| |
LONDON, England: Nick Easter is confident England's victory over Wales represents the start of something special for Martin Johnson's men and is not "a false dawn".
A fit-again Easter, back at No 8, disrupted Wales's lineout in fine style as England began the 2010 Six Nations with a 30-17 win over their old rivals at Twickenham on Saturday.
It was a much needed success coming as it did after a dreary November where injury-hit England were well beaten by both Australia and New Zealand and scraped a win over Argentina.
Those three matches yielded just one try, against the Pumas, but on Saturday they scored three with two scores from blindside flanker James Haskell separated by one from recalled scrum-half Danny Care, a team-mate of Easter's at London club Harlequins.
"It was up there as one of the most meaningful results I have been involved in," said Easter.
"We are just glad now that we have a yardstick and I don't think it will be another false dawn.
"The environment is a lot more relaxed. As an international side, you try and achieve it becoming more like a club environment and player led, which Johnno is always striving for.
"We are getting there. We have been together for two weeks, we have had one result, so I am not getting carried away but we are definitely heading in the right direction."
England were cruising at 20-3 up early in the second half but there were plenty of worried faces among their supporters when a try from Wales outside centre James Hook cut the lead to 20-17 with nine minutes left.
Importantly, however, England did not buckle and a 60 metre interception try, finished off by Haskell, followed by a penalty from Jonny Wilkinson settled the nerves of England's players and fans alike.
England now travel to Rome to play Italy on Sunday - a match they would have been firm favourites to win regardless of last week's result but one they can now approach with true confidence.
Nevertheless, England struggled to create try scoring opportunities against Wales before the sin-binning of Welsh lock Alun-Wyn Jones shortly before half-time opened up the game and there were plenty of handling errors from the home side.
"The first half was a bit turgid around the 10-metre lines. We tried to play a bit of rugby but defences are good at that stage," said Easter.
"One area we need to work on is taking the points when we are down there. We have to turn pressure into points and that is something we will learn."
Italy were well beaten 29-11 in their match away to grand slam champions Ireland in Dublin last weekend.
The Azzurri have never beaten England in a Test match but a cautious Easter warned: "It is a must-win game in Italy but it is going to be tough. They are a good side.
"They have been in the Six Nations now for 10 years. A lot of their players are playing in our league and the French league."
Italy are without injured No 8 Sergio Parisse, one of their few top quality players, for the whole of the Six Nations and Easter added: "Any team will miss Sergio Parisse, he is a world-class No 8 and he has been for a number of years.
"But they will cope without him. They have got good strength in depth, particularly in the forwards."
England expect to have Riki Flutey, who missed the Wales match with a dead leg, available for selection and the New Zealand-born centre is likely to be back in the starting line-up when Johnson names his team on Wednesday. - AFP/fa
|
