We can still win title insists Jonny
JONNY May insisted England are over their Scottish nightmare and are still eyeing another Six Nations title after putting six tries past Italy in yesterday’s 41-18 win at Twickenham.
The wing scored England’s third on the stroke of half-time, with a stunning finish, to move clear second in his country’s alltime try-scoring list – with 32 – and has only Rory Underwood ahead of him with 49.
England’s day was marred, however, by a cruel knee injury to flanker Jack Willis, who lasted only six minutes after coming off the bench.
The Wasps man scored a 60th minute try but was carted off after a tackle by Italian back rower Sebastian Negri and will be scanned tomorrow.
May confessed the week in camp since the shock 11-6 defeat to Scotland last Saturday had been a sobering one for Eddie Jones’ side.
But he is adamant the Six Nations reigning champions are still in with a shout of reclaiming the title after getting the Scotland defeat out of their system.
The 30-year-old said:
“We are still in it. As poor as we were last week, we only lost by five points against Scotland. That is positive, we were poor but we hung in there.
“We got a point last week, we got five this week and we are still in it. There is no reason we can’t go one week at a time and keep getting better and come good at the end.
“It was a tough week, I will be honest. You have weeks like that in sport, you can’t tell when they are going to come and they hurt when they happen. It was a very tough week but it has really brought us closer and it is days like that that make you a better team and a better player.
“As hard as it is, they are the challenges that produce growth.The best thing for us was just to get out there today.
“It wasn’t perfect but I think we showed a little bit of a change of intent and we got back on the horse.
“We had been smashed. Rugby Union smashes you, doesn’t it? We weren’t expecting that – it was a poor performance. What went well for us last Saturday? Not much.
“You feel like we are a good team, we had just won an Autumn Nations Cup and a Six Nations and all of a sudden the game smacks you back down to earth. It was not a nice feel
ing but it happens to most teams at some point and you never know what is going to come. That is sport.
“We were a tight team this week, we had some good conversations and we got back out there and got back on the horse – that is all you can do. It’s those tough days that make you a better team and a better player and all we can do is use it to get better.”
Willis’ injury meant May’s wing partner Anthony Watson had to fill in in the back row after scoring two tries of his own in a return to form. But Willis’ potentially season-ending blow spoiled the day for England boss Jones.
Jones said: “We are all concerned. It didn’t look good and it probably isn’t good. He has got some sort of a knee injury and is on crutches.
“We would prefer to be on eight points but we are on six points. I was really pleased with the application of the players and the energy, in execution we have still got a little bit of work to do but that is ok and we will get ready for Wales.
“Last week we gave the players too much information wrong information, and it takes away a bit of energy.
“This week we were much more concise and had a week full of good clarity and the players played with good energy. We have got to get better set-piece dominance; in the two games so far we have not managed to exert enough pressure in the scrum or in the lineout.”
Italy, who shipped 50 points against France in round one, scored first when wing Monty Ioane went over after three minutes before England’s power game subdued them.
Italy coach Franco Smith said: “We gave away points at critical times. Our game management needs attention – when you are coaching a young side like this that needs attention.
“If you score that quickly after a difficult week some of the pressure shifts but we stayed in the game and at least proved we could manage the situation.
“We were better in attack but we just couldn’t finish it and some soft moments made the difference but at least we have made some good progress.”