup.

Without being disrespectful, winning this game against England was never realistically on the cards given the contrasting stages of development these two sides are at, but it would have been earmarked as a match in which Ireland's young prospects could take a free shot at the defending champions, ahead of what they hoped would be a chance of a top-half finish in the championship.

But after three defeats from three, and just 15 points scored along the way, this game has suddenly taken on an altogether different narrative.

Twelve months ago Ireland were beaten 69-0 by the Red Roses in Leicester, having put up a valiant first-half performance. This week's build-up has been dominated by talk of a potential championship record scoreline, with England threatening to surpass their 89-0 mark which they set against Scotland in 2011.

Suggestions of a record defeat, or even England breaking the 100-point barrier, haven't gone down well in the Irish camp.

"This stuff about a record score, and not playing the game, it's just very insulting to us as players who go out every day and put everything into this Irish jersey," said flanker Dorothy Wall (below) on Tuesday.

"All the talk of that sort of stuff does nothing for us."

The 22-year-old was in a determined and passionate mood when she spoke to the media, but an ankle injury picked up against