Bernard Jackman says safety concerns ahead of Ireland's Women’s Six Nations clash with England are valid as the two sides are at the opposite ends of their development.
This is the first season that the Irish squad has been operating with professional contracts and based out of the IRFU's high performance centre, while a number of players ply their trade in England's Premier 15s league.
World number one side England, meanwhile, are a fully professional outfit and reached the World Cup final last year, a tournament that Ireland failed to qualify for.
Greg McWilliams' starting team for Saturday's match in Cork has a combined caps tally of 185 versus 485 on the English side. Ireland's bench has 57 caps worth of experience, while England's replacements have 209.
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"It could be unsafe, to be honest, in some way," the former Ireland and Leinster hooker told RTÉ 2fm's Game On.
"It's just a deficit of power. This isn't about the women's game.
"When I commented on this year on Ireland Under-20s against Scotland U-20s, I felt that was unsafe, so it's not unique to men's or women's sport.
"That Scotland Under-20s team didn't look to be anywhere near as physically well developed as the Irish team. They got a hammering [82-7] but also there were a few injuries, a few big injuries.
"That's where the worry is. This English team have been in physical development programmes for a long time.
"They are just bigger, stronger, faster.
"It's a big statement to make, 'it's unsafe', but there definitely is going to be a huge physical advantage to one team and this is a contact sport so that does make it a bit of a risk.
"Obviously, I hope there are no injuries and that Ireland can be competitive but if you are being logical about it it's going to be a very difficult day."
McWilliams, whose side are missing back row Dorothy Wall (above) through injury, says his focus is on the performance but added that he had to believe that Ireland, beaten in all three rounds so far, could win the game.
"I think we can [win]," said the head coach.
"I think with anything when you are preparing for battle you have to go out and be confident no matter what you are doing.
"It would not be right to say otherwise. We don’t think about results.
"It would be the same with any team that I have every coached that if we get our process right that’s the most important thing. Whatever happens after that is the result of how prepared you are, how well planned you are against a challenge.
"There is no doubt that England are a tremendous side but our job is to put a plan in place to make us competitive and then you just need to see what happens when you are out there.
"Sport is a wonderful thing, our job is to be as competitive as possible. It’s always the way."
Watch Ireland v England in Women's Six Nations on Saturday from 2.15pm, follow a live blog on the RTÉ News app or RTÉ.ie/Sport with live commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
Watch France v Wales in Women's Six Nations on Sunday from 3.15pm on RTÉ Player.
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