Itoje says England 'ready' for Six Nations kings Ireland

  • News
  • January 30, 2025

Saturday’s match will be Itoje’s first as England captain since succeeding Jamie George and the Saracens lock could hardly have a more difficult start to his time leading the team.

England won just five out of 12 Tests in 2024, a sequence that included five straight defeats, with their ability to perform well under pressure against top teams a talking point.

But they were also the only side to beat Ireland in last year’s Six Nations and Itoje believes a new-look England can repeat that Twickenham triumph at Lansdowne Road.

“We’ve prepared well, the boys have trained well and we’ve come together quite nicely,” he said Thursday. “We’re clear on the plan. We’re ready to go.

“It’s a really big task. Obviously Ireland are a very good team. They’re a team that in their recent history have put together a string of notable performances. They have quality players and continuity, more so than most other nations due to the Leinster connection.”

England coach Steve Borthwick has selected a dynamic back-row with Tom and Ben Curry flanking No 8 Ben Earl, but none of the trio are line-out specialists.

Nevertheless, Itoje said: “We have enough line-out jumpers. The line-out is a massive part of the game and we have a well-oiled machine.”

The 30-year-old added: “Ireland have got a good line-out, they’ve always had a good line-out. We’re built differently, we want to go about the game in a different way, but the set-piece is massive for us as well and I think we’ll do well.”

Saturday will see the 26-year-old Curry brothers become the first male twins to be on the pitch for England together at the same time.

“It’s really exciting,” said Ben Curry. “I’ve wanted to play with Tom for a long time. It’s one of those ones where it’s really nice in the build-up, really nice before it.

“And I’m sure it’ll be really nice after the final whistle, but between the whistles you just want to win.”

© 2025 AFP

Related Posts

  • February 25, 2025
  • 68 views
Transgender religious order gets rare approval at India Hindu festival

Prayagraj (India) (AFP) – Transgender activists often shunned by society say they have found rare acceptance at India’s Hindu Kumbh Mela festival by giving blessings to pilgrims attending the world’s largest religious gathering.

  • February 25, 2025
  • 66 views
Stuck in eternal drought, UAE turns to AI to make it rain

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – In the marbled halls of a luxury hotel, leading experts are discussing a new approach to an age-old problem: how to make it rain in the UAE, the wealthy Gulf state that lies in one of the world’s biggest deserts.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You Missed

Transgender religious order gets rare approval at India Hindu festival

  • February 25, 2025
  • 68 views
Transgender religious order gets rare approval at India Hindu festival

Stuck in eternal drought, UAE turns to AI to make it rain

  • February 25, 2025
  • 66 views
Stuck in eternal drought, UAE turns to AI to make it rain

Trump's chip tariff threats raise stakes for Taiwan

  • February 25, 2025
  • 68 views
Trump's chip tariff threats raise stakes for Taiwan

Galatasaray accuse Mourinho of 'racist statements' after derby

  • February 25, 2025
  • 82 views
Galatasaray accuse Mourinho of 'racist statements' after derby

Fears of US public health crises grow amid falling vaccination rates

  • February 25, 2025
  • 79 views
Fears of US public health crises grow amid falling vaccination rates

Latin American classics get the streaming treatment

  • February 25, 2025
  • 66 views
Latin American classics get the streaming treatment