England can confound their critics by landing a Grand Slam in the forthcoming Six Nations, says new captain Maro Itoje.
England have not finished higher than third since their most recent title in 2020 and won only five of their 12 Tests in 2024.
“If we play our stuff, if we are the team we believe we can be, we can win,” Itoje told BBC Sport. “There is not a team in this tournament that we can’t beat.”
Itoje took over the role this week from Jamie George, who himself only became captain 12 months ago.
The 30-year-old will lead England in a testing Six Nations opener – away to defending champions Ireland – on 1 February.
England beat Ireland at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium last year and Itoje says that the scale of the occasion can bring the best from him and his team-mates again.
“We know Ireland are a great team and the Aviva is a great place to play,” he said.
“It is a huge game to sink our teeth into and get excited about. I can’t wait. These are the challenges that bring out the best out of myself and the team.”
Itoje was part of an England team who memorably defeated defending champions and title favourites Ireland in Dublin on the opening weekend of the 2019 championship.
Eddie Jones, sacked as England coach in 2022, masterminded that victory.
The Australian, who will be a pundit for ITV Sport’s coverage of this year’s Six Nations, has previously doubted Itoje’s leadership potential, claiming the second row was “very inward-looking” and did not “usually influence people off the field”.
