England captain Maro Itoje lauded his aspect’s need and coronary heart following their dramatic win over France on Saturday, however warned it was “on no account good” as they purpose to maintain bettering.
The hosts regarded set for an additional tight defeat at Twickenham when France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored with 5 minutes remaining, with the ensuing conversion placing the guests 25-19 forward.
Nonetheless, England fought till the dying and received their reward, with veteran Elliot Daly scoring simply to the suitable of the posts earlier than Fin Smith, in his first begin for England, slotted the conversion to earn his aspect a 26-25 victory.
After seven defeats of their final 9, most of which got here in tightly contested video games the place England pale within the closing phases, Itoje praised his aspect’s perception and need on Saturday.
“Nicely, 5 minutes, in some ways in which looks as if not a very long time nevertheless it truly is sort of a very long time,” Itoje informed a information convention when requested what his ideas have been after Bielle-Biarrey’s attempt.
“I assume the ambition and the mindset was simply to go after it, go after the win, be aggressive and we have been shut sufficient to win.
“So we knew that we would have liked a rating and large credit score to the workforce, to the boys. They have been courageous, they have been eager to assault, they have been eager to go after France and I am very joyful that we have been capable of do it.”
The match was riddled with errors from each side and England made errors all through the match, which both invited stress on themselves or let France off the hook.
Itoje mentioned whereas they’re going to benefit from the victory, the evaluation can be as sincere as ever with loads to work on.
“Clearly this win is particular,” Itoje mentioned. “We have labored laborious at it and it wasn’t straightforward towards a really gifted French workforce, however we all know there’s a lot in us so we’ll need to keep constant.
“This sport was on no account was good. I do know Steve and the coaches, come the following coaching day, goes to offer us an sincere evaluation like he at all times does whatever the end result.
“So we’re pleased with the win, however we all know there’s positively issues to get higher.”
Scotland are subsequent for England at Twickenham in two weeks’ time, as they bid to beat their outdated rivals for the primary time in 4 years.
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