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 one in all 5 Northampton gamers behind the scrum.
England have been booed early within the second half towards 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 influence they made with the ball in hand.
“I don’t think our attack is as bad as everyone is saying it is,” Itoje informed reporters forward of Sunday’s conflict towards Italy on the Allianz Stadium.
“First recreation towards Eire, we scored three tries. Second recreation towards France we scored 4. Clearly we solely scored one final time towards Scotland, however that is not reflective of an assault that may’t even begin the engine.
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England lock Maro Itoje stated after the 26-25 win towards a proficient France staff that the victory was vindication of laborious work beforehand
“Do not get me mistaken, we need to enhance. We need to get higher at it. However I do not assume we’re ranging from a nasty place.
“We want options at the line. We want to go to where the space is. We want 15 players to be fully engaged in that. And we want to be courageous and brave with that.”
Italy go to England on Sunday in the hunt for 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.
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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 forward,” Itoje added. “In this competition, everyone is dangerous, everyone can cause teams problems.
“Italy’s recreation has been a bit up and down however they’ve proven either side of that. They’ve proven they’ll trigger groups numerous issues and so they will not be too pleased with their outcome towards France.
“We want to win. We want to win well. But to do that, we have to do all the tough stuff that rugby requires. It’s not going to be an easy game.”
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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’s not honest to criticise the aspect for an absence of aptitude.
“Fair or not, it’s quite an opinionated way to put it,” Curry informed Sky Sports activities Information. “You have got to look at it objectively in terms of them being two different games. That’s why there can’t be a comparison – it’s like comparing chalk and cheese. They’re almost two different sports.
Tom Curry will begin for England towards Italy on Sunday
“Do we want to play better? Do we want to attack better? Absolutely. But do we want to say, ‘let’s do it like the Premiership?’ No, it doesn’t work like that. We’re not naive at all but that’s the exciting bit. It’s where we can take it rather than a negativity.
“This is among the stepping stones. We have gone from the autumn – the place we have been dropping these video games – to now the place we’re profitable them. We all know the following step is to win them properly but it surely’s simpler stated than achieved.”
Jamie George, set for his 100th 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 sphere that we would like.
“I think this week has been more about us, focusing on us and how we can put our game plan on the field, regardless of what the opposition are doing. That requires us to be brave and that requires us to work really hard to get back behind the ball.
“We genuinely need to play a great, expansive, attacking recreation, and I am hoping that is what you see at Allianz this weekend.”
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