England head coach Andy Robinson yesterday vowed his side will travel to Ireland determined to "get in their faces" and nail a first win of the Six Nations.

England opened their season with consecutive defeats to Wales and France and another loss in Ireland would register their worst run in the championship since 1987.

But the mood in the camp is one of fierce and bubbling determination and Robinson yesterday issued a rallying cry designed to shake Lansdowne Road to the foundations.

"Everybody is disappointed with what has happened and the criticisms that has been levelled. It is down to us, it is our responsibility," said Robinson.

"We know we can go to Ireland and win. We are not going to make up the numbers, we are going there to get in their faces. We are going there to play.

"We are not going there to watch Ireland play and be bridesmaids. We are going there to win."

England's preparations have been beset by problems all week - not least yesterday's training session, which was called off because of a frozen pitch - and an injury shadow hangs over the side Robinson named on Tuesday night.

Flanker Lewis Moody was taken to hospital yesterday to have an infected finger examined, which means Sale flanker Chris Jones has remained with the squad on stand-by. Gloucester's Andy Hazell would return to the starting line-up if Moody fails to make the game.

Robinson yesterday took the opportunity to address unequivocally all the criticism his side has taken since they trudged off after the 18-17 defeat to France.

He stressed that Charlie Hodgson, who missed three penalties and a drop goal in the defeat to France, will remain England's primary goalkicker.

"His state of mind is very good," said Robinson. "We were disappointed to have lost the France game in the way we did. He responded well last week with his goal-kicking for Sale and he will be No 1 goalkicker this week."

Robinson's pre-match words have been bold and they need to be. Ireland are favourites for the Grand Slam and have welcomed Brian O'Driscoll back from injury to captain the side.

Robinson is acutely aware that the best way to nullify Ireland's electric back division is to dominate field position and set-pieces, two areas where England have struggled this season.

Painfully slow ball gave them no attacking platform against Wales and led to ill-discipline at the breakdown in the France game, which Dimitri Yachvili duly exploited to win the game with six penalty kicks.

Robinson accepted the criticism but vowed England will take a confrontational, aggressive approach to the breakdown to ensure Ireland are kept on the back foot.

He said: "The key battle will be at the ruck; who dominates that? The last two games, we have had a lot of slow ball. We have been working hard at generating a blast at contact and our techniques, the number of people at breakdown and to win the ball dynamically," he said.

"If we can generate three or four phases of attacking play, we can create opportunities for ourselves, but we have got to be generating quick ball at the ruck."