Every show needs a pantomime villain and tonight on Off The Ball's roadshow at the Mansion House, Neil Back was happy to oblige and join in the fun.
The former England flanker was on stage alongside our guest presenter Brian O'Driscoll and Keith Wood, and looking ahead to this Sunday's Six Nations clash between Ireland and England, Back believes that the experience of Jonny Sexton and Conor Murray will have a bearing on Sunday's match.
"If Ireland were to win on Sunday, and with the half-back pairing, I think it gives them the edge. Obviously with the heart, I'm going to say England. But with my head I'm thinking [Ireland's] half-back pairing will be the difference," he said.
"I think up front it will be pretty even. In the contact area, two competitive back-rowers. So I think it will be tight, but you'll get the edge."
Back also looked back at some of the close calls he and England endured as they chased Grand Slams, but also his controversial actions for Leicester Tigers in the 2002 Heineken Cup final against Munster when he knocked the ball from Peter Stringer's hand before the put-in to a scrum.
"[Stringer] is playing 12 or 13 years later and he's never let that happen to him again. So in terms of skill development, I've helped not only helped Munster, Ireland and Bath. He's a better player for that," he joked, although he said his actions were not premeditated.
Brian, Keith and Back were also joined on stage by tonight's other guests Andrew Trimble, Gerry Thornley, Mick Galwey and Kevin Maggs to predict how Sunday's game will go, while Off The Ball revealed the winner of our listeners' choice for the favourite Irish try against England.
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