England lock Maro Itoje has defended head coach Steve Borthwick and insists the nationwide staff are nonetheless on track.
The feedback got here on the finish of a disappointing Autumn Nations Sequence, with England shedding three of their 4 Check matches.
Southern Hemisphere powerhouses New Zealand, South Africa and Australia all defeated England at residence. Solely a broadly and broadly anticipated resounding victory over Japan ended England’s five-game shedding streak.
England have gained simply 5 of 12 Check matches this yr and the staff is ranked seventh on the earth.
Nonetheless, Itoje believes Borthwick has been criticized unnecessarily.
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“Clearly he is the boss, so folks will naturally goal him, however I do not assume it is honest,” Itoye informed sky sports activities.
“I feel perhaps that is one thing that the general public or reporters won’t ever absolutely perceive as a result of they cannot be with us day-after-day. The coaches assist us, manage us, and so they work actually laborious to place us in the correct place.”
He added: “I feel as gamers we have to take extra possession. We have to carry out below strain. Typically, particularly in sport, whether or not it is rugby, cricket or soccer, the blame is at all times positioned on us. coach, however that’s probably not the case.
“I feel it is our accountability as gamers to do our half.”
Itoje believes this England staff has a optimistic future.
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Steve Borthwick expresses his disappointment with England’s latest outcomes and discusses what we would prefer to see from his perspective
“I feel we discovered loads of classes all through the marketing campaign,” he mirrored.
“Twickenham was vigorous and the followers have been nice however sadly we have been a bit behind. Having mentioned that, I nonetheless assume there’s quite a bit to sit up for and quite a bit to be optimistic about.
“I feel we’re fairly shut. I do know there are some robust losses that piss off the followers and piss off the gamers, however I do assume we’re making progress.”
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Subsequent yr’s Six Nations Championship, pitting England in opposition to Eire in Dublin on February 1, might have a decisive affect on this staff.
“We’re wanting ahead to it as gamers, as employees and as a staff,” Itoje insisted.
“If something this fall sequence has added gas to the fireplace and made me much more enthusiastic about what we’d be capable of do.”
Watch each match of the British & Irish Lions’ 2025 tour of Australia, together with all three Check matches in opposition to the Wallabies, completely dwell sky sports activities.
