Maro Itoje Calls for Bulletproof England to Conquer Murrayfield
Maro Itoje has issued a rallying cry for England to adopt a "bulletproof" approach as they prepare to face Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday, seeking their first victory at the Edinburgh venue in six years. England, currently on a 12-match winning streak, can keep their Grand Slam hopes alive by successfully defending the Calcutta Cup, but they must overcome a dismal recent record in Scotland.
Scotland's Dominance and England's Struggles
Scotland boast a strong recent record in the Calcutta Cup, having secured victories in 2022 and 2024, with England's only win at Murrayfield since Eddie Jones's first game in charge coming in 2020 under miserable weather conditions. The historical context adds pressure, as England have been regularly disrupted on Scottish soil, including a pre-match fracas in the tunnel preceding the 2018 defeat and incidents involving supporters.
Steve Borthwick's side are clear favourites this time, buoyed by their winning run and Scotland's shock defeat by Italy last week. However, Itoje emphasised that past performances, not the stadium itself, have been the issue. "The issue has been our performances," he stated, urging his team to focus on creating new history rather than dwelling on previous failures.
Confidence and Cohesion in the England Camp
Itoje expressed unwavering confidence in the current England squad, highlighting the alignment between players and coaching staff. "I have never been part of an England team that felt fearful or felt we couldn't go out there and win," he said. "But I definitely feel that now with this group of players, there is a good, solid alignment." He called for an aggressive, accurate, and confident performance, aiming to put England on the front foot from the outset.
The lock forward dismissed any notion of hostility at Murrayfield, joking, "It is not that hostile! They like us here!" but stressed the need to be resilient in away fixtures. "When you play away from home you generally have to be sharper... you just have to roll with things and make sure you are bulletproof to the scenarios," he added.
Pressure on Scotland and Townsend's Record
Meanwhile, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend is under mounting pressure after a disappointing autumn and an opening defeat to Italy, amid reports he has agreed to take over at Newcastle Red Bulls post-2027 World Cup. Despite this, Townsend holds an impressive record in the Calcutta Cup, with five wins and a draw in eight matches against England.
Itoje acknowledged Scotland's strengths but remained focused on England's internal improvements. "This is an opportunity for us as a group to create new history," he reiterated, reinforcing a positive message of performance and pride.
Support from Teammates
In a show of solidarity, Ben Earl backed young teammate Henry Pollock to handle any wind-up tactics from opponents or Scotland supporters. "He's dealt with everything else," Earl said. "Trust me, he gets it way worse in training than anywhere else he's had it. He'll be all right." This underscores the team's growing cohesion and mental toughness as they head into the high-stakes clash.
With England's winning momentum and a determined mindset, the stage is set for a thrilling Calcutta Cup encounter, where Itoje's call for a bulletproof approach could be the key to slaying their Murrayfield ghosts.
