Six Nations Championship: John O'Sullivan and Reggie Corrigan recall the day Ireland crashed the world champions' party

Two years ago it spawned a rash of chariot jibes as Ireland derailed the newly-crowned world champions in what was expected to be a glorious homecoming party thrown by the England rugby team. No one countenanced an Irish victory but the visitors' 19-13 triumph was as merited as it was unexpected.

That occasion is given added resonance in the context of Saturday's Six Nations Championship match at Twickenham between the same protagonists.

Expectation can be a millstone - it certainly has been for Ireland teams in the past - and if Eddie O'Sullivan's team require an illustration, then a reference to their last visit to London and the fate of their hosts would be apposite. Ireland arrived having suffered at the hands of France so the sub-plots thicken.

Reggie Corrigan has accomplished many things during his career but that March afternoon in 2004 remains particularly cherished.

"I have many memories, most of which actually don't concern the match directly," he says. "We were billeted in the countryside and the training ground was surrounded by woodlands. There was a touch of a conspiracy theory that we were being watched so we curtailed most of our moves.

"I remember chatting to Breffni O'Hagan, a friend, who told me England were 8 to 1 on to win the match. I thought these were unbelievable odds for what was essentially a two-horse race and told him training had gone really well. I had an inkling we might do well. He won a substantial amount of money."

Unencumbered by expectation, Ireland sat back bemused by the pressure media and supporters heaped on Clive Woodward's England. "It was their first home game since winning the World Cup and an opportunity to show off the trophy to their supporters. We were just the supporting cast."

Corrigan recalls a particularly passionate pre-game speech by O'Sullivan who pointed out the English team didn't respect Ireland and asked if the Irish players were content to be dismissed and disparaged.

"It was a pretty emotional Irish dressingroom. We were really fired up, determined to show the pride we had in our country and ourselves.

"We were a little nervous but soon settled and things just started to feel right. There were moments like Mal's (Malcolm O'Kelly) tackle (on England hooker Mark Regan) that saved a certain try. Jason Robinson danced around me in midfield only to be hand-tripped from behind by Peter Stringer and on another occasion we were penalised as a frontrow under the posts.

"There was no fear, though, at any stage. We knew they were struggling, could feel the unease and knew (Steve) Thompson was rattled badly when it came to the lineouts."

The snapshots come flooding back: Girvan Dempsey's try in the corner, Gordon D'Arcy's line breaks and Brian O'Driscoll and Lawrence Dallaglio embroiled in a private dispute.

"I dropped to my knees at the final whistle, totally and utterly shattered and trying to get my head around having beaten the world champions on their home patch. Clive Woodward came into our dressingroom afterwards, spoke graciously, congratulating us on a game he said we deserved to win.

"Myself, Shane Byrne and John Hayes sat beside each other, too tired to smile. The journey back to the hotel took about an hour and a half. There was no police escort. When we got to the official dinner I couldn't believe the numbers. They were the biggest I had ever seen at an official function.

"They came to celebrate with the world champions and we ended up crashing the party.

"The Webb Ellis trophy was on the top table and they had a brass band to pipe in the teams. The champagne flowed and in fairness, the English players couldn't have been more gracious. I remember pulling pints alongside Shane Horgan and Victor Costello in a bar owned by Steve Butler, heading to a nightclub and then back to a party at Patrick Kielty's house alongside Dallaglio and supermodel Jodie Kidd until four or five in the morning. We were A-list celebrities for a night."

Corrigan would love to see the present team leave their mark on Twickenham. "Personally, I'm confident, even allowing for the fact there will be an English backlash following Paris. England are having a bad season, (Andy) Robinson is under pressure and this match will be seen as a defining moment in many of the players' careers.

"Ireland need to weather the first 20 minutes and be every bit as physical and committed."

Corrigan won't be in Twickenham instead enjoying a quiet weekend "a-deux" in the west.

He'll be watching, though.