Class of 2011 must handle pressure the way we did in 2003

It wasn't pre-planned and that is a question every Irishman asks me because they believe we were playing mind games.

We signalled our intent and were not going to move; Johnno wasn't going anywhere and that was the attitude of the team. Now, he heads to Dublin as team manager, is improving every season, is growing with the players and appears far more relaxed in the role.

This is Ireland's first game against England at Lansdowne Road since it was rebuilt and they will want to prove this is "their" stadium but while both sides were going for the Grand Slam in 2003 only England are this time. For Ireland it's all about pride - they are not even going for a Triple Crown.

My gut feeling is that whoever handles the pressure best will win and while people will say it's all on England, the Irish will not want to lose having already been beaten at home by France in the RBS Six Nations. Their players have a point to prove and will play with the pride and passion they have always shown. Players such as Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell possess class and that talent runs through their team.

In 2003, it was the fourth time I was able to celebrate being part of a Grand Slam team but we had missed out the three previous seasons and those were tough lessons to learn.

It is amazing how it has all unfolded in the same way but when we travelled to Dublin we were ranked No1 in the world. What last weekend proved is that if you take any side lightly - as France discovered against Italy - you will come a cropper.

Are we getting carried away with this current England side? Talent and potential wise it's there but I am slightly worried that we had plenty of chances to put Scotland away and didn't do it. The Scots defended really well with good line speed which put them right into the faces of the England attackers and they didn't concede early tries, something which has happened in other games.

There weren't the same holes in the Scottish defence that France exploited in the opening round of matches and they kept up that intensity for the whole match. Johnno knows that with four wins in a row, there is still room for improvement and that's a good place to be, heading to Dublin.

Johnno's men haven't played the perfect game yet in the RBS Six Nations and when it does click into place, it will be like the magnitude of their win over Australia in November.

This England team have the ability to thump someone and I believe this is a high quality tournament with Italy almost beating Ireland, taking Wales close, overcoming France and only letting the game at Twickenham get away from them. It was their only bad day at the office and, overall, the standard of the championship has gone up.

One of England's strengths is their replacements bench and we have players who can come onto the pitch and make a real impact. For instance, Jonny Wilkinson came off the bench against France and kicked a penalty from 47metres - he is absolute class. Johnno wants a squad of players and is very close to having that as we build up to the Rugby World Cup.

Against Scotland, I was hoping Jonny was going to come on earlier to give the team more shape, but losing someone as experienced as Mike Tindall, you can understand the need to keep your other backline replacement ready in case of another injury.

Ireland are desperate to beat England and will be smarting after the loss to Wales in Cardiff with that controversial quick throw at the line-out that led to Mike Phillips's try. On Saturday, I guess a lot of our attacking play will be down their outside-half channel, using Shontayne Hape or the back row, but what is vital is that we go through the phases.

England had to win ugly against Scotland and now we want to see the team win well to put a marker down to the rest of the sport. They realised the cold, hard reality of what it takes to win a Test at Twickenham on Sunday and won't get plaudits for playing a lovely game and losing in Dublin. It's all about securing that important victory.

England should beat Ireland and with the World Cup looming, this final Six Nations match is all about finding a way to win and clinch the Grand Slam.

Leonard's view on England's last Grand Slam champions and the ones going for glory

Jason Leonard and the Evening Standard are supporting RBS RugbyForce, the community rugby programme that is improving club facilities across the nation. To find out more or register your rugby club for the RBS RugbyForce Weekend on 11 & 12 June, visit www.rbs.co.uk/rugbyforce