NIGEL Davies has backed Jonny May to deliver in England's make-or-break Six Nations clash with Ireland tomorrow.
The Gloucester wing starts a third consecutive match for Stuart Lancaster's side and has not looked out of place with the Red Rose upon his chest.
Ireland are unbeaten in the Championship and can clinch the Triple Crown at Twickenham, while keeping their Grand Slam dreams alive.
May will line up against Dave Kearney, the most inexperienced member of Ireland's evergreen backline, and Davies reckons he will pass his latest test with flying colours.
Davies said: "I'm delighted for Jonny, I have a lot of time and regard for him, he works hard, is a very good professional and has all the qualities.
"He has that X-factor but his base game has improved tremendously over the last few years.
"He's looked very comfortable so far and this is another step up for him.
"There's a lot riding on it and he's going up against some quality players. It will be interesting to see how he goes but I have every faith and belief in him – he's starting to show the promise we all know he has.
"It will be a challenge for them against Ireland, particularly in the outside channels.
"The Irish backs will challenge England at the breakdown, Billy (Twelvetrees) will relish that confrontation and Jonny will have to step up in that area.
"I was anxious after his injury in the France game and it was really unfortunate for him because that game would have suited him.
"But he really showed up well in Scotland, which is a tough place to go.
"Time and time again he worked really hard off the ball to get it in his hands.
"I really hope he takes another step on the weekend and I'm sure he will."
Lancaster has made just one change to the England starting line-up with David Wilson coming into the front-row to replace crocked tight-head Dan Cole.
Meanwhile Ireland have named an unchanged outfit to the side that strangled the life from reigning champions Wales with Brian O'Driscoll passed fit to equal George Gregan's world record of 139 caps.
The Leinster legend will make his 131st appearance for the men from the Emerald Isle, in addition to his eight caps for the British and Irish Lions.
He will line up alongside Gordon D'Arcy and go head-to-head with Twelvetrees and Northampton Saints rookie Luther Burrell, who boasts two tries in two appearances.
O'Driscoll alone boasts more caps than the entire England backline combined but Stuart Lancaster is confident his midfield maestros will not become star-struck by the challenge at hand.
Lancaster said: "We respect the Ireland team full stop, he is a key part of that team but just one component.
"It's a very experienced team with more than 700 caps and he is one of those but there's others like the half-backs, Paul O'Connell in the second-row and Jamie Heaslip at number eight.
"Brian gets our respect because of what he's achieved as a player but no more so than anyone else in the Ireland team."
England: M Brown (Harlequins); J Nowell (Exeter), L Burrell (Northampton), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester), J May (Gloucester); O Farrell (Saracens), D Care (Harlequins); J Marler (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), T Wood (Northampton), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola (Saracens).Replacements: T Youngs (Leicester), M Vunipola (Saracens), H Thomas (Sale), D Attwood (Bath), B Morgan (Gloucester), L Dickson (Northampton), G Ford (Bath), A Goode (Saracens).
Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); A Trimble (Ulster), B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, D Kearney (all Leinster); J Sexton (Racing Metro), C Murray (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross, D Toner (both Leinster), P O'Connell (capt), P O'Mahony (both Munster), C Henry (Ulster), J Heaslip (Leinster).Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath, M Moore (all Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), J Murphy, I Boss (both Leinster), P Jackson (Ulster), F McFadden (Leinster).
