UNCHANGED TEAM: England rugby coach Stuart Lancaster gives instructions during a training session at a school in Woking, southwest of London. — Reuters photo
ROME: They may have thumped Italy 59-13 at Twickenham last year but England will not be underestimating the Azzurri at the Stadio Olimpico here today.
The hosts will be making their Six Nations debut at the Eternal City’s famous old stadium in front of a 72,000 sell-out crowd and that in itself is enough to leave the English feeling wary.
That and their struggles to overcome a limited Scotland outfit 13-6 at Murrayfield last weekend. South African-born England lock Mouritz Botha is sure the reigning Six Nations champions will have their work cut out.
“It will be a big battle. Italy are one of the sides which has made massive strides over the past few years. They are not a wooden-spoon team any more,” he said.
“At home in their new stadium they will be up for the challenge with 70,000 fans behind them.”
But although the visitors, who have named an unchanged lineup, will not be taking their hosts lightly, backs coach Andy Farrell, whose son Owen will start at inside centre, says the holders have nothing to fear.
“We are not concerned about what lies ahead because the culture we are trying to drive gets us in the right place all the time,” Farrell said.
“We know the passions of the Italians. We know they are playing at a new stadium that is going to be full, we know they will want to show what they are about as a rugby nation.
“The size of the challenge is similar to what we met last week.”
Last week England were often pushed onto the back foot but showed great resolve in keeping out a Scotland side that spent periods camped inside the visiting 22.
“We defended like Trojans at times and we didn’t let Scotland cross our line,” added Farrell.
“We made 238 tackles, by our own statistics, and we had to defend for 27 minutes and 54 seconds.
“That is more than I have ever known, that is more than the stats guys have ever known. The aim was to give the nation something to be proud about and we definitely did that.
“We are a new team that had 10 days together and to fight for one another like we did and to come out with a victory and the Calcutta Cup was a tremendous effort.”
Italy’s French coach Jacques Brunel is trying to implement a more attacking and adventurous style into his side’s play.
That was evident in their first match in Paris although missed tackles cost them dearly in their 30-12 defeat to France.
Although Brunel intends to keep faith with the more expansive game, he says he isn’t going to be stubborn about it and he wants to avoid the situation Scotland found themselves in, battling away inside England’s 22 but to no reward.
“I’m partisan to playing rugby but sometimes it’s stupid when you just play for that aim,” he said.
“You lose a match that way, you can’t just keep the ball in the 22. The Scots were excessive in that respect and we don’t want to go to that excess.” — AFP