Eddie Jones is facing his most difficult period at the helm as his England team take on a dominant Ireland side following two successive Six Nations defeats, World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward says.
England lost consecutive matches under Jones for the first time after defeats by Scotland and France, with Saturday's 22-16 loss in Paris leading to Ireland being crowned as Six Nations champions.
Woodward, who led England to World Cup glory over Jones' Wallabies in 2003, said that there were "serious questions to answer" after the team's mediocre record of just two wins in the tournament.
"England face a very difficult week. Eddie Jones's honeymoon is over, he is about to experience the other side of being the England coach. The Six Nations is an unforgiving arena and they now face a rampant Ireland," Woodward wrote in his Daily Mail column.
"Lose that, which is very possible, and, as defending champions, England will have finished with only two victories. That is poor and unacceptable, given the investment in the team and their huge advantage in playing numbers and strength in depth.
"Jones has huge credit in the bank but these will be tricky times."
Woodward followed Jones and former captain Lawrence Dallaglio in criticising England's inability to maintain their discipline as they conceded 16 penalties to France, especially after making similar mistakes against Scotland.
"You are not going to beat any top-10 team in the world with a statistic like that, especially away from home," he added.
"I don't understand where England have been mentally in the last two games. They didn't react to (referee) Nigel Owens' interpretation of the breakdown two weeks ago and then on Saturday they didn't react and adapt.
"Yes, it can be difficult, but good teams learn to adapt quickly."
Ireland have previously denied England a grand slam and Woodward has urged the hosts to return the favour in Saturday's highly-anticipated fixture at Twickenham.
They will have to do it without Nathan Hughes and Courtney Lawes after the forwards were ruled out with knee injuries on Sunday.
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