Maro Itoje Issues Rallying Cry for England to 'Show Character' in Six Nations Finale
England will be condemned to their worst Guinness Six Nations finish since 1987 if they suffer defeat against France in Paris this weekend. The stark reality faces Steve Borthwick's side as they prepare for the final act of 'Super Saturday', desperately seeking to claw back some respectability from a dismal campaign.
Historic Low Looms for Struggling England
Should England fall to a fourth successive defeat in the championship's concluding round, they would register just one victory in the entire tournament - matching their 1987 nadir. This comes just five weeks after celebrating a 12th successive Test victory and plotting a potential tournament decider in Paris.
Captain Maro Itoje insists England must transform their clash with title-chasing France into a battle of character rather than tactics. "This game is not about 'oh, we want to kick here, we want to run here, we want to do this line-out move'," Itoje declared. "This game is about showing each other and showing our fans what we are really about, what we are truly about."
Borthwick's Future Hangs in Balance
The match represents England's final opportunity before head coach Steve Borthwick enters the post-Six Nations review conducted by the Rugby Football Union. Borthwick received a vote of confidence from the RFU after last Saturday's historic defeat by Italy, but his future remains uncertain as England's performances have deteriorated throughout the championship.
Itoje believes the Paris encounter provides a crucial opportunity for England to demonstrate their true qualities. "This game is an opportunity for us to show the character of this team," he emphasized. "And I genuinely believe this team is going somewhere. Unfortunately, as of late we haven't been able to put that consistently on the park."
Underdogs Against Formidable French
With France on the brink of defending their Six Nations crown, England have been written off by most observers ahead of their Stade de France assignment. Antoine Dupont's side are heavy favourites to inflict further misery on their traditional rivals.
However, Itoje pays little attention to such predictions, recalling that England were backed to beat Italy in round four only to suffer a 23-18 loss. "When we played France last year they were heavy favourites," he noted, referencing England's 26-25 victory. "We've played a number of teams in the past and won games where the other side has been the favourites."
Core Belief Remains Despite Setbacks
The England captain maintains that despite recent disappointments, fundamental belief within the squad remains intact. "There are core aspects of our game, despite the losses, that have been going reasonably well," Itoje asserted. "We just need to bring the best of ourselves and I think we can do a job."
"Despite the losses, how I feel at the moment hasn't actually changed since the start of the competition," he continued. "I think this team is going somewhere and I'm desperate to be a part of it. This team can beat pretty much every team we play if we get ourselves right."
England's final Six Nations match represents more than just another fixture - it's an opportunity to demonstrate resilience before facing world champions South Africa on July 4 in the inaugural Nations Championship. For Itoje and his teammates, the challenge is clear: transform potential into performance when it matters most.
