Italian insiders won’t derail England bid, says Gustard
PAUL GUSTARD today insisted the inside information Italy have about England’s Grand Slam-chasing players would not undermine Eddie Jones’ bid for a 17th successive win on Sunday at Twickenham.
Gustard, England’s defence coach, is keenly aware that Italy head coach Conor O’Shea, the former Harlequins director of rugby, former England skills coach Mike Catt and Brendan Venter, the former Saracens director of rugby, have deep knowledge of the English team as they prepare for the Six Nations clash.
Italy have never beaten England and Gustard said: “They [the Italian coaching staff ] do know the players and there will some personal affinity, but we are now playing a different way and have different coaches.”
The chance to win back-to-back Grand Slams and thereby eclipse the All Blacks’ record of 18 games unbeaten, appears to have convinced head coach Jones to be more cautious in his selection against Italy.
While he is expected to field a new midfield of Elliot Daly, Ben Te’o and Owen Farrell, he will not make the wholesale changes mooted after the win over Wales in Cardiff last time out.
Jones said then: “We want to play a different sort of game against them [Italy] and it’s a great chance for us to do something different.”
As a result, England will go back to a more traditional midfield, ditching Bath’s Jonathan Joseph to