Itoje: Let’s pump up the noise

Maro Itoje has ca l led on Twickenham to pump up the volume for a clash that has been billed as “titanic” by Eddie Jones.

The England ace sounded his rallying cry as team-mate Courtney Lawes showed just how up for it they are by emerging from the final training session with a black eye.

Boss Jones comes into today’s showdown under pressure after talking himself into trouble and naming a team with numerous square pegs in round holes.

On seeing the selection, Sir Clive Woodward tipped Ireland to win, branding Jones’ strategy of picking players out of position ‘ high-risk’.

The Australian insists his players are hitting form at just the right time to cope with the unbeaten Six Nations co-leaders and said: “This will be a titanic clash.”

And Itoje claimed to be in no doubt that with a full house roaring them on, England can end Ireland’s Triple Crown dream and catapult themselves back into the title reckoning.

He said: “The last couple of games I have played at Twickenham it has been as noisy as anywhere I have played in the world.

“It has been really special, the crowd have brought into the type of game we are trying to play and it has been a ver y warm environment to play in, super loud.

“When you have that support and the going gets tough, it does really put an extra spring in your step. So please, the more noise the better.”

Since Andy Farrell took charge post World Cup, Ireland have worked hard with their players to establish what it means to be Irish and to tap into that emotional seam. They even invited U2’s Bono into their training camp this week.