Ireland won their first two games of the warm-up series but stuttered against Wales in the Aviva Stadium last week, with the visitors coming away with a

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After today’s Captains Run O’Connell was asked if he was he worried about a loss of momentum as a result of the defeat.

“It’s not so much about momentum,” he answered. “There are certain things that we need to do well to play well.

“We’ve been quite successful over the last few years when we’ve stuck to a few principles that we have and worked really hard at them and managed to produce them on the big days.

“We didn’t do that last week.”

O’Connell was more interested in seeing Ireland’s play develop and learn from all four Summer Series games, rather than focus on one result.

“There were a number of things we’d like to do better, probably things we’d brought in from the Scotland game that we’d like to have done better in that game as well,” he explained.

“So being able to correct that balance; if we can do that I think we’ll get good performances.”

Paul O’Connell leading the Ireland players as they prepared for the match against England.

O’Connell was also asked about head coach Joe Schmidt’s suggestion during the week that he had

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The Limerick lock, who will retire from international duty at the end of the World Cup, was unrepentant and gave his reasons for looking for game time.

“I think everyone wants to play in this game, first and foremost for what it is,” he acknowledged.

“And I think having had a few month off guys want to accumulate that match fitness, that match sharpness.

“I’d be one of those.”

Ireland prepared for their final warm-up game with the Captains Run today at Twickenham Stadium.