Against Italy England must really push themselves – I expect to see them in total control and playing with the freedom
In many ways England would prefer to be playing Ireland or Wales this week, the kind of fixture that demands a performance and an emotional buy-in that can be hard to manufacture. They shouldn’t have a problem with the latter given the backlash from the Scotland defeat last Saturday but all eyes fall on a team’s performance when the result is not in jeopardy and there is considerable expectation on England to deliver against Italy.
Related: England defence coach John Mitchell: ‘Adversity can make you stronger’
