Eddie O'Sullivan believes Ireland are just fundamentally a better team than England.

The two sides face each other in the opening Six Nations weekend in Dublin.

The former Ireland head coach says England won't be able to beat Joe Schmidt's Irish by "playing rugby".

"If you pick the best 15 players over the two squads, I think England might get two on our team," he said.

"We're a better rugby team"

"You could argue they might get Billy Vunipola and Maro Itoje. So really, we are a better team than them. For that reason, Eddie [Jones'] hands are tied with his back-row. He doesn't have an openside. Sam Underhill was his get-out-of-jail card but he's gone. His centre partnership again, he wants [Owen] Farrell on the field but he's used him more at 12 than 10 - even though Farrell is his best 10. But he doesn't have an outside centre."

Eddie expects Jones to consequently go physical in the English approach against Ireland.

"I don't think he can beat us playing rugby," Eddie continued.

"I think we're a better rugby team. And then the pack he has has physicality written all over it. So I would think it's going to be hugely physical."

With Ireland able to match England physically, he believes Jones has "a lot of headaches coming into Dublin."

Eddie also discussed whether Rob Kearney should start against England.

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