'Rugby isn't a game like football.... where you can win just on talent'
Maro Itoje insists England must revel in their role as the Chris Eubank of rugby when they attempt to land a telling blow in the Guinness Six Nations title race at Wales’ expense.
Boxing fan Itoje has this week been watching Eubank’s ‘Life Stories’ with Piers Morgan and admires the British middleweight great for being “tough as nails” and “as eccentric as they come”.
And the Lions second row sees similarities in Eubank’s ability to thrive in adversity and pantomime villain persona to England as they attempt to floor Wales’ Grand Slam challenge in Cardiff on Saturday.
“I think as an England team specifically one could argue that’s pretty similar to how a lot of other nations see us,” Itoje said.
“If you are in that position it’s about relishing it, it’s about enjoying the challenge, enjoying the competition, enjoying the moment, living in the moment, being present in the moment and doing what you need to do. Do your best to take care of business.
“Rugby is a game similar to boxing in the sense that you can’t fake rugby, you can’t play at rugby. You can’t just go out there and go through the motions because if you do that you will get beat.
“Rugby isn’t a game like football where you can win… I am no Alex Ferguson of football… but rugby isn’t a game where you can win just on talent.
“We have seen many talented sides lose to lesser teams, because of one reason or another.
“You need to have that mentality, you need to have that fighting spirit, you need to have that dogged approach to what you do.”
Eddie Jones has labelled round-three encounters as “make-or-break” and England’s title defence would undoubtedly be over if they fall at the Principality Stadium.
Rieko Ioane sped away to seal the deal vs the Hurricanes, incredible pace! ?
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A calamitous Calcutta Cup defeat to Scotland on the opening weekend has left no margin for error and while progress was made against Italy, it is a Wales side showing signs of resurgence that will indicate whether the recent malaise is temporary or runs deeper.
“We are ready to go. As a team, we are looking forward to it and we are ready to go,” Itoje said.
“This is the game where we need a result. Our ambition going into the Six Nations was to win it. For us to do that it means we have to win against Wales.
“That’s just a reality of the situation. So full of steam ahead. We’re looking to get that result.”
'The likes of Vunipola have put pressure on themselves with some of the comments this week & perhaps that will bring the best out of them'
The @AndyGoode10 Column ??? on a big day for Eddie's old reliables and Andy's prediction for #WALvENG #SixNations https://t.co/UnedwFVnDR
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When asked about the incentive of denying Wales the Grand Slam, Itoje replied: “I guess, but that’s secondary. The first prize is about us and where we want to go as a team. Where we believe we can grow. Anything else is secondary.”
Wales have dispatched Ireland and Scotland so far, but on both occasions they faced 14 men.
Aware that Saturday’s referee Pascal Gauzere has sent off more players than any other official in Test rugby – he has shown seven red cards – and of the recent spate of dismissals in the game, England fully intend finishing with a full team.
“It goes without saying that we don’t want to be playing the game with 14, 13 men,” Itoje said.
“If you do that you just put one arm behind your back whilst you are going out there and that’s a position we don’t want to be in. As a team we need to do our best to remain the right side of the referee.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments