Maro Itoje revved up to KO Wales’ Six Nations bid by Chris Eubank boxing show

Maro Itoje has urged England to get off the canvas and outbox Wales to keep their Six Nations hopes alive.

“Rugby is a game similar to boxing in the sense that you can’t fake rugby, you can't play at rugby,” said the England star.

“It isn’t a game where you can win just on pure talent. You can't just go out there and go through the motions, because if you do that you will get beat.

“You need to have that mentality, you need to have that fighting spirit, you need to have that dogged approach to what you do."

England put their hopes on the line in Cardiff today and Itoje psyched himself up for the heavyweight showdown by watching Chris Eubank's Life Stories with Piers Morgan.

He came away struck by how Eubank, a brilliant if not universally loved boxer, used adversity to his advantage.

“I think as an England team specifically, one could argue that’s pretty similar to how a lot of other nations see us,” said Itoje.

“If you are in that position it's about relishing it, it's about enjoying the challenge, enjoying the competition, enjoying the moment – and doing what you need to do to take care of business.”

Eubank did that time and again, conquering the world at middleweight and super middleweight in a golden era for British boxing.

England have yet to achieve world champion status and know defeat tonight will floor their Six Nations ambitions.

But Itoje insists they have more than a puncher’s chance if they can get their minds right for one of rugby’s fiercest rivalries.

The absence of a crowd at the Principality Stadium makes it all the more important that England get their internal processes right.

This time they won’t be booed and jeered during the ‘ringwalk’, there will be no ear-popping wall of sound as they attempt to storm the citadel of Welsh rugby.

As Itoje conceded: “We have to create our own energy, our own buzz, our own atmosphere within the stadium.

“The noise for this game is usually something to behold. The bus journey in normal times can get a bit lively.

“But in all honesty those things are minor. We are focused on making sure we are ready to go at kickoff time because we need a result.

“Our ambition going into the Six Nations was to win it. For us to do that it means we have to win here. That’s the reality of the situation.”

Four of the six matches played in the tournament so far have resulted in away wins.

Add to that the evidence of football, in which home team advantage has been largely neutralised behind closed doors, and the Dragon’s lair should be far-less intimidating than usual.

But this is a Welsh team out to give George North extra reason to celebrate his 100th cap.

Wales have ridden their luck in this tournament, rescuing wins from losing positions after Ireland, then Scotland, had forwards sent-off.

Itoje reckons in both instances those players "weren’t in full control of what they were doing”.

He knows that today England must be – or they can kiss goodbye to emulating Eubank by being ‘simply the best’.

Wales: 15-Liam Williams; 14-Louis Rees-Zammit, 13-George North, 12-Jonathan Davies, 11-Josh Adams; 10-Dan Biggar, 9-Kieran Hardy; 1-Wyn Jones, 2-Ken Owens, 3-Tomas Francis, 4-Adam Beard, 5-Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 6-Josh Navidi, 7-Justin Tipuric, 8-Taulupe Faletau

Replacements: 16-Elliot Dee, 17-Rhodri Jones, 18-Leon Brown, 19-Cory Hill, 20-James Botham, 21-Gareth Davies, 22-Callum Sheedy, 23-Willis Halaholo

England: 15-Elliot Daly; 14-Anthony Watson, 13-Henry Slade, 12-Owen Farrell (capt), 11-Jonny May; 10-George Ford, 9-Ben Youngs; 1-Mako Vunipola, 2-Jamie George, 3-Kyle Sinckler; 4-Maro Itoje, 5-Jonny Hill; 6-Mark Wilson, 7-Tom Curry, 8-Billy Vunipola

Replacements: 16-Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17-Ellis Genge, 18-Will Stuart, 19-Charlie Ewels, 20-George Martin, 21-Ben Earl, 22-Dan Robson, 23-Max Malins

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