England can beat everyone in Six Nations - Itoje

Six Nations: Ireland v England

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 1 February Kick-off: 16:45 GMT

Coverage: Live connected BBC Radio 5 Live, with unrecorded substance commentary connected the BBC Sport website and highlights connected Rugby Special connected BBC Two

England tin confound their critics by landing a Grand Slam successful the forthcoming Six Nations, says caller skipper Maro Itoje.

England person not finished higher than 3rd since their astir caller rubric successful 2020 and won lone 5 of their 12 Tests successful 2024.

"If we play our stuff, if we are the squad we judge we tin be, we tin win," Itoje told BBC Sport. "There is not a squad successful this tourney that we can't beat."

Itoje took implicit the relation this week from Jamie George, who himself lone became skipper 12 months ago.

The 30-year-old volition pb England successful a investigating Six Nations opener – distant to defending champions Ireland – connected 1 February.

England bushed Ireland astatine Twickenham's Allianz Stadium past twelvemonth and Itoje says that the standard of the juncture tin bring the champion from him and his team-mates again.

"We cognize Ireland are a large squad and the Aviva is simply a large spot to play," helium said.

"It is simply a immense crippled to descend our teeth into and get excited about. I can't wait. These are the challenges that bring retired the champion retired of myself and the team."

Itoje was portion of an England squad who memorably defeated defending champions and rubric favourites Ireland successful Dublin connected the opening play of the 2019 championship.

Eddie Jones, sacked arsenic England manager successful 2022, masterminded that victory.

The Australian, who volition beryllium a pundit for ITV Sport's sum of this year's Six Nations, has antecedently doubted Itoje's enactment potential, claiming the 2nd enactment was "very inward-looking" and did not "usually power radical disconnected the field".

Itoje, who has been promoted to skipper Saracens this season, believes helium is close to marque on-pitch show his focus, alternatively than dressing-room rhetoric.

"Every person has to beryllium authentic," helium said.

"The astir almighty mode is to pb done your actions. People perceive your voice, but they truly travel what you bash and however you behave.

"That is decidedly the mode successful which I would similar to lead.

"I besides recognize the value of communicating, making definite you tin get your connection crossed and tin motivate your team, truthful I volition endeavour to bash that arsenic well."

After their opening-round gathering with Ireland, England past instrumentality connected France, Scotland and Italy astatine location earlier travelling to Wales connected the last day.