Ireland coach Schmidt eyes his ‘biggest win’ over England

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt believes if Six Nations champions Ireland defeat England at Lansdowne Road on Sunday it will be the team's biggest win since he took over in 2013.

Victory would also equal the best-ever win sequence of an Irish side at 10 tests.

However, the 49-year-old New Zealander - who has guided the Irish to eye-catching victories over southern hemisphere giants South Africa and Australia - said he was under no illusions how difficult it would be to beat the only other unbeaten side in the tournament.

England are on a good run of their own, having won four tests on the trot, and have in recent times been a bogey side for Ireland, inflicting their only loss of the last Six Nations - their fourth successive win over the Irish.

Schmidt admitted to being excited ahead of the game, which if the Irish win would set them fair for a third grand slam and also only the second time they will have successfully defended the title - the last occasion being the old Five Nations in 1949.

"It would be the biggest win we've had so far," said Schmidt. "Not only because of the year that it is in [the World Cup in September], but also for the players who have come into the squad. It would be great to give those players that confidence which comes with such a win."

Schmidt, though, concedes England are top quality opposition. "We are under no illusions that it's going to be a tough day against England, it always is," said Schmidt.

"They showed character and collectivity in the way they came back against Wales [in their opening match when they came back to win from 10-0 down to win 21-16]. England are high in confidence, performing at a very high level and tough to break down."

While England have been relatively flush with tries in their two victories Ireland have produced just two, both against Italy when the Italians were down to 14 men.