England's Sam Underhill chats

By K
February 1 2018

ENGLAND may have won back-to-back Six Nations under Eddie Jones but Sam Underhill insists the intensity and motivation to improve within the camp remains relentless.  Jones has led England to 22 victories in his 23 games in charge since taking over at the end of the disastrous home World Cup campaign in 2015.  With just two more Six Nations Championships until the Webb Ellis Trophy is up for grabs once more, in Japan, England cannot let their foot off the gas now. 

  And Underhill, who only made his international debut in last summer, is confident England are on the right trajectory to repeat the success of Sir Clive Woodward’s 2003 World Cup heroes.

 

“The intensity has increased every time I’ve been here,” Underhill said, who was at Camberley Rugby Club this week with Mitsubishi Motors to launch its Kit 4 Clubs scheme in England.   “I think that’s indicative of the fact the group is going in the right direction.

“I think every time we come here we want to build on what we’ve done beforehand. We don’t want to start from scratch.  “The Six Nations is a massive event and it’s what we want to build on.  “The more guys play with each other the better. Every time we come together we look to build on what we’ve done before.”

 

England will head to Rome without influential back rowers Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes, through injury, and James Haskell due to suspension.    It could mean Underhill, who started against Argentina and Australia at Twickenham in the autumn, will make his fourth international start on Sunday.  And the 21-year-old Bath flanker believes the competition for places will see them in a strong position to challenge for a third straight crown.

 

“You need competition to get the best out of players. Nobody can afford to be comfortable and that’s exactly what you want,” he added.   “You want players to be pushing themselves further than they have before.  That’s huge and we’re lucky we’ve got a squad that is so competitive.

“It’s a step above anything that I’ve done before. It continues to increase in intensity so I feel very fortunate to see what standard the establish players are setting.  “You get to see what players have done to become established and they’re continuing to set that standard.”

England travel to Rome for their Six Nations opener, 12 months on from when the Azzurri’s unusual tactics at the breakdown caused the Red Rose real issues at Twickenham.   And while it’s unlikely Conor O’Shea’s side will try to repeat that trick at Stadio Olimpico, Underhill knows England must be capable of thinking on their feet.

“It’s hard to expect the unexpected because you don’t what it’s going to be. With the law changes I cannot imagine they’ll be doing it again,” Underhill explained.

“But we have to be engaged in the game and have to react quickly to what’s put in front of you.   “A lot of the stuff we do is influenced by the players as well which is massively important. The guys on the pitch are the ones that have to find the way to do it.”

 

 Mitsubishi Motors is proud to support England Rugby with its new grassroots initiative: Kit 4 Clubs.

For more information please visit: mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/kit4clubs