Maro Itoje pleads England team-mates ‘work on’ one thing despite Scotland Six Nations win | Rugby | Sport

Maro Itoje candidly admitted England have a major issue to address despite their 16-15 Calcutta Cup win over Scotland.

For the first time since 2020, Steve Borthwick’s side regained the trophy but the result was met with more relief than elation after the hosts were left off the hook by Finn Russell’s late missed conversion.

The visitors deservedly led 10-7 at half-time after Ben White and Huw Jones crossed for tries, with Tommy Freeman crossing for England.

But Marcus Smith (2) and Fin Smith shared three second-half penalties to put England 16-10 ahead before a dramatic finish.

Duhan van der Merwe went over in the corner for the Scots to leave his No.10 with a kick to win it. However, for the third time that afternoon, Russell’s effort sailed wide as England held on.

And afterwards, Itoje admitted his side prevailed despite not enjoying the territory or attacking platforms they wanted for much of the 80 minutes. “It was a mixed performance,” he said. “We didn’t do everything as well as we wanted.”

Pinpointing the area to improve, he added: “In the first half and second half, we didn’t play as much as we should have. That’s to work on. There is loads for us to do there, loads.

“But one thing is – we’ve been more clinical than we have been in the past. There is a feeling we are going to score in the opposition half. We just need to find ways to get there more often.”

Itoje himself was outstanding in the latter stages, winning one crucial defensive turnover and also disrupting a Scotland lineout near the England line. And he did praise the fighting spirit of his team after they were on the back-foot for much of the contest.

“One thing we did do was fight though,” he said. “I thought we ran hard for one another and we are delighted to win.”

After a second successive single-point win, England’s Six Nations title hopes remain very much alive. They lie four points off Ireland with two games to go, after the holders won 28-17 in Cardiff.

Borthwick’s side will have been perceived to have got their three biggest tests out the way now. They next play Italy at home on March 9 before finishing the campaign in Cardiff six days later.