England can confound their critics by touchdown a Grand Slam within the forthcoming Six Nations, says new captain Maro Itoje.
England haven’t completed increased than third since their most up-to-date title in 2020 and received solely 5 of their 12 Exams in 2024.
“If we play our stuff, if we’re the crew we imagine we will be, we are able to win,” Itoje informed BBC Sport. “There may be not a crew on this match that we won’t beat.”
Itoje took over the position this week from Jamie George, who himself solely grew to become captain 12 months in the past.
The 30-year-old will lead England in a testing Six Nations opener – away to defending champions Eire – on 1 February.
England beat Eire at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium final yr and Itoje says that the dimensions of the event can convey the very best from him and his team-mates once more.
“We all know Eire are a fantastic crew and the Aviva is a superb place to play,” he stated.
“It’s a enormous recreation to sink our tooth into and get enthusiastic about. I can not wait. These are the challenges that convey out the very best out of myself and the crew.”
Itoje was a part of an England crew who memorably defeated defending champions and title favourites Eire in Dublin on the opening weekend of the 2019 championship.
Eddie Jones, sacked as England coach in 2022, masterminded that victory.
The Australian, who might be a pundit for ITV Sport’s protection of this yr’s Six Nations, has beforehand doubted Itoje’s management potential, claiming the second row was “very inward-looking” and didn’t “often affect folks off the sphere”.
