Maro Itoje has hit again at critics of England’s assault as they search for a powerful end to the Guinness Six Nations.
Steve Borthwick’s aspect stay in title rivalry however they sit fourth within the try-scoring desk behind France, Eire and Scotland, having crossed solely eight instances in three video games.
To reinvigorate his backline, Borthwick has axed Marcus Smith and Henry Slade and given begins to Elliot Daly and Fraser Dingwall, who’s considered one of 5 Northampton gamers behind the scrum.
England had been booed early within the second half in opposition to Scotland a fortnight in the past due to the quantity of field kicking, with 2003 World Cup winner Will Greenwood amongst those that criticised the dearth of impression they made with the ball in hand.
“I do not suppose our assault is as unhealthy as everyone seems to be saying it’s,” Itoje informed reporters forward of Sunday’s conflict in opposition to Italy on the Allianz Stadium.
“First recreation in opposition to Eire, we scored three tries. Second recreation in opposition to France we scored 4. Clearly we solely scored one final time in opposition to Scotland, however that is not reflective of an assault that may’t even begin the engine.
England lock Maro Itoje mentioned after the 26-25 win in opposition to a proficient France workforce that the victory was vindication of exhausting work beforehand
“Do not get me improper, we need to enhance. We need to get higher at it. However I do not suppose we’re ranging from a foul place.
“We wish choices on the line. We need to go to the place the area is. We wish 15 gamers to be absolutely engaged in that. And we need to be brave and courageous with that.”
Italy go to England on Sunday in quest of a primary victory within the fixture, having misplaced all 31 earlier encounters, with the Azzurri getting into the match on the again of being demolished 73-24 by France.
England’s Alex Mitchell and Fraser Dingwall react to the information that full-back Marcus Smith has been dropped for his or her upcoming Six Nations conflict with Italy
“This week is about taking a step ahead,” Itoje added. “On this competitors, everyone seems to be harmful, everybody may cause groups issues.
“Italy’s recreation has been a bit up and down however they’ve proven either side of that. They’ve proven they will trigger groups a whole lot of issues they usually will not be too pleased with their end result in opposition to France.
“We need to win. We need to win effectively. However to do this, now we have to do all of the powerful stuff that rugby requires. It isn’t going to be a simple recreation.”
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Curry dismisses criticism of England’s model
England’s two victories have come by a mixed margin of two factors and their rugby has typically been removed from free-flowing, however Tom Curry insists it isn’t honest to criticise the aspect for a scarcity of aptitude.
“Honest or not, it is fairly an opinionated solution to put it,” Curry informed Sky Sports activities Information. “You’ve got to take a look at it objectively when it comes to them being two completely different video games. That is why there cannot be a comparability – it is like evaluating chalk and cheese. They’re virtually two completely different sports activities.
Tom Curry will begin for England in opposition to Italy on Sunday
“Can we need to play higher? Can we need to assault higher? Completely. However can we need to say, ‘let’s do it just like the Premiership?’ No, it does not work like that. We’re not naive in any respect however that is the thrilling bit. It is the place we will take it moderately than a negativity.
“This is among the stepping stones. We have gone from the autumn – the place we had been shedding these video games – to now the place we’re successful them. We all know the subsequent step is to win them effectively but it surely’s simpler mentioned than finished.”
Jamie George, set for his a centesimal England cap this weekend, added: “I believe the way in which that the video games have performed out have meant that we’ve not essentially been in a position to put the sport plan on the sector that we wish.
“I believe this week has been extra about us, specializing in us and the way we will put our recreation plan on the sector, no matter what the opposition are doing. That requires us to be courageous and that requires us to work actually exhausting to get again behind the ball.
“We genuinely need to play an excellent, expansive, attacking recreation, and I am hoping that is what you see at Allianz this weekend.”
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