Eddie Jones has been busy instilling pride into the inward-looking squad he inherited and believes a positive approach in Rome can build on England’s Six Nations win in ScotlandBagshot was not built in a day but a difference in England’s pre-match demeanour from a week ago is already noticeable. The team to face Italy in Rome on Sunday has been judiciously tweaked,the bench implies a squad that means commerce and victory over Scotland has soothed a few nervous systems. whether the Azzurri are to claim a first Six Nations win over England at the 17th attempt, they will have to puncture their visitors’ rising morale first.
This has not always been the case in this fixture. England have seldom taken the straightest Roman road available, or mostly scuffling domestic in unsatisfactory contests before finally grasping two years ago that the best form of defence against Italy is to attack repeatedly at pace. Possessing the self-belief to try to inject a bit of dynamism into the game has frequently been the problem – at least until now.
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Source: theguardian.com