Mettle detector exposes the Celtic fault lines

When the Welsh finally put their minds to it they came up with some good performances and encouraging results in the Heineken European Cup. But they still have plenty to learn from the English clubs about how to create the same intensity week after week.

Leicester's narrow victory over Llanelli was one of the best games I have seen in ages, but while I sympathised with Llanelli for coming away empty-handed I felt that the English side were more accustomed to handling the pressures of such a match.

Llanelli don't face a challenge as big as that every week but Leicester do, and the experience shows.

In England the top clubs cannot afford their form to fluctuate from match to match. They have to keep up a high standard if they are to succeed. If the top three or four Welsh clubs played in England, as once we hoped, the Welsh game would be much stronger.

All we can hope is that they get stuck into the Celtic and the Welsh/Scottish leagues with more enthusiasm in future. It is no good waiting for the European Cup to come along.

You might manage to raise your game for one or two matches but you need to maintain that higher level over a longer period, and the English clubs are more geared up for that than the Welsh.

A severe examination of Welsh rugby will come at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday when they play Ireland. The game may have lost much of its significance after Ireland's dismal defeat at Murrayfield two weeks ago, but it still means a lot to both countries.

The Irish provinces have had a great start to the season and have shown the intensity that I am talking about. No one knows where it disappeared to at Murrayfield, but you can expect to see it come flooding back at Cardiff.

While the pressure will be on Ireland to wipe out the memory of their last outing, Wales and their coach, Graham Henry, will probably be under greater strain.

The win over Romania was a comfortable run-out, but the sort of criticism Henry has been attracting since the Lions tour – and a leading member of the Welsh Rugby Union was at it last week – will only be dispelled by a victory over an ancient rival. Ireland will be slight favourites but I don't expect there to be much in it, although the news that Scott Quinnell has broken down in training is a big blow.

I would play him if he is anywhere near fit, even if he was unable to play for Llanelli against Perpignan on Friday. Ball carriers are essential against Ireland, and he is the best.

Wales have already lost Scott Gibbs from that department and we still don't know who will fill his place at inside-centre. I would move Gareth Thomas from the wing to play alongside Allan Bateman as left and right centres. They are both capable of wrapping up Brian O'Driscoll and can get Wales over the advantage line. This means Stephen Jones returning to No 10, which is the sensible move.

Apart from his kicking steadiness he is the sort of physical player to put opposite Ronan O'Gara, who I presume will keep his place. The Irish may, however, go for Peter Stringer at scrum-half instead of Guy Easterby, because Stringer gets the back row moving.

Kevin Morgan at full-back and Dafydd James on the left wing pick themselves, and I would like to see Rhys Williams replace Gareth Thomas on the Welsh right wing. It would certainly help his confidence.

The front five looked very solid against Romania. David Young is playing very well, as is Robbie McBride, and Chris Wyatt seems to be right back on form. It is very important that they get the basics right and establish some genuine domination that the back row of Colin Charvis, Brett Sinkinson and Geraint Lewis can exploit.