England have lost three out of four Six Nations games
Captain Itoje calls for senior players to step up in Paris
Maro Itoje has called on his England side to show their character as they seek to salvage some pride from a dismal Six Nations campaign against title-chasing France in Paris on Saturday.
Itoje’s rallying cry comes with England staring down the barrel of what would be their worst Six Nations if they fail to win away to France for the first time since 2016. Les Bleus will almost certainly successfully defend their title with a bonus-point victory but will know exactly what they have to do by the time kick-off arrives.
The head coach Steve Borthwick is under immense pressure after last weekend’s defeat by Italy came on the back of losses to Scotland and Ireland and his restrictive, kick-heavy game-plan has come under huge scrutiny as a result. Itoje, however, believes the game-plan takes a back seat at Stade de France with the captain urging England to show their mettle.
