Maro Itye has returned to critics of England’s attack while seeking a strong conclusion for Guinness Six Nations.
Steve Borthwick’s side remains in the quarrel of titles, but they sit in fourth place at the exam table behind France, Ireland and Scotland, having passed only eight times in three games.
To regenerate his backward line, Borthwick has allocated Marcus Smith and Henry Slade and giving the beginnings of Elliot Daly and Fraser Dingwall, who is one of the five Northampton players after the scrum.
England withdrew early in the second half against Scotland two weeks ago due to the amount of box stroke, with the 2003 World Greenwood World Cup winner among those who criticized the lack of influence they made with the ball.
“I don’t think our attack is so bad that everyone says it is,” he told journalists before Sunday’s clash against Italy at Allianz Stadium.
“The first match against Ireland, we scored three attempts. The second match against France we scored four. Of course we have only scored against Scotland, but this is not a reflective of an attack that cannot even start the engine.
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England’s blocking Maro Itje said after winning 26-25 against a talented team of France that victory was the excuse of previously tireless work
“Don’t go wrong, we want to improve. We want to improve in it. But I don’t think we’re starting from a bad place.
“We want options on the line. We want to go where the space is. We want 15 players to be completely engaged in it. And we want to be brave and bold with it.”
Italy visits England on Sunday in search of a first match in the match, having lost all the previous 31 meetings, with Azzurri entering the match at the back of the 73-24 destruction from France.
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England’s Alex Mitchell and Fraser Dingwall respond to news that Marcus Smith full has been thrown for their next six nations clash with Italy
“This week is about taking a step forward,” Iteje added. “In this competition, everyone is dangerous, everyone can cause team problems.
“Italy’s game has been a little and down, but they have shown both sides of this. They have shown that they can cause many problems and they will not be very happy with their outcome against France.
“We want to win. We want to win well. But to do it. We have to do all the hard things Rugby requires. It won’t be an easy game.”
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Curry rejects criticism of England style
England’s two victories have come with a combined two -point margin and their rugby has often been far from free flow, but Tom Curry insists it is not right to criticize the lack of violence.
“Right or not, it’s a way thoughtful to say it,” Curry said Sky Sports news. “You have to look at it objectively in terms of two different games. That is why there can be no comparison – it’s like comparing crayons and cheese. They are almost two different sports.
Tom Curry will start for England against 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 as the prime minister? “No, it doesn’t work like that.
“This is one of the stones in step. We’ve gone from autumn – where we are losing those games – so far we are winning them. We know the next step is to win them well, but it’s easier to say than to do.”
Jamie George, set for his 100th lid in England this weekend, added: “I think the way the games have played have implied that we have not necessarily been able to put the game plan in the field we want.
“I think this week has been more for us, focusing on us and how we can put our play plan on the field, no matter what the opposition is doing. It requires that we are brave and it requires us to really work to get back to the ball.
“We really want to play a good, wide, offensive game and I hope that’s what you see at Allianz this weekend.”
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