02 February 2023 , 22:20
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Maro Itoje has admitted England let down their supporters last year and owe them a big Six Nations.
New boss Steve Borthwick has been brought in to revive the biggest and best resourced rugby nation - starting at home to Scotland tomorrow. Itoje confessed: “Last year we didn't represent the Rose as well as we would have liked. The fans deserve better.
Under Eddie Jones England lost six times in 2022 and drew another blank in the Six Nations. In front of an 82,000 Twickenham sellout, Itoje and pals intend to right those wrongs.
“We’re fully aware our recent record isn’t good enough,” said the Saracens star. “As a team, we want to rectify that.
“The worst thing you can have in life is regret or not putting your best foot forward. We have the opportunity to start afresh and write a new chapter."
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Flanker Ben Curry and wing Ollie Hassell-Collins make their tournament debuts against opponents who last lost to England in 2017. "The past is the past, we can’t do anything about that,” Itoje added. “What we can do is try to make a brighter future.
Itoje is gearing up for England's Six Nations campaign (David Rogers/Getty Images)“England fans are going to see a re-energised team, a team that’s willing to work hard, stay together in the tough moments.
“We feel an incredible amount of passion and pride representing the Rose and we’re fully aware that in recent times, especially in the autumn, it wasn’t up the standard we expect of ourselves.
“But as a team, we are really excited about what we can do.”