Itoje vows to tough it out
stronger. I enjoy high-pressure environments, being in the middle of tough situations and finding a way to win. In the long run, we’ll probably look back and say it was a good thing because it contributed to our future successes.
“We’re going through tough period but the quality of personnel, of coaches and the strength of character we have in this group is very significant and I’m very sure it will see us through.
“Keep the faith. I’ve got 100 per cent belief in our group and what we’re trying to do, where we’re trying to go and what we’re trying to achieve. As long as we stay together, we’re going to be a very, very, very good team.”
The long run can look after itself; the short run has become allconsuming. What was a newly constituted South Africa team last a very week at Ellis Park will be 10 points more familiar with each other today. Consequently England will have to be 14 points better to square the series.
England pulled apart the reasons behind their surrender of a 21-point first-Test lead and came up with a variety of conclusions. Jones said they were seduced by the scoreboard, Jamie George blamed the altitude, Owen Farrell pointed to muddled thinking caused by trying too hard. What everyone is agreed on is the damaging effect of the rash of penalties that has become the English disease. There can be no repeat.
“It is something that we all need to address, myself included,” said Itoje, who topped the offenders’ list in Johannesburg. “You can’t give away too many penalties if you want to win. It’s about risk assessment and risk reward. I have been on the right end of a lot of decisions and last weekend was the other end. You live and learn.”
Beating South Africa in Bloemfontein can be done. England did so in 2000 when Jonny Wilkinson scored all the points in a 27-22 victory.
This is the Beast’s big day, though. The prop, described as the Boks’ “energy totem” by England scrum coach Neal Hatley, will be a lightning rod for South African emotion at Free State Stadium.
“It’s not just about me,” said Mtawarira. “It’s about the whole of Africa being a shining light and showing you can make it no matter where you come from.
“That’s the legacy I want to leave behind.”
There is an African ambush awaiting England. The corner they are in could not look tighter.
JIM MALLINDER will oversee England’s junior sides after being appointed the RFU’s performance pathway coach.
Character of the group will see us through